Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I want to tease out some of the things the Minister said because I am more confused now than when the questions on this issue started. My first concern relates to the map. The objective of the national broadband scheme is to cover the approximately 10% of the footprint of the country that is not coloured in red, because it does not have current broadband provision, via a wireless, fibre or copper service.

The company 3 is the preferred bidder for the contract and I have no problem with that. I do not care who provides the solutions as long as the contract is right and the company can deliver. However, the Minister seems to suggest that part of the solution will be provided via a mobile product, but one can get a mobile broadband service in a number of these grey areas already, whether on top of a mountain or wherever. The issue with regard to broadband connectivity is not about mobile services. Is the Minister suggesting that 3G or 3 will put up mobile masts in these areas to provide for broadband via a mobile phone? If he is talking about wireless services, that is different, but he needs to clarify what he is talking about.

It is not acceptable to provide for broadband services via mobile phones in rural areas. That may be a useful service for people who want to access the Internet on their mobile phones, but it is not a consistent enough solution for people opening businesses in parts of rural Ireland that cannot get broadband currently.

See this speech in context