Government not out of the woods on broadband issue

Good morning.

What’s that sound? It’s the unmistakable din of the Government-at-large breathing a massive sigh of relief.

Independent auditor Peter Smyth’s report into whether the broadband tender process was compromised by a series of private meetings held between former minister Denis Naughten and American businessman David McCourt found the plan was not tainted as a result of those meetings, letting the Government get the show back on the road.

Read Pat Leahy's analysis of the report here.

Brexit overshadows Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil talks

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National broadband plan was in crisis long before the Naughten controversy

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Smyth report set to clear way for rural broadband scheme

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Naughten told sole broadband bidder its price was too high

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But what next?

Firstly, the controversy is far from over. Time has been scheduled for a special Dáil debate next Tuesday, and Opposition parties are intimating the plan is far from safe. Fianna Fáil communications spokesman Timmy Dooley wants Mr Smyth to appear before the Oireachtas Communications Committee, and his party has already indicated privately that broadband provision will be a key issue in the confidence-and-supply negotiations.

The Opposition can also seize upon a section of the report where Mr Smyth points out he can’t unequivocally say State-led intervention under the National Broadband Plan was not discussed at the meetings between Mr McCourt and Mr Naughten - because he was reliant on statements from Mr Naughten and Mr McCourt themselves.

Although the Government has given its approval for the evaluation of the tender to continue, it is not clear when that process will finish and when the Government will make a final decision, or what that decision will be.

The National Broadband Plan has been in the pipeline since 2012, and achieving a full rollout by the target date of 2020 now seems like a pipe dream.

Minister for Communications Richard Bruton has so far refused to recommit to that deadline, saying the Government needs to make a decision on the next steps before it can make any new promises on dates and times.

The main issues in relation to the broadband plan over the coming weeks and months will centre on the potential cost, with this newspaper reporting the plan could come with an eye-watering €3 billion bill.

Combined with this is the uncertainty around how many people will avail of the plan. For the Government, it seems a case of damned if it does, damned if it doesn’t. Watch this space.

Battle over abortion legislation resumes

The controversial abortion legislation will return before the Dáil this evening after a fractious debate last night.

After three days of debate at committee stage, where Minister for Health Simon Harris accepted only one of 180 proposed amendments, TDs of all hues are redoubling their efforts to change the legislation.

There are now 65 amendments before the Dáil, but only eight were debated last night. If every day were to continue like this, it could take another five or six days for the legislation to move on to the Seanad, putting a serious question mark over whether it can pass in time for its planned introduction date in January.

There is now speculation over the possibility of the Seanad sitting beyond the recess, scheduled for the 18th or 19th of December.

Moreover, there is no guarantee its passage through the Seanad will be smooth.

Senators such as Rónán Mullen and Lynn Ruane have featured strongly in the debate along the way, and we can expect to hear full-length contributions from them there.

Emotions became fraught last night as the former Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan held back tears after one of her proposed changes to the Bill was heavily criticised by both pro-choice and anti-abortion TDs.

Ms Nolan wanted to change the Bill so that taxpayers’ money would not fund abortion services except where the mother’s life is at risk.

Fianna Fáil labelled the move as “sinister”, while Waterford TD Mary Butler, who describes herself as strongly pro-life, also said she could not support it.

“I have conscientious objection,” Ms Nolan said, pointing toward Peadar Tóibín. “As does my colleague. We were forced out of that party. I believe there should be respect shown here,” she said, looking down at the Sinn Féin benches.

Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher said the tone of the debate had reached a level he had been hoping to avoid.

All the indications are this issue will continue its way through the Oireachtas with similar high emotion, with a rocky few weeks ahead. The debate will continue this evening and is expected to last beyond 11pm, so it will be a late one.

Here's a report on what happened last night.

Best reads

Here's Miriam Lord on the magical shape-shifting broadband consortium.

Fiach Kelly reveals Fianna Fáil TDs expect Micheál Martin to give an indication soon - possibly next week - on whether he believes there are groundsto renegotiate and extend confidence and supply.

Carl O'Brien has details of an unpublished Department of Education review of the Irish study exemptions that finds the system is "not fit for purpose".

Colm Keena has a report on the repossession cases that come before the registrar's sitting of the Circuit Court in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Colin Gleeson has been keeping us updated on the potential impact of Storm Diana as severe weather teams are put on alert.

Playbook

Dáil

Minister for Education Joe McHugh take questions on his brief at 10:30am.

Leaders’ Questions kicks off at 12pm.

Leo Varadkar will take Taoiseach’s questions at 1:32pm.

Topical Issues will begin at 3:17pm.

The abortion legislation will come back before the Dáil at 6.05pm and be debated until 11:30pm.

Seanad

The Order of Business will be taken at 11:30am.

At 12.45pm, the Health Insurance Amendment Bill is on the agenda. This is a short and technical Bill aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the private health insurance market.

At 1:30pm, the beleaguered Judicial Appointments Commissions Bill will also come back onto the Seanad agenda.

The Seanad adjourns at 8pm.

Committees

The Justice Committee is set to meet at 9am to discuss the Sex Offenders Amendment Bill. This Bill would see sex offenders electronically tagged after they are released from prison. The Rape Crisis Network will appear.

The Health Committee will also meet at 9am and will discuss Lyme Disease. It will hear from professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases John Lambert and from representatives of support group Tick Talk Ireland.

The European Affairs Committee will meet at 2pm.