Ms Michele Connolly:

The detailed solutions from Eir and Granahan McCourt were comparable in terms of pricing. One entity had existing infrastructure in operation on the island of Ireland, while another had significant experience of delivering telecoms networks overseas. Both entities priced the project on a comparable level.

I shall now turn to Deputy Stanley's specific question. On the impact of the withdrawal of the 300,000 homes, the exact pricing would have been completed by Analysys Mason as it was a technical assessment. That issue would have been looked at from a number of perspectives because the cost impact might have been dependent on who the winning bidder was. One way or another, removing the 300,000 premises would have removed revenue from the project.