Mr. Peter McCarthy:

As a result of the operation of the State-owned metropolitan area networks, Enet has a unique perspective on what State intervention in the telecoms market can do to create competition, remove the barriers to foreign direct investment and reduce the cost of bandwidth. Enet, therefore, has always been supportive of the national broadband plan, NBP, and the Government's vision for a ubiquitous high-speed broadband network. In December 2015, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment formally launched its procurement process for the NBP. At that time, Enet's shareholder was Granahan McCourt and that company developed a consortium to participate in the tender process. A number of Enet staff were seconded onto the project to work on the bid on behalf of the consortium. We have no seconded staff any more in the consortium.

In March 2016, the consortium lodged its prequalifying questionnaire, PQQ, which was the first formal milestone in the process. At this stage and throughout, Granahan McCourt was formally the lead bidder.