Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have to say I am concerned about the general attitude being taken by Government, with the fact the national broadband plan has missed every single target set for it up to this point. That is not acceptable. This contract is costing Irish taxpayers €3 billion. There should be no scope for failure, especially when one considers the price of failure for so many families, workers and communities waiting in anticipation of being connected to this network.

I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure we do not accept what I would consider in some instances to be fairly dubious excuses as to why those targets have not been met. The key question that has not been answered on the issue of the distinction between loans and investments equity and debt is why the investors would have chosen the loan route, if it is the exact same principle, which is, in essence, what the Minister of State said. Why did those people who were investing do so in the form of loans rather than equity?

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