Irish Rural Link
| Main Menu | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
| Latest News |
|---|
http://www.irishrurallink.ie, Powered by Joomla! Progression
| Nationalise Eircom to activate innovation taskforce’s broadband recommendations |
|
| Written by Communications | |
| Thursday, 11 March 2010 | |
|
Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national network of rural community groups – has said Eircom must be taken back into state ownership in order to implement the Innovation Taskforce’s vision for nationwide high speed broadband. Irish Rural Link said the Taskforce’s recommendations restate policies first announced nearly a decade ago and it was now time for action. According to Irish Rural Link broadband is one of the serious challenges facing those seeking to create jobs in rural areas, though the Taskforce’s real commitment to balanced regional development is unclear. Irish Rural Link Chief Executive Seamus Boland said “The Taskforce’s criticism of operators’ lack of investment in broadband is a damning indictment of Eircom and its nationalisation must be considered as the speediest way of implementing the report’s broadband recommendations. It’s now time for action as the Taskforce’s comments are a reiteration of Government policy as far back as 2002’s ‘New Connections: A Strategy to Realise the Potential of the Information Society’ . Eircom has a stranglehold on telecommunications infrastructure that it refuses to upgrade. Entrepreneurs creating jobs in rural areas are being forced to drive to internet cafes to conduct business. Ireland must aim to meet and exceed the broadband service available in rural areas of competing countries as part of growing the economy.” Mr Boland continued “it is disappointing that the report singles out cities as playing an important role as drivers of growth, and as a magnet for investment and skilled workers and entrepreneurs with no reference to innovation opportunities in rural areas. In this regard the report ignores huge swathes of the country. Recommendations to remove regulatory and planning barriers that are delaying the development of renewable energy projects are, however, welcome.” -Ends- For further information, please contact (anytime): Seamus Boland (Chief Executive) 090 6482744 or 086 249 1153 Seán O’Leary (Policy and Communications Officer) 090 648 2744 or 083 333 9364 |