Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Factual answers are important. In the previous Administration, much work was done through Cabinet sub-committees which usually met for a full day. I know it is the Taoiseach's practice that more work is done at full Cabinet meetings rather than at Cabinet sub-committee meetings. However, that means one has long agendas.

Does the infrastructure committee deal with the national broadband plan? We went through a hiatus on one of the most important infrastructure projects in the State because of the resignation of the former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Taoiseach himself has described the roll-out of broadband as analogous to the rural electrification programme. What has happened on this? Has a Cabinet sub-committee discussed the national broadband plan? Where are we now with the review of the integrity of the plan's process to date? When will proposals be brought back here?

Tens of thousands of people living in my constituency and throughout the country are desperately anxious to know when they will have access to broadband. This is one of the areas one would imagine a bespoke Cabinet sub-committee would be set up to bring in all the officials concerned from across various Departments to ensure there is a full and vigorous evaluation completed of the process to date, what needs to be done to mend the fatally damaged hand of the Government and how we proceed.

See this speech in context