Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also have a question about the national broadband plan, against which it is fair to say there is a huge question mark which has been put against it by the Taoiseach and the Minister in recent weeks in responses to questions about the cost which is running to multiples of the original estimated figure. Senior Ministers and the Taoiseach made the point that there was a question mark against the whole project, never mind the questions raised by Members in the House. It is clear that the plan is in trouble. It is also clear that there is concern on the Government benches about the issue. We are very concerned about it. I have been in and out of the Chamber in the past two and half years to raise it, as have other Deputies. Fianna Fáil has recently taken the same position as Sinn Féin on using the ESB to roll out broadband. We are aware that the ESB pulled out once 300,000 homes and businesses were taken by Eir. Is it not time to look at a plan B? There are questions about the cost and the viability of the plan, as well as about the logistics-----

See this speech in context