Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I understand that it is important to protect the lives and safety of the public. However, some of the restrictions do not make any sense. One that I am challenging is the restriction on the marts. Food production is an essential activity and I would like the restrictions on the marts to be questioned and challenged.

The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, stated at the start of October that the first tranche of 7,900 rural homes in the national broadband plan will be passed and ready for high speed fibre within the next ten weeks. While this is great for these homes, it is manifestly insufficient because not a single midland county was included in that announcement. We are undergoing a just transition in the midlands and it is totally unfair with regard to job creation and everything else. We are on the back foot because of the lack of broadband infrastructure. Will the Taoiseach direct the Ministers, Deputies McConalogue and Ryan, to brief rural Deputies on the outstanding issues that I have raised here? Many people are worried, especially businesses. It appears at times that the cart has been put before the horse with the actions taken by Government. We have an online trading voucher of €19.8 million for businesses but many of those businesses do not have adequate broadband, so there is no point in introducing measures such as that or the click and collect method or approach. We need to ensure that those businesses have adequate broadband.

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