The Labour Party has claimed Ireland's broadband infrastructure is "backward" compared to that of other EU countries.
Party spokesman Tommy Broughan claimed Ireland would fail to meet EU targets for the roll-out of broadband and he called on the Government to make its development a priority in 2005.
"We're now supposed to be the third richest country in the world," he said. "A lot of that was built on internet and ICT technology.
"We now find ourselves in 20th place in Europe in relation to broadband."