Brendan Smith
Question:95 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the recent report prepared for Forfás entitled Broadband Telecommunications Investment in Ireland. [7667/98]
Written Answers. - Telecommunications Investment.
The Forfás report contains a range of recommendations designed to promote the development of broadband telecommunications investment in Ireland in the short term.
As the Deputy is aware, I have only received the report in recent days and it is now being examined by my Department. My preliminary reaction is that the report is a valuable contribution to the process of policy formation to ensure that Ireland's telecommunications sector is developed to become an international leader and to contribute to future economic development. I intend to hold discussions with the board of Telecom Éireann later this week on those aspects of the report which relate to the activities of Telecom Éireann.
There are a number of areas where the conclusions of the report have already been acted upon. I am referring in particular to the suggestion that the powers of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation need to be expanded. This is already being addressed through the transposition of EU directives which are designed to harmonise the powers of national regulatory authorities for telecommunications across Europe. For example, I recently signed the European Communities (Interconnection in Telecommunications) Regulations, 1988, which significantly enhance the powers of the director. I will also, over the coming weeks, give effect to further regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972, which will give new powers to the director in relation to licensing of telecommunications operators and the provision of leased lines.
I intend bringing proposals to Government in the coming weeks in relation to the future of Cablelink.
The question of incentives for the future development of broadband infrastructure, including a possible role for Structural Funds, is already being examined by a group of assistant secretaries of Departments who were recently charged by the Government with the task of defining the policy actions necessary to promote the development of the information society in Ireland. It would be premature to comment on the outcome of these deliberations at this stage.