Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will take up Senator Ó Céidigh's invitation for the event from 26 to 28 April. It is a great initiative and I thank Treasa and Cáit for organising it. It is hugely important that we can all speak our native tongue.

I want to challenge the remarks made by the Taoiseach at the weekend when he dismissed out of hand the idea that the ESB and existing infrastructure could be used to deliver broadband. I want to know if his colleagues in this Chamber share his views in this regard because I believe that not only is he wrong about this, his arrogance and dismissal of the proposal, which is getting increasing support, shows that the Taoiseach was never in touch with rural Ireland in the first place. I know he mentioned Belmullet in his speech but he needs to do more than namecheck places to make us believe he has an understanding of the issues in rural Ireland. Why can we not use ESB poles for fibre broadband? What does the Taoiseach think is already hanging from the poles?

The Taoiseach has also said that broadband simply has to be underground. This is nonsense. Households and businesses in Mayo are incensed by this statement. We cannot see how the Taoiseach can be so dismissive of a workable solution while in the very same interview he openly admitted that the project will cost many multiples of the original €500 million.

A large number of Government Deputies used the broadband issue when asking for votes in the previous general election, claiming that only a Fine Gael-led Government could deliver such a key element of business. Come the next election, there will be a very quick test to see if that promise has been delivered upon. The Government cannot claim credit for any private companies because we must also take affordability into the supply of broadband. People will have a very easy test. When they turn on their computers and try to download a design plan, upload agricultural forms, get a map or do whatever needs to be done on a computer with Government Departments, they can see how fast that happens and how long they must wait. I am asking for the Minister to come to the House with an open mind to listen to all options for delivering this plan. That is the only solution. At the weekend, the Taoiseach effectively told rural Ireland to wait and trust him but we can wait no longer and I do not think many people believe him, never mind trust him, on this issue. Broadband will be judged on whether it is delivered. Promise after promise for decades is just not good enough any more in rural Ireland. This Government will stand or fall on the issue of broadband, particularly in rural Ireland.