Broadband rollout response
The Leader responded to Murnane O’Connor’s broadband concerns by citing fibre laid, business connection targets, live mobile stations and ComReg work. He also blamed the former sale of Eircom for delaying the national broadband strategy.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney.
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I was not sure from the Senator's contribution who he was referring to. I believe he referred to trade Ministers.
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He is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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I would be happy to have the debate.
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I believed the Leader was well informed on these issues.
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I will ignore the Senator.
Senator Murnane O'Connor, as part of her contribution on the Order of Business, raised the issue of broadband. She should look at the task force report published. Does she want to heckle me now or will I finish? She is about to start.
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I will let the Leader finish.
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The Member opposite fails to recognise that 1,000 km of fibre-optic cable have been laid. There is a commitment to have 400,000 businesses hooked up. There is a commitment to activate 135 live stations this year. As the Senator knows, the task force is quite clear on what is required. I refer to the action points. The national mobile phone map is live. ComReg is working on that. The Minister is meeting Eir this week to discuss the matter. The Senator will know that it was her party, when in government, that sold off Eircom, which delayed the national broadband strategy by a generation.
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Fine Gael signed up two years ago.