Debates between Lord Alderdice and Baroness Barran during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Wed 17th Jul 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill
Lords Chamber

Report stage (Hansard): House of Lords & Report stage (Hansard): House of Lords

Shared Rural Network

Debate between Lord Alderdice and Baroness Barran
Monday 28th October 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran
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My Lords, I understand that it is particularly in relation to the supply chain that we anticipate the involvement of other organisations. As regards there being a stick, there is a very major one for mobile network operators in the sense that they can be fined up to 10% of their turnover, which is pretty hefty, if they fail to deliver this by 2026.

Lord Alderdice Portrait Lord Alderdice (LD)
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My Lords, I declare an interest as someone who has a home in the Glens of Antrim. In that part of the world, the broadband and mobile strength has been very poor. Indeed, not only has it not been extended: a couple of years ago we were advised that it would be cut back. This is a very serious problem, because in this area there are a lot of tourists and rural farmers, and it is common in situations of that kind for there to be emergencies, particularly when there is snow or whatever. It has been suggested that such areas do not matter terribly much. In fact, it is often much more important that there is mobile connection in those areas than in the middle of a city, where people are easily able to access emergency arrangements. Therefore, whether it is for tourists, farmers or walkers, I appeal to the Minister to emphasise to these companies that it is absolutely crucial for emergency reasons that adequate mobile coverage is sustained and developed.

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran
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All the commitments being made are minimum commitments. Clearly, if there is the opportunity to deliver more, the ambition is there—but we do not want to overpromise at this stage. A lot of the investment will go into areas such as those the noble Lord described, which today have no coverage— including, I hope, close to where he lives, and certainly more widely across Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill

Debate between Lord Alderdice and Baroness Barran
Report stage (Hansard): House of Lords
Wednesday 17th July 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Alderdice Portrait Lord Alderdice
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As someone who had to work with the guidance before the legislation came through— and this is for reassurance to colleagues—I know that the problem was that the medical profession had to work without guidance for a long time. What happened was that the guidance was introduced partly to satisfy—

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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I remind the noble Lord that we may speak only once at this stage.