This morning there are reports that Eir, the biggest telecommunications company in the State, is about to be taken over by its largest shareholder, Anchorage Capital, which is a US private equity firm. Was the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, made aware of this and will there be any legislative issues surrounding the universal service obligation whereby Eir has to provide telecommunications services around the country?

I have not personally been made aware of the situation. On the universal service obligation, USO, any company taking over the ownership of Eir would also be taking over responsibility for any obligations in place. The universal services obligation has been hugely successful in ensuring that people have access to voice telephony services across the State and this will continue. The Deputy will be aware that we are in discussions with the European Commission on the development of universal service obligations in the broadband area such that if after the national broadband plan has been rolled-out, there are people in this city or in other parts of the State without access to high speed broadband the universal service obligation will kick-in.