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

I assure the Deputy that great care will be taken in evaluating the tender that was submitted on 18 September to provide a national broadband plan. As the Deputy knows, the Government regards the delivery of high-speed broadband to every home and premises in the country as a high priority. We recognise that the process, as a result of the findings of Mr. Peter Smyth, is robust. Concerns were raised but Mr. Smyth has made it clear that the then Minister was not in a position to influence, and did not influence in any way, the procedure under which the contract proceeded and was evaluated.

We are in a position now to bring to Government as soon as possible a detailed assessment of what is being proposed. This will allow the Government to examine whether it represents value for money, whether the governance is robust and whether the technology is sufficiently robust so that we will be in a position to deliver what has been set as an objective. I assure Deputy Murphy that great care is being taken in this.

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