James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At the outset I offer my congratulations formally to the new Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. We laboured together in the vineyard on the communications committee in the previous term so I have full confidence that the Minister is more than au faitwith the issue. I look forward to engaging with him on this and on transport matters, which are also close to my heart. I am aware the Minister's new responsibilities will encompass that also. I wish him the best of luck in the term ahead.

My question is on broadband provision and roll-out. I welcome both the commitment in the programme for Government and reports in The Sunday Business Postrecently that there is the potential for some accelerated delivery of the national broadband plan. I ask the Minister to elaborate on how that might be achieved and whether it will be uniformly achieved across the country.

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