Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the comments of the new chief executive officer of Eircom to the effect that it is uneconomic for the company to enable the 700 phone exchanges that constitute the final 25% of lines to facilitate broadband services; the impact of the company's stated intention of splitting the network's division from the retail arm on the process of local loop unbundling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33421/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. Challenges with regard to the enabling of exchanges are entirely a matter for Eircom. I am not aware of any formal statement of intent on the part of Eircom to separate its retail and wholesale elements. Any such decision would be a matter for the company and it would require careful analysis by ComReg to determine what the implications might be. Local loop unbundling is a legal requirement under the EU Telecoms Framework and is vital to the development of competitive broadband services for consumers in Ireland.