Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not need five minutes. I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I think everyone acknowledges how hugely important this project is. Internet access is probably more important to rural Ireland than anything else if we want strong rural and regional development. This is the infrastructure of the future, and the ambition we have for it is right. I acknowledge the very significant work Deputy Naughten has put into this project. There is absolutely no doubting the effort he has put into it and other parts of the Department's brief. Clearly, from the questions that have been raised, people recognise that this is a very challenging project in many respects. It is highly ambitious. I do not know of any other country that has committed to this level of ambition. I know of many that have fallen short of such a level of ambition. My only determination at this stage is to bring this process to a fair and impartial conclusion in order that Government can take a decision as to whether this is a technically robust solution, whether the governance of all its aspects, including the risk to which the State could be exposed, is adequate and whether it represents value for money for the taxpayer. I think these evaluations are at a point at which we will very soon be able to go to Government. I assure Deputy Eamon Ryan that this information will be published and he will be able to see the evaluations that were conducted.

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