Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Exactly. I agree with the Deputy's analysis that the carbon footprint will be impacted. Many progressive companies engage in significant remote working and they only do that if there is a secure fibre link. They will not do it on a wireless-based link.

The Deputy is correct that if this was given to a commercial State company, there would have to be a new procurement process. One could set up a State company from scratch which would tender to get the fibre but state aid cannot be given to an existing economic undertaking without a procurement process.