Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is that important to the business sector of rural Ireland.

How did this whole roll-out system start, where four to five consortia were bidding in the beginning and it all ended up with one? What happened, in Mr. Griffin's own words, that the companies like Eir etc. pulled out during the process and we ended up with just one? Can I get an explanation as a layperson as to why that happened? Where there is no competition I do not believe there is proper business acumen. One needs opposition and bidders against one another to get proper pricing and to make a proper contract award to the consortium, whenever it is handed out.