Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Dooley, by his own admission today, said his review has "the potential to cause delays" to this process. Deputy Dooley has admitted the consequences of his motion will result in people in rural Ireland waiting even longer for high-speed broadband. This is just not acceptable to me or this Government.

Indeed this evening on national radio, Deputy Dooley called for a period of reflection. I doubt the families, businesses, farmers, and people of rural Ireland, including those in County Clare who are waiting for high-speed broadband require a period of reflection.

The Fianna Fáil motion states that an independent review comprising European experts could be concluded within two months. Leaving aside the potential damage to the integrity of the ongoing procurement process, to embark on such a review makes absolutely no sense now as we approach the final stage, nor could it be achieved within the timeline suggested by Deputy Dooley. My Department has advised me that it would take a minimum of six months to procure and engage international experts to ensure a meaningful review. They then would, of course, be required to review 25 months' worth of material. This would mean time for interviews, reports, discussions, publications and complex legal work.

Over the last 25 months the 80-strong procurement team has been supported and governed by a range of national and international experts in the relevant fields of commercial, legal, technical, procurement, insurance, contract and environmental expertise. Some of the most capable people in Europe with experience in highly complex procurement projects have been working on the project from day one.

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