The Communications Minister has said the next generation broadband infrastructure should be built and financed by the private sector.
Eamon Ryan has been defending his record on the provision of faster internet connections, following criticism from the Opposition.
In the Dáil this afternoon, he said the Government's role was not to support one provider ahead of another.
Instead its job was to drive competition in the market to ensure all consumers benefited.
Donegal TD Joe McHugh said Eamon Ryan talked a good game about the need for next generation technologies in Opposition but that he had changed his tune since he became a player at the Cabinet table.
He said the Minister was focusing his energies on the 'green sector' of his Department, to the detriment of the broadband issue.
In response, Minister Ryan said mobile broadband connections, as well as fixed line and other services, had all increased subscriber numbers in the last year.
He conceded that more needed to be done but said he was committed to leading the effort to meet ambitious targets.
