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

The European Commission will have to go about its work. I have to be careful as a Minister of a national government not to pre-empt the outcome in that regard. However, having seen this project go through so much detailed planning and preparation work over the years, I am very confident it meets state aid requirements. There was in my mind a clear market gap and a real difficulty in that certain areas of the country were not getting effective, fast, fibre-speed broadband. The market was never really going to deliver it. The need for it is also clear. It is central to social as well as economic development. People are entitled to take whatever cases they want to the European Commission, but I do not see that stopping us in any way progressing this. We have the necessary approvals and consensus Government decision-making, so I do not see that any such case will decelerate or divert us, unless, as I said, down the line the European Union makes a decision or ruling in that regard. I do not expect one, however, and it is to be hoped this will not affect the roll-out of the plan.

The impact of Covid on the national broadband plan really brings home the absolute urgency of us having universal high-speed broadband coverage. There is huge potential in this country for us to change our whole working patterns.

I hope we will not stay at level 5 restrictions. There will be a return to work and I think it is important that we try to accelerate that as quickly as we can. There are real benefits to be gained from people being in offices working with colleagues.