Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand from media reports that the Government decided to fund the roll-out of broadband with a model called the gap funded model, which I understand from the "News at One" entails a 26 year contract and that the network will be privately owned at the end of the 26 years. It is very redolent of the way we built the west link toll bridge when the Government ended up buying back the toll bridge after 26 years, amazingly enough, for €600 million although it cost €36 million to build. When in Government we had an agreement that we would safeguard the delivery systems of vital infrastructure such as gas and electricity and protect those networks. Will the Taoiseach agree the broadband network is as intrinsically important to the State as gas or electricity? Is this decision of Cabinet irrevocable? In the new minority Government situation can we have a debate about it in this House? Will the decision be communicated to the House by way of a debate, motion, or legislation?

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