Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As indicated, the Minister intends seeking a solution that provides a minimum of 30 Mbps for the connection speed. Europe has set a target of having a baseline of 30 Mbps connection speed across member states by 2020. It is now clear we will not meet that target as the indication is the national broadband plan will not be rolled out fully until 2022. Does the Minister believe, in light of this, that it might be better to jump ahead to what the European Commission has indicated is the premier benchmark, which is 100 Mbps connection speed by 2020? Rather than going for the baseline, could we be a bit ambitious as we will miss the base deadline anyway? I put to the Minister that he consider in his discussions with the three potential bidders that the 2020 target should be the premium benchmark, as established by the Commission, of 100 Mbps. We might dispense with the underachievement of the level now being spoken about.

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