Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Fianna Fáil for bringing forward the motion and allowing us an opportunity to discuss this issue, although I share the deep cynicism in the background when it was Fianna Fáil that set out the privatisation agenda for Telecom Éireann which led to the creation of billionaires and the loss of an opportunity to roll out major infrastructure owned by a State company. Many comparisons have been made with the rural electrification scheme, while completely ignoring the fact that it was a State company that rolled out that scheme. While I have great respect for the Minister on a personal basis, the nature of his contribution was frightening, in particular his failure to learn anything from the mistakes of the past. Once again, both he and his officials - I am not sure which - are lecturing us and asking how dare we question the expertise available. He went on to set out the list of experts which, as my speaking time is short, I will not go through. However, it is frightening to name the companies involved, with the list finishing with Here and Now Business Intelligence. If anything is utterly lacking, it is business intelligence. We are in a situation where 542,000 houses are without broadband. The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, knows that there are the most ludicrous situations in Connemara where, although two houses are almost as near as Deputy Thomas Pringle is to me, one house has access to broadband, while the other does not. As public representatives, we have been writing letters and been told that it is not commercially viable but that the State will provide a service in due course. It has not provided it; it has once again foolishly relied on the private market to provide it and we have ended up with this process after many pronouncements. It is idiotic to talk about a delay of six months. Of course, a review is the most basic thing that is necessary.

We had pronouncements by Ministers in the past. Deputy Eamon Ryan made the first in 2010, when he told us that we would have a rollout by 2012. He was followed by former Deputy Pat Rabbitte who was very articulate in telling us when we would have broadband. He was followed by former Deputy Alex White who told us when we were going to have it. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, was left with a very bad legacy, but there was a golden opportunity for him to do something different and he did not.

What is forgotten in all of this is that e-net set up by the State. I understand the Government is in the process of selling it, or perhaps it is more appropriate to say it is getting rid of it. Was it not set up by it? Surely questions have to be asked about how last year it made a decision to allow eir to effectively remove 300,000 homes from the original plan. Where were all of the experts mentioned? What risk assessment was made? There are many other questions to be raised, although I see that my speaking time is almost up.

I support Sinn Féin's amendment and the tenor of what has been tabled by Fianna Fáil. Sinn Féin's amendment is right and proper at this point. Let us learn something. Let us not use the same language that we used about Anglo Irish Irish and the bankers. They knew best and were so big that they could not fail, but, most of all, democracy was ignored and we had no role. We are being told again tonight that we have no role.

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