Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe it may have been but I will double check. The Deputy asked about all the advice and economic competence available to me. I answered Deputy Cowen's questions about whose advice I sought quite carefully. It was advice within Departments. Fundamentally the reason I decided on balance that this was the course of action that the Government should proceed with goes back to the question of 100% coverage, which is a key driver of much of the additional cost. A second decision, which I believe was correct but which was not made by Government, is that of fibre optic technology. The recommendation which was made available to me did not deliver 100% coverage. In all the options we examined, I could not find a way which would more credibly deliver 100% coverage more than the one before us today.

The effect of my perceived economic competence is something for the country to decide and for the Deputy to form a view.