The government has defended the process by which it’s selecting a company to roll out broadband to rural Ireland.
It’s after the government came under fire for its handling of the process which has seen two companies walk away, leaving only one remaining.
Communications Minister Denis Naughten insists the withdrawal of Eir will actually simplify the process, and lead to a faster delivery of broadband, but Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD believes the process is in a crisis.
Eir’s withdrawal from this bidding process for the National Broadband Plan follows that of SIRO, a company run by Vodafone and the ESB, last year.
Eir is blaming the Government, saying the process was too complicated and that the state was paying too little.
It means Enet is now the sole firm in the running to be the providers, but Communications Minister Denis Naughten insists contractors will now be on the ground quicker than would otherwise have been the case.
However, in the Dáil this lunchtime, Fianna Fáil’s Communications spokesman, Clare TD Timmy Dooley, strongly disagreed.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney, however, is backing up his government colleague.
He told the house that contract details will be ironed out by September and that work can then begin on the rapid delivery of broadband to around half a million homes still without high-speed internet access.
Minister Coveney insists it’s natural that bidders withdraw from a commercial process.
