National broadband Bill timing
Deputy Martin asked when the national broadband plan legislation would be published. The Taoiseach said it was on the priority list and should be published this session.
On 24 July last, the former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment informed the House that the heads of a Bill for the national broadband plan were with the Government and that the Bill was progressing well. The purpose of the Bill is to provide certainty with regard to the conditions of access to existing infrastructure for the State-led intervention on the national broadband plan, so it is obviously critical legislation, perhaps relating to the point I made earlier in terms of access to the existing infrastructure to make sure that the broadband plan can be realised. When can we expect the Bill to be published?
