Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Ceann Comhairle, the Clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan, and all who were involved with the wonderful occasion, ocáid speisialta a bhí ann, for the celebration of 100 years of Dáil Éireann. It saddens me tonight to stand here to say that we have no broadband in rural areas, and no sign of it due to the Minister's ineptitude and inexperience and the uncaring attitude to the people of rural Ireland. It is an appalling vista 100 years on from those brave and noble men and women, many of whom who gave their lives, and who worked so tirelessly to build up the Republic. The Government has turned it into nothing short of a banana republic, and it is a long and twisted banana.

Earlier I listened to Deputy Dooley refer to broadband commitments being made since 2012. I was in the Fianna Fáil Party from 2007 until 2012 and I can tell this House that it was announced many times in that period also. The public is tired, weary and sick of the Government's shenanigans. The national children's hospital fiasco will cost €2 billion and it is on the wrong site, all because of medical politics. It stinks to high heaven. The late great Canon Hayes rolled out rural electrification back in the 1950s. Why does the Government not give the project to the ESB and cut out all the shenanigans?

I am a small businessman and I tender for work, as do my colleagues here. We cannot have a tender process with one person. It just does not happen and the ordinary man in the street knows this. Will the Minister please ask the ESB to do this?

With regard to the changes in legislation, I understand some changes have been made already. The ESB rolls out wires and cables and it has a connection to every house. During storms, whether it be Storm Emma, storm Ceann Comhairle or whatever one wants to call it, the ESB teams are out and have things fixed within hours or days.

There are houses in villages and towns in Tipperary, from Monard to Nenagh, Ballyporeen to Moneygall, Ahenny to Soloheadbeg, where our noble men fired the first shots in the War of Independence, Newcastle to Nenagh and Kilcornan to Hollyford, that all have no broadband. People cannot operate. Students have to do the CAO applications for their courses and try to study for their courses. They are being hugely discriminated against compared to the people in this city and elsewhere. Farmers also have to fill out application forms, which are computerised, or else they cannot get grants. However, if they cannot apply, it is their loss.

It is time the Minister copped on and paid some respect to na daoine de chuid na tuaithe. The people of rural Ireland are entitled to a modicum of respect. I go to Medjugorje once a year, which is in an impoverished country with a poor economy but it has broadband along with water and other facilities. It is a very poor place and yet this is supposed to be among the wealthiest countries where people treat themselves every day. The Government should be ashamed of itself. The sooner it gets the hell out of the place, the better in order to let someone else in who can govern. It is a disgrace.

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