Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the central tenets and commitments in A Programme for a Partnership Government is, "We will also provide additional exchequer capital, if needed, to deliver on our commitment to bring next generation broadband to every house and business in the country by 2020." Clearly, that commitment will not be delivered upon. Many people across the State are very fearful that not only will it not be delivered by the target date of the end of next year but also that it may never be delivered. In the context of that very firm commitment, what is the status of the national broadband plan? In view of what we have learned about tendering, is the Taoiseach satisfied that the tender that has been agreed by Government is robust? On the nature of that tender, is it still the Government's commitment to provide a direct fibre link to virtually every house or business if not to every house or business? On the comment the Taoiseach made yesterday about lowballing and the comment the Minister for Finance made this morning that something went very wrong with the children's hospital tender, will the tender for the national broadband plan be reviewed in the light of what the Taoiseach now knows?

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