Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a person (details supplied) interviewed, received a statement from or had any other contact with another person that was present at a meeting with his predecessor in New York as part of a review conducted of the tendering process for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22646/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A minute of this meeting was published last year amongst the documentation made available to the Process Auditor, Mr. Peter Smyth.

It was a matter for Mr. Smyth, under his terms of reference, to interview or receive statements from any relevant parties as part of his review of the NBP procurement process, prior to finalising his report.

The Government noted and accepted the findings of this report on 27th November 2018, and it was discussed in detail in the Dáil on 4th December 2018, where I outlined the background to the report and responded to questions.

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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375. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 May 2019, if a company (details supplied) is 100% owned by the holding company referred to in the response; if the State has shareholdings in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22651/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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376. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 May 2019, if the holding company referred to in the response is 100% owned by a company (details supplied); if the State has shareholdings of the holding company; if another company has a shareholding of the holding company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22652/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together.

National Broadband Ireland will be wholly owned by a holding company which is in turn wholly owned by Granahan McCourt Dublin (Ireland) Limited.

The Minister will hold one special share in National Broadband Ireland. The special share will not carry any economic rights, including a right to share in profits or to vote at shareholder meetings. The special share does not count as equity share capital.

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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377. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the contract in question in relation to the national broadband plan is between the State and a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22653/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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NBI Infrastructure Limited, trading as National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is a new entity established by Granahan McCourt for the purposes of delivering the NBP. It is this company that will be the signatory to the NBP Contract with the State.

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 May 2019, the agreement to be put in place between the holding company and a company (details supplied); if it will provide a legal guarantee that the company will provide extra equity as a contingency in order to fulfil the national broadband plan; if it fails to be implemented as expected, the person or body responsible for negotiating the agreement; if the State is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22654/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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379. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 May 2019, the agreement to be put in place between the holding company and a company (details supplied); if it will provide a legal guarantee that the company will provide extra equity as a contingency in order to fulfil the national broadband plan; if it fails to be implemented as expected, the person or body responsible for negotiating the agreement; if the State is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22655/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 May 2019, the agreement to be put in place between the holding company and a company (details supplied); if it will provide a legal guarantee that the company will provide extra equity as a contingency in order to fulfil the national broadband plan; if it fails to be implemented as expected, the person or body responsible for negotiating the agreement; if the State is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22656/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 380, inclusive, together.

The precise manner in which National Broadband Ireland (NBI) must be capitalised and supported throughout the project term was set out in the tender documentation. These requirements were fully assessed by an expert commercial and finance team as part of the final tender evaluation process. While there are no further requirements outside of this process, the level of the State subsidy is capped, with NBI carrying project risk.

NBI is a new entity established by Granahan McCourt for the purposes of delivering the NBP. It is this company that will be the signatory to the NBP Contract. The equity of NBI will be invested in NBI via a holding company as would be typical for projects such as this. The holding company will be wholly owned by Granahan McCourt Dublin (Ireland) Limited.

The Bidder will invest a minimum level of up to €220 million including equity funding and working capital requirements. This is made up of €175 million from Tetrad Corporation and the rest from Granahan McCourt (Dublin) Ireland Ltd.

At final tender, Tetrad Corporation provided a commitment letter in relation to the equity required for the project. The equity commitments will be contractualised in advance of contract award. This means that the Minister will have the right through those contracts to enforce the equity commitment on behalf of the project.