Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Under a commitment in the programme for Government regarding the national broadband plan fibre to the home was to be delivered to those within the national broadband plan area by 2020. There are 540,000 households and businesses that still do not have broadband service. Three weeks ago, we had the fiasco of the resignation of the former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, following which the Government announced in a press release that it had commissioned a review of the plan by Mr. Peter Smith and that it would be completed in three weeks. The three weeks expired on Tuesday, 7 November. Has the Government received the report? Has the tendering process been compromised on foot of the meetings between the former Minister, Deputy Naughten, and Mr. McCourt, the remaining bidder? Does the Government propose to continue with this flawed sham of a process or does it have a plan B? Seven years ago, Sinn Féin put forward a plan B, involving the use of State infrastructure and a State company such as the ESB to provide the service. I am happy to note that in recent weeks Fianna Fáil has come around to that idea and that last weekend the Labour Party also moved to that position.

Does the Government have a plan B?

See this speech in context