Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a momentous afternoon, not something I had expected when I came into this House. I came in this afternoon to speak in support of Deputy Naughten as a person of integrity and honesty. I genuinely believe that. I do not believe for a second that he would act intentionally to try and influence or act inappropriately in respect of the allocation of a contract or contracts relating to the national broadband plan. I have been involved with Deputy Naughten over the past two and a half years and he has been in politics for the best part of 19 or 20 years. I do not believe for a moment that his involvement with Mr. McCourt was in any way meant to influence how those contracts were to be allocated. I believe the portrayal of his involvement with Mr. McCourt as having an ulterior motive is completely incorrect. I do not believe the former Minister acted inappropriately.

Obviously, the Taoiseach does not share my confidence. I disagreed with the former Minister on many issues, such as the attempted closure of 390 post offices, and I was deeply frustrated by the slow roll-out of rural broadband. I believe the procurement and tendering process was flawed as otherwise, why did Eir and SIRO pull out of the process? Deputy Stanley said that the allocation of the easiest 300,000 homes to Eir had a significant impact on why the other two organisations dropped out of the process.

I do not have confidence that the Government will solve these problems, including our health problems, and I do not believe it is going to deliver services to rural Ireland with regard to health, broadband or climate change. We have seen the resignation of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which must now call into question the ability of the Taoiseach to continue to lead this Government in a cohesive manner. That is the fundamental question that will be asked this evening. I believe the Taoiseach must come into the House and answer that question. Can he lead a Government in a cohesive manner into the future? I believe he cannot.

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