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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Telecommunications Infrastructure.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

115 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce report, Dublin as a World Class e-City and Ireland as a World Class e-Nation. [1821/03]

I welcome the contribution of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce report to the ongoing discussion on how to develop the potential of Dublin specifically and Ireland in general with regard to the information society. Indeed, I met the Dublin Chamber of Commerce informally on 3 December last year and part of the discussion related to the report.

While the provision of communications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to accelerate and promote investment in telecommunications infrastructure with the co-operation of the various development agencies and following consultation with the communications operators.

To date ten private sector contracts have been signed under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. My Department is also funding the construction of open access metropolitan area fibre optic networks in upwards of 19 towns and the Liberties-Coombe area of Dublin to facilitate the provision by the private sector of advanced communications services to consumers, educational establishments and business. It is expected that these projects will be completed progressively over the next two years at a cost in the region of €60 million. Construction of networks will begin shortly in Cork, Galway and Mayo and further projects will commence once contracts have been completed.

In Dublin specifically, my Department is overseeing the development of the digital hub, which is the Government's flagship project in the digital content sector. I met the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on this matter. This project aims to cluster Irish and international new media companies, research and development and educational-community initiatives in the Liberties-Coombe area of Dublin.

To date, the Digital Hub Development Agency Bill completed all stages in the Seanad before Christmas; the construction of a 3 km, high speed, open access, fibre broadband network in the hub was completed in September 2002; Media Lab Europe, a third level research and development educational facility, has been established as a partnership between the Irish Government and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is the flagship project of the digital hub.

Has the Minister visited Greencastle and Castletownbere since he got his famous fishing deal? Does the Minister agree that Ireland is now in the third division and that, in English terms, we are at the bottom of the second division? The Dublin Chamber of Commerce report makes it clear that cities such as Helsinki, Seoul and Singapore have the quality broadband network which gives video quality services and are in the premiership.

Cities such as Copenhagen, London, San José, Sydney etc. are in the second division. We are in the third division with Prague, Tel Aviv, Dubai and so on. The Minister has been in office for six months and it is fair to say he has taken little initiative which would change that position. Is it not the case that he slashed the capital budget in this regard? Will he take on board any of the 40 or 50 major recommendations on how to accelerate broadband access for not only Dublin but every part of the country. In relation to regional policy this is vital. What is the Minister's policy on an enhanced tax regime to a lower VAT rate for e-commerce? In other words, will the Minister take a significant initiative to haul us out of the third division where we have been since 1997 The Minister is always harking back to ancient history. When the rainbow Government left office we were top of the league. The Minister did not retain that position. There was no interest the last time around and now he is in a disastrous situation.

It is interesting Deputy Broughan should mention policy. I do not have to go back too far because just before the last election we all issued policy statements on issues, but the Labour Party did not make one policy promise in relation to broadband infrastructure.

That is not true. My colleague—

There was not one concrete proposal on broadband infrastructure in its manifesto.

The Minister is misleading the House.

The Deputy's party did not even bother to launch a technical policy on e-commerce.

The Minister is greatly misleading the House.

The Deputy should allow the Minister to answer without interruption.

He is out of order.

His party has had no communications policy since 1997.

The Minister is on his feet.

On the Deputy's accusation on initiatives I have taken – he is incorrect as he generally is – if he listens to any of the technical people they will tell him that this Minister understands what is required, particularly in relation to the policy direction I gave to the ODTR, now ComReg, before Christmas on FRIACO.

It has not happened yet.

That was a major initiative and it is now accepted by Eircom and others that it will be effective before June of this year. That is, in effect, a flat rate rather than a taximeter type charge per month, which will be up to speed with the Internet. In relation to broadband, this week I launched an initiative on pilot projects and money has been spent in this regard on wireless lam. I very much disabuse the Deputy and others on the spend on broadband. There is no cut in regard to broadband. We will spend as much money as we can on that –€60 million will be spent between now and next year on the roll-off of fibre optic cable to 19 towns and cities around the country.

The Minister slashed the budget.

I assure the Deputy there have been plenty of initiatives in this area.

The Minister lost the battle.

That concludes the question.

The Deputy is wrong.

I have the report.

The Deputy should check it out.

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