Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, has been forced yet again to deny that there has been another delay to the national broadband plan. Last week, I reminded the House that a private operator, Imagine, had warned as early as February, before the Government signed off on the plan, that this could lead to difficulties with EU state aid approval. It has now emerged that the Regional Internet Service Providers Association, the industry body which represents smaller rural wireless operators, is also considering taking a legal challenge to the plan on state aid grounds. There is real uncertainty now at the 11th hour.

Can the Taoiseach clarify if the current delay is due to the objection to the Government's application of EU state aid rules and, if so, what is the potential cost to the taxpayer if this challenge is successful? Can the preferred bidder, Granahan McCourt, apply for additional compensation from Government for encroachment by other operators of high-speed broadband before deployment of the plan?

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