Debate contribution: Storm Éowyn: Mobile and Broadband Connections

Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on 3 February 2025.

MLA

Dr Caoimhe Archibald

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

3 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Question for Urgent Oral Answer

Heading

Storm Éowyn: Mobile and Broadband Connections

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4774372

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for his good wishes. As I have indicated, the relationship between me, as Minister, and the telecommunications companies has limitations, because that is a reserved matter. However, we have publicly funded contracts in which there is a direct interest and communication. Looking at this experience and at the impact of the storm, I can see that lessons need to be learned, and that falls across a number of areas. I am happy to look at that and engage in any way that I can. Any leverage that I can bring to bear to find solutions for people who continue to be without connections is something that I am more than happy to do. However, as I say, they are private companies that are regulated by Ofcom, and direct lines have to be gone through because of that. As I said, I am happy to look at what I can do.

I have not been fully briefed on all that at this point. I thank the Member for her good wishes. As she would expect, the appropriate lines of communication between my officials and the civil contingencies group are there, and they continue in the response to the storm. In the aftermath, we will look at the lessons learned and how we can improve while taking account of what has gone right in this instance. Some things have gone quite well and according to plan, and the response has been good. There are a lot of lessons that can be leaned more broadly than just how we, as an Executive, can respond. For the likes of the communications companies and everything else, there are certainly things that we will want to take on board in planning for the future.

That would be unusual. If you are without communications at home or even if you own a small business, 48 hours is 48 hours. I will be happy to take that one away and get to the bottom of it.

I thank the Member for his good wishes. As I indicated, a post-incident review of the storm will take place on 10 February, and it will assess all of those impacts and lessons learned. Clearly, there are lessons that have to be learned in respect of mobile and other connectivity. Officials are, of course, engaging through the structures that are there with all the relevant parties to ensure that, first, the response is happening but then to assess the way forward.

We have sought that information from the telecommunications companies. We did that last week, and we will re-engage to look for some of the information because it has not yet been forthcoming. We have information from Fibrus, where we have a relationship. My understanding is that 6,000 premises on the Fibrus network are currently without connection. Those are mainly in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and Mid Ulster. The figure has reduced from 40,000 premises at its peak, so it is clear that good work has been done in that regard. Obviously, it is a huge inconvenience to remain without connection, so all efforts need to be put into connecting the people who remain without connection as quickly as possible.

It will be a matter for Fibrus to set out what compensation payments it will put in place and what the criteria for those will be.

I thank the Member and all Members for their good wishes. As she will appreciate, we are still in the response phase of the aftermath of the storm. As I said, we will look at the lessons learned, and I will be happy to consider whether there is any potential for taking a wider look at the economy.

I thank the Member for his good wishes. As I have indicated, if you remain without connection, that is a huge inconvenience. That date for restoration seems to be quite a long way away. Clearly, there will be reasons for the time frame that is being projected. I do not know all of the reasons for that, but all efforts should be put into expediting those reconnections for all properties. As I mentioned in response to some other Members, there may be health and safety reasons why some things will take longer, but, whatever the reasons, we need to address them and ensure that everybody is reconnected as quickly as possible.

727 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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