A new survey showing that Ireland’s broadband is the third most expensive in the OECD rubs salt into the wounds of Irish customers, who already have the worst broadband service in Europe.

The National Competitiveness Council’s new report confirms that Ireland has the third most expensive broadband out of 28 OECD countries, with prices more than double the OECD average.

“This report adds insult to injury to broadband users. Not only do we have the worst broadband in Europe, but we have to pay some of the highest fees.

“This is having a serious impact on Irish businesses, who need a fast and reliable broadband service in order to compete internationally and to drag Ireland out of recession. Irish schools are also suffering from the appalling broadband service.

“Meanwhile, the UK and other EU countries are moving on to the next level of broadband provision with new, superfast services.

“Fine Gael’s NewERA policy sets out how Ireland can kick-start work on a fast, reliable and cost-effective broadband network. Ireland cannot compete internationally with a broadband network which is stuck in the last century.

“Instead of having the third most expensive broadband in Europe, with the worst service, I want Ireland to be in the OECD top five for speed and cost-effectiveness. It’s a shame Fianna Fáil and the Greens just aren’t interested.”

Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Dr Leo Varadkar TD has welcomed Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s proposals to transform Dublin into a ‘knowledge city region’ by 2012 and pledged Party support for many of its recommendations.

Deputy Varadkar said the report on ‘Developing a Knowledge City Region’ is an important reminder of the scale of the task facing Ireland after years of Government inaction. He will represent Fine Gael at the Chamber of Commerce seminar to be held in the Digital Hub on Wednesday morning.

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Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin has finally admitted that Ireland is playing catch-up on broadband access after Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD challenged him in the Dáil on the country’s low take-up of high-speed internet.

Speaking during the Enterprise Minister’s Dáil question time, Deputy Varadkar warned that Ireland has fallen so far behind other countries in terms of broadband that it is costing us new jobs and investment.

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