Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The national broadband plan is a major undertaking which has been compared with rural electrification. It will certainly be as important as rural electrification from a social and economic point of view. As a representative of a rural constituency, the Minister will be aware that the lack of broadband has retarded social and economic development in rural areas. While Sinn Féin wants the network to be rolled out quickly and without delay, we also want taxpayers to obtain value for their investment. The potential return to the State of delivering high-speed broadband to rural areas will be quickly realised. As the Minister stated in reply to an earlier question, 26 years is a long time. However, it is not that long since the lads to my right on the Fianna Fáil benches privatised Telecom Éireann. I remember that decision clearly and we have lived with its negative effects. For this reason, we need to take a long view.

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