Hobson’s choice in rollout battle
The debate will continue to rage about costs and contracts, but the government could not deny internet access to 1.1 million people for much longer – and there was only one option left
There was one man watching from the steps of the Department of Public Expenditure as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar walked to the launch of the National Broadband Plan. It was none other than Robert Watt, the secretary general whose explosive memo warning of the risks of signing the €3 billion contract had been a thorn in the Taoiseach’s side all week.
Varadkar’s officials noted Watt’s brooding presence as they made their way up Merrion ...