Broadband infrastructure
Senator Davitt raised broadband and telecommunications infrastructure, noting that Eir still controls key poles and cabling. He pointed to the ownership structure of the company and began setting out concerns about the sector.
I have been here for more than half an hour.
Comment on this
One chairperson is enough. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for allowing me to speak. My point is very simple and I will not delay the House. I have looked at the figures for broadband and spoken to a couple of people working at a high level in the telecommunications industry. Eir has the infrastructure in place and still owns and controls all the telegraph poles and the underground cabling and ducting laid the length and breadth of the country. The company has been bought and sold several times through various vehicles and the main shareholder is Mr. Xavier Niel, who is based in Paris. The prudent approach to the long-awaited roll-out of broadband would be to repurchase Eir. The company is valued at approximately €3 billion. Given some of the figures mentioned in connection with the roll-out of broadband, engaging with the owner of Eir would be well worth considering.