Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a global telecommunications consortium that has a huge wealth of experience. In fact, when Deputy Dooley was in short pants and I was on the other side of the House discussing this with Senator Leyden's good friend, former Deputy Mary O'Rourke, I spoke about bringing all the State-owned fibre together. Enet came into this country and did that by itself on a commercial basis without any assistance from the State. That is the reason there is an independent backhaul network available in this country. It is also the reason we are in a position to be able to conduct such a bidding process. At present, three open access pure fibre networks are being built which allow for wireless and mobile operators to reach the four corners of the country. That is happening as we speak.

The reason SIRO decided to withdraw from this process is to focus on the roll-out of the 51 towns across the country. Deputy Dooley said that this will undermine the tender process. It will not.