Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the terms of ownership and whether there is a concession or gap model, we have heard various presentations and everybody involved in the process usually says that if, at this late stage, we were to look to switch to a concession model whereby the State would end up owning the asset, while we would still maintain the other elements of the service, it would mean a five-year delay. While this is an opinion as much as anything else, surely, even at this late stage in the process, it is open to the State to say that it has assessed the various options and a concession model is the more appropriate approach. I do not see why that would necessarily lead to a five-year review of the process and the need to restart it. We have experience of previous broadband projects that have been delivered in one or two years, effectively. Does ComReg have any sense as to whether that switch to a concession model brings difficulties? It may bring to difficulties for the developer but is it still a feasible option for the State side?