Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Can the NRA make money out of it? My point is that it is only a matter of time before fibre is rolled out to homes. Either this Minister or another Minister will do it. In my view this is the way Ireland will go in the future. It is crucial that not only do we allow open access to publicly-owned ducting on national roads and ducting available elsewhere in State ownership but we must also facilitate the roll-out of fibre into local and regional roads, into housing estates and ultimately into houses. The only way this can be achieved is either to access Eircom ducting through regulation, build our own new ducting or in some cases, use some of the State-owned ducting.

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