The programme for Government is very clear about the need for the implementation of the national broadband plan. A report published today makes it clear that certain parts of rural Ireland have broadband speeds 36 times lower than those available in the capital. That is a further illustration of the two-tiered nature of economic activity in the country and the degree to which the last Government dropped the ball in respect of rural connectivity. Longford, Mayo, Roscommon and Leitrim are counties that have been forced to accept speeds of 2 Mbps when users in Dublin are accessing broadband at well in excess of 30 or 40 Mbps. The Taoiseach can take it that is having a negative impact on small to medium-sized businesses. There is a long way to go to connect rural communities effectively. I recall talking to officials at the time of the formation of the Government with Independents and all of the public tender issues and so on. The timeline keeps being postponed. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government has the capacity and will he indicate to us when he sees the programme for Government’s commitment in place?

I am delighted that Deputy Moran is alongside the Taoiseach. I am not sure whether I missed something or did he get promoted? I know he tossed a coin with the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Canney, who might be away now.

I will let the Deputy know when it happens. Do not worry. He will be the first to know.

Deputy Canney's presence at the Cabinet table could be affected in this regard.

This is not relevant to promised legislation.

Boxer, the right-hand man.

Steady on, Boxer. You might need votes.

Order, please. The Taoiseach on the relevant issue.

We do not have legislation on it but the fact of the matter is that there is an extraordinary amount of work going on in the area. Everybody appreciates the potential value of broadband. There are many areas in the country in which it is grossly inadequate. Over €2 billion has been invested by the industry in upgrading telecommunications, networks and services over the past four years. About 1.3 million homes and businesses can access high-speed broadband of at least 30 Mbps. This is not confined to urban areas and towns. Many areas throughout the country have that consistency of speed. However, it is clearly inadequate. As Deputy Martin is aware, the Government changed the legislation that allowed for a service provider to work with another entity. In this case, Vodafone and ESB amalgamated to form SIRO. It is now in the business of providing 56,000 homes with high-speed broadband. Eir itself has invested heavily over the last period. The Government has done a very extensive amount of work in preparation for a most complex tender to allow for a roll-out of a competition to supply all of those other areas that are beyond the commercial capacity of the industry providers. That is going to involve very extensive trenching to bring fibre directly to the home, consisting of fibre to the cabinet, which is a distance from every home. It will be next year before it is completed and before the tender can be issued. Whoever wins that will commence a roll-out. It is not legislation. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, has been quite detailed on this. He can send the Deputy the up-to-date provisions if the Deputy wishes.

I have 19 Members offering so we need to be brief if we are going to get through every one.