Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Local Government
Period
1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024
Specific Details
Broadband and Phone Coverage
Intended results
To highlight how important it is for farmers and rural dwellers to have access to high-quality fibre broadband service and phone coverage that makes their lives better, lowers the cost of doing business and more broadly supports diversification of rural economies and jobs through digital technologies enabling more people to live and work in rural locations and encouraging others to relocate to rural areas.
To propose that an accessible and affordable phone and fibre network that meets the speed and data usage requirements of both current and future Irish consumers is available countrywide.
To propose the immediate rollout of the network across all geographic regions, accommodating all rural premises/ farms including those that are at a distance from main roads
To propose that the rollout plans must run as a parallel process, starting at the most rural edges of the network and working back to ensure that those most in need of the service receive it as a priority.
To propose that the network rollout should be completed in a timely fashion and have hard ‘completion time frames' with penalties.
To propose that significant investment is made in remote working infrastructure to enable more people to live and work in rural communities, including where available the conversion of vacant properties in town centres as Remote Working Hubs.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy and Chief Economist, Elaine Farrell IFA Director of Governance & Oireachtas Engagement
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Mass communications
Letter All Oireachtas Members
Submission All Oireachtas Members
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (6-10)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
James Browne
Minister of State (Department of Justice)
Joe O'Brien
Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)
Michael McGrath
Minister (Department of Finance)
Micheál Martin
Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)
Roderic O'Gorman
Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
Malcolm Noonan
Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)