In the programme for Government, the intention is clearly set out to appoint a contractor to roll out high-speed broadband to 540,000 premises in rural parts of Ireland. A contract was due to be signed by June 2017, according to that document. The Government and, in particular, the Taoiseach talk repeatedly about supporting rural Ireland.

I note from a press notification that the Taoiseach indicated last night to the farmers at the IFA conference that he would be a champion of the self-employed and people who get up early in the morning. He went on to say that nobody gets up earlier than farmers. He is right about that; they get up very early. However, they have no access to broadband to do much of the work that they are now required to do online, to communicate with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Tánaiste will be familiar with that work from his time in the Department. Their children, who study in school and come home to do their projects, do not have access to high-speed broadband. Those who go on to college and come home at the weekends to work on the farms and assist their parents to live and work there do not have access to high-speed broadband to do their college work. When is the Government going to sign a contract to allow work to start on the roll-out of high-speed broadband to those 540,000 premises?

The Taoiseach's speech last night to the IFA was reaffirming-----

It was just claptrap and soft language.

-----what most people would accept, namely, that Fine Gael is the party that represents farmers most effectively and will continue to do so.

The Tánaiste must be referring to the big farmers.

Tell that to the fellow who has the grub lost to him. That is a joke.

That is obviously a sore point with some Deputies, but I am afraid it is the truth.

If the Tánaiste believes that-----

I think the farming families would like to see some delivery rather than the claptrap.

It is sore for a lot of people.

On broadband, close to seven out of ten premises now have access to high-speed broadband. While that is not enough, the figure will rise to eight out of ten by the end of this year. By 2020 it will be nine out of ten. We are moving to invest significant amounts of public money in ensuring that parts of the country that are not going to get broadband through its normal commercial roll-out will get it because the State will pay for it. We are absolutely committed to doing that as quickly as we can-----

The Government started talking about this in 2012.

-----in the context of the complex contracts that need to be put in place and that the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is managing.

I thank the Tánaiste for that. The farmers will be thrilled.