27 September 2006
Dr. Henry: I was fascinated by a phrase I saw recently, "connectivity is productivity", in the book The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman. For a country that boasts that it is to the forefront of information technology, we have been remarkably slow in rolling out broadband. We had considerable difficulty getting it in Dublin 4 on the Burlington Road and it was very costly. I go to Haute-Savoie in France and my son tells me that broadband is so cheap and accessible, the sheep and goats are on-line. I cannot understand what has happened here. Broadband saves time, promotes efficiency and is an economic necessity.
I am particularly saddened by the delay in roll out in rural areas because home working can be suitable for many people, particularly women, and Internet access is now so slow in many places that these people are at a significant competitive disadvantage. There should be more action in this area.
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