Mr. Mark Griffin:

I know that the Deputy does not mean it, but there is an inference that we in the Department do not care about achieving value for money. We have been pushing the project for the past three years to ensure we maximise value for money for the taxpayer. We have done so in very difficult circumstances in a situation where we were left with one bidder. We are confident that we have controls in place in terms of clawback and so on that will provide us with a solution we can roll out reasonably quickly and which will secure value for money for the taxpayer. The crucial factor relates to why the national broadband plan cannot be rolled out in the intervention area in a similar manner to what Eir did in the 300,0000 premises area. There are certain key things we need to call out that draw us into a conversation on connection costs also.