Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will seek a strategic partnership with Eircom under the new partnership with a company (details supplied) to roll out fibre broadband to the home. [43258/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles which are crucial to the development of the market including (i) competition, at platform and service levels, which drives innovation and investment (ii) investment certainty for service providers considering investing in network infrastructure, (iii) investment intervention by Government to bridge any digital divide in cases of market failure and to meet certain of the State's own communication needs, (iv) appropriate regulation.

The policy paper sets out the Government's position that investment in broadband infrastructure is primarily a matter for the private sector, facilitated, where appropriate and possible, by Government (e.g. by providing access to State owned electronic communications infrastructure). Existing policy has facilitated significant progress in broadband roll out and broadband speeds over recent years and my focus will be in continuing implementation of this policy. I do not have any plans for the State to be involved in a strategic partnership with any service provider to roll out next generation broadband. I do however, welcome all plans by service providers across different platforms to invest in high-speed broadband and will ensure that the State provides a supportive environment for such investment.