Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Order of Business as proposed. Will the Leader of the House devote time within the next week or so to debate the roll-out of the €3 billion and flawed national broadband plan that was signed yesterday by the Government? It was an excellent PR stunt. According to the successful bidder, Mr. David McCourt, the project will ensure businesses and residents will have a bright and sustainable future. The only one who has a brighter future is Mr. McCourt because he has the best sweetheart deal of all time. It is one of the most magnificent achievements of any businessman without one yard of fibre or one pole at his disposal. I know that he is in New York seeking to raise funds for the project and he will probably be successful because it is a win-win for him and his company. In August the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment brought forward a very good and well studied report. Deputy Dooley led off for Fianna Fáil at the time when we came to the conclusion that there was good cause to look at the issue again because we had the ESB, which is not a national but an international company. It has all of the infrastructure needed to provide broadband for every house in Ireland without any difficulty. Eir also stated it would be prepared to consider becoming involved again. Of course, the reason the decision has been announced is the by-election to be held on 29 November, as well as the fact that things are not going very well for the Government. In fact, they are going very badly for it. They are going so badly for it that it is thinking of withdrawing candidates, not to mention anything else. Of course, broadband is needed. We need it. Fianna Fáil-----