Results 1,781-1,800 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: Mr. Ó hÓbáin is saying the Government is obliged to sign the contract.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: I am sorry for interrupting, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: As will I.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: So Mr. Ó hÓbáin-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: It is and a very expensive one if the Department does not proceed. It has stated categorically, in conferring preferred bidder status on Granahan McCourt, that the company has met the criteria laid down to deliver the project for the State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: If Eir's proposal, therefore, was one that could be supported, what would the Department do then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: Has Mr. Griffin sat down to discuss the matter with Eir? Is he stating the Department cannot step out of the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: Would there be a cost to the State if that were to happen, considering that preferred bidder status has been given to Granahan McCourt? In doing so, the Department, on behalf of the State, has acknowledged that the company has met the criteria, has done all that it has asked it to do and has the capacity to and will deliver the project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: If the Department steps outside that process now, it will not have much luck in court-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: With the best will in the world, the Department would not be able to take on Eir's proposal if was to be substantiated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: If Eir were to state tomorrow that it was a proposal, what would the Department do then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: The Department would walk away because it has gone so far that it cannot turn back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: I know. I agree with Mr. Griffin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: We are shooting in the dark.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: With the indulgence of the Chair, I have come to the conclusion that we are shooting in the dark. If Eir could substantiate its claim and turn it into an offer, the Department and the State would not be in a position to take it up. This is all great, but I do not know where it is bringing us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: It appears that there is no turning back. As I stated, if Eir could substantiate its claim and it became an offer on the table in front of the Department, it would not be able to sign it. I think the report of the committee could be written now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: Yes, but we are only going through the motions. Mr. Griffin is doing his best to answer questions. If it was the case that Eir could undoubtedly provide this facility for €1 billion, the Department still could not take up that offer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: The Department has gone so far in the preferred bidder status-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: I do not know if that was the Department's idea or a political idea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2019)

Barry Cowen: It is strange that it came on 20 May, or whenever it was.