Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 October 2021
328. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Questions No. 36 of 14 October 2021, the expected timeframe for the finalisation of proposals to guide the future direction and work programme of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; the groups the engagement has taken place with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51613/21]
View answerThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce is expected to reconvene in the coming weeks. Engagement between officials in my Department and in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is ongoing with proposals regarding the membership, structure and specific actions of the reconstituted Taskforce at an advanced stage.
The draft proposals for the reconstituted Taskforce set out an ambitious and impactful work programme. Focussing on actions that will deliver tangible and sustainable improvements in telecoms services for the public, it is intended that the new Taskforce will leverage the excellent progress made by its predecessor. As with the previous work programme, periodic reports on the Taskforce’s activities will be disseminated online.
Since the last formal meeting of the Taskforce in late 2019, I and my officials, in addition to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and his officials, have continued to engage closely with all Taskforce members and interested stakeholders to ensure that the good work of the Taskforce continues and is built upon, for example via the continued operation of the Joint Utilities Local Authority User Forum which is the primary means of addressing issues between local authorities, utilities and industry and in relation to ensuring that licensing rules remain fit for purpose. The lines of communication between former Taskforce members remain open and productive and good progress has been made on a number of fronts.
The work of the reconvened Task Force will involve engagement with colleagues from across local and national government and with the telecoms sector via Ibec. These engagements will begin at the earliest opportunity with the intention of re-establishing, on a formal footing, the very productive relationships that have endured over recent years.
