Fine Gael's Communications Spokesman, Simon Coveney said today that the Minister for Communications must not allow a monopoly situation to develop in broadband infrastructure.

"Eircom is bringing proposals to Minister Eamon Ryan today to promote ways in which the Government can invest in the network in order to stimulate and accelerate roll-out of crucial broadband infrastructure by the private sector," Mr Coveney said.

He acknowledged that the Minister must work with Eircom on broadband as it owns the vast majority of telecommunications infrastructure.

But, he warned, Fine Gael strongly caution the Government against solely subsidising the Eircom network while not giving similar supports to the company's competitors.

"In much of the country, the Government should be subsidising the upgrade of infrastructure to provide sufficient bandwidth and higher download speeds," he said.

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Fine Gael have called on the Minister to, as a matter of urgency, formulate a plan for ways in which the Government can make investment in network upgrade.

Unfortunately, FG claim he has shown a reluctance to make concrete decisions. Instead, setting up another advisory forum and another consultation process.

"What is needed now are decisions," the spokesman said.

"We unveiled such a plan last month, containing specific achievable steps that would have a significant impact on Ireland's connectivity."

Fine Gael have outlined particular actions that they believe the Minister should implement, including ordering an immediate audit by his Department of all telecommunications ducting infrastructure in the ground under public and private ownership; drawing up plans for where ducting is most urgently needed, and mandating State investment in such ducting; entering negotiations with private sector companies who own ducting to achieve open access to that infrastructure; amending building regulations to mandate the installation of telecommunications ducting in all road and housing developments; ensuring that all infrastructure relating to next generation broadband access be subject to fast-track planning rules; revising the terms of the National Broadband Scheme contracts to stipulate that speeds much higher than the current 1Mbps be provided.

(VB/JM)