Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Even if one accepts that there will be risks if, for example, we sign the contract, there is still a fundamental truth. The developer does not have a huge team or significant resources in the event that there are difficulties, compared with some of the bidders that were involved at earlier stages, for example, Vodafone and SSE which are massive utility companies that could have covered some of the risks in the event that there were difficulties, as they would have had the capital, technological and other reserves required.

We are still providing €3.25 billion while a relatively small team, which is mainly organising contractors, is providing - even with the capital it is providing, in addition to the working capital - €200 million. The asset will be owned by that team. Eircom will get a very nice subsidy over 25 years but the team gets to own the asset. The benefit lies entirely with it, therefore. Fibre will be valuable in 25 years. I do not see why the company should own it. Therefore, a concession model would work perfectly well.