TD says Broadband scheme “hopelessly compromised despite Peter Smyth report”
Calls on Government to scrap any deal with ENet consortium
“Rural broadband should be rolled out by state-controlled company like ESB”, says Bríd Smith TD
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has claimed that the National Broadband Plan is hopelessly compromised and the current tendering competition has to be scrapped.
The TD says the competitive tendering process has already cost the state €18 million and two years without a single home being connected to Broadband.
The TD stated: “The Taoiseach’s only complaint on Minister Naughton’s actions was that he should have met all the bidders for dinner. This, according to the Symth report, is incorrect and its okay to meet one bidder on a regular basis for dinner during a competitive tendering process.”
Deputy Smith, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, said the report which exonerated former Minister Naughton’s meetings with David McCourt could not alter the fact that the scheme is a fiasco which, if the contract is awarded to ENet, could face legal challenges and further lengthy delays.
Bríd Smith said:
“This process is finished and has cost the state over €18 million so far, awarding the contact at this stage to ENet when all others companies have dropped out is the worst option and could further delay and unravel the prospect of rural broadband.
“We need the project delivered by an existing state-owned company like the ESB. Tha
