Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It just shows one that learning is life-long, with fibre-optic cables and all sorts of things. I am going to look at metropolitan area networks, MANs, and the national broadband plan. I will turn to MANS first. Back in 2008, the Comptroller and Auditor General did a report with which the witnesses are probably familiar. Whoever the Comptroller and Auditor General was at that time talked about slow uptake and he pointed out certain things that he discovered. The Department was on notice that there were issues with MANs. I want an update on the uptake of MANs. If the Department does not have it to hand, I would like to receive it in writing later.

On the report we received, this is all about accountability. I am not here to ask about fibre or dark fibre, but to ask about value for money and the processes. When we had a meeting on 14 February, the Analysys Mason report was handed to us. That report was from March 2018. Why, for openness and accountability, was this not published quickly in March 2018 and not in February 2019? On that day, there was a certain cynicism because prices had reduced significantly when this was published. Why was this not published immediately, given the seriousness of the complaints made and what was stated in this report? Can I have a simple answer as to why this was not published? Does the fault lie with Department, the Government or the Minister? Who does it lie with?