Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support what Senator Ó Ríordáin said about the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. I hope that no other Irish team such as the Ireland women's rugby union team is in similar circumstances. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport should clarify the position because, as Senator Ó Ríordáin said, it is disgraceful.

I support Senator Lombard's call to invite the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to come to the House to discuss the roll-out of broadband. I congratulate the Minister on his announcement today about the rolling out of broadband all over Ireland. As we know, this is the new highway and it will help small businesses the length and breadth of the country. The quicker it is rolled out, the better. The Minister has done a wonderful job over the past 12 months in respect of making this priority. He said it would be a priority and he is sticking to this priority and rolling out broadband over the next year or two. He is to be congratulated for this. I support the call to bring the Minister here so that we could have a debate on how it will be rolled out over the next number of months.