Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on submissions made recently to his Department on nationalising a company (details supplied); his further views on whether the company is crucial to plans to improve broadband access; the action he will take to secure that future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18684/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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No submissions have been made recently to my Department proposing the nationalisation of eircom. Clearly eircom is an important player in private sector provision of telecommunications services and will continue to play a key role in providing higher speed broadband services. The commercial performance and ownership of the company is a matter for the company in the first instance and I have no direct role in this regard. Given the importance of eircom to Ireland's communication infrastructure and services, I am monitoring the overall situation in relation to the company but I have no plans to propose State ownership of the company.

More generally, Government policy is to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services by competing private sector providers. In terms of access to broadband, Ireland now has a vibrant broadband market with many service providers offering competitively priced retail services across a range of technology platforms at increasingly fast speeds.

In addition, the National Broadband Scheme will bring broadband to those parts of the country where a commercial service cannot be provided. This will result in broadband being available throughout the country.

The soon to be published policy paper on next generation broadband will set out a strategic framework for the evolution to high speed broadband for all players in the sector.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the MAN's phase two infrastructure has a management contract in place following long delays. [18753/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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59 of the 60 Phase II MANs, which provide state-of-the-art, fibre, open access networks to 65 towns across the country are now completed. It is expected that the final network will be completed in early 2010.

All completed Phase II networks are being managed, maintained and operated on an interim basis by the technical services firm Magnum Opus on behalf of my Department. Magnum Opus will manage the Phase II MANs until such time as a Management Services Entity is engaged for the Phase II MANs (MSE 2).

The procurement process for the engagement of a MSE II is in the final stages of contract negotiations with eNet, the preferred bidder. Value for money is a key consideration for the Department in the negotiations, which are expected to be concluded in the coming weeks.