Former Minister for Communications Denis Naughten has expressed surprise at claims by Eir that it could complete the National Broadband Plan for less than €1bn.

Broadband bidder David McCourt should be made to "suffer the consequences" for breaking procurement rules by repeatedly meeting ex-communications minister Denis Naughten during the crucial tender process, according to Fianna Fáil.

The author of the Denis Naughten broadband report has admitted the ex-minister's multiple meetings with bidder David McCourt broke the rules "in the strictest sense" - but has denied any wrongdoing took place.

Former Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten, has hit out by the lack of support he got from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ahead of being asked to consider his position.

Former Minister for Communications Denis Naughten says that his main objective during meetings with US businessman David McCourt was that his consortium Granahan- McCourt remained a bidder for the National Broadband Plan.

New information on a controversial New York meeting between former minister for communications Denis Naughten and businessman David McCourt has emerged.

The then minister’s trip to New York earlier this year has come under scrutiny, more so with the release of redacted WhatsApp comments, writes Daniel McConnell.

The Government-backed investigation into the Denis Naughten broadband lobbying crisis has been labelled a whitewash after it cleared him of wrongdoing despite having to “rely” on his own word to draw the conclusion.

Explanations about meetings between former communications minister Denis Naughten and a lead bidder in the broadband plan do “not stack up” and more answers are needed on the stalled project, says Fianna Fáil.

Despite the Government spin, the report into the Denis Naughten broadband fiasco fails to provide answers needed to clarify what happened, writes political correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Ex-communications minister Denis Naughten has broken his silence on the broadband meetings controversy which forced him to resign from office, saying he has been cleared by the Government report into the scandal.

The Government-commissioned report into the broadband lobbying fiasco has concluded that the project has not been damaged by Denis Naughten’s serial meetings with the only bidder in the process.

The Taoiseach says the report into the National Broadband Plan procurement process will be published in a matter of days.

The independent auditor reviewing the National Broadband Plan is to examine new documents that have emerged from the Department of Communications.

Two more meetings between former Communications Minister Denis Naughten and businessman David McCourt have been revealed following the National Broadband Plan controversy.

Over the years this country has gone from one scandal to the next where governing politicians have been embroiled in various controversies, with some of these being the subject of expensive tribunals of investigation.

One of the great gifts social media seemed to offer in its more innocent days was that various platforms might become new homes for political discourse and commentary. It is a great sadness that this opportunity to engage, to debate and better understand has been squandered. Social media has stratified political conversation in a dangerous and corrosive way.

JUST how long can this farce continue? This is a Government struggling for life and no longer able to guarantee the passage of its legislation.

After the tête-a-tête in the Dáil yesterday, the Government’s grip on power is slipping further, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Latest: Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has written to the Taoiseach telling him that it would be best that they "both agree not to bring down the government".

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar forced Denis Naughten to resign after learning at the 11th hour that he had held four more secret meetings with billionaire businessman, David McCourt.

It appeared that not even the Taoiseach had got the tip-off, with not a single senior Fine Gael minister present.

Minister of State Pat Breen has said tonight that he did attend a number of meetings and events with David McCourt, including a dinner with former Minister Naughten.

10 days that toppled a minister (and possibly a Government):

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has resigned from cabinet over revelations he met three times with the only bidder still in the national broadband plan process.

The Taoiseach has defended the Communications Minister's meetings with a businessman involved in the consortium bidding for the tender for the National Broadband Plan which is worth over €500m.

Mr Naughten also admitted that despite having responsibility for climate change he did not ask for a high-profile carbon tax rise in Tuesday's budget.

The approval of the decommissioning of the Kinsale gas field has been put on hold following uncertainty over whether the works will have any impact on habitats protected under EU environmental legislation.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will not bow to calls to make a statement in the Dáil to clarify his dinner with US businessman David McCourt in New York.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will today face the first of two public hearings over how a consortium involving businessman Denis O’Brien became the only bidder for the Government’s national broadband plan.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he now has no confidence in the Government to deliver on public transport and electric vehicles.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has denied being “spooked” into closing rural post offices by his officials, and said he has received Government approval to investigate the possibility of providing more services through the An Post network.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has rejected the closure of 159 post offices will be detrimental to rural Ireland, insisting post offices have to be viable.

A new scheme encouraging homeowners to install solar panels has been launched this morning.

The Minister Of State at the Department of Communications believes the government will be in a position to sign a contract on the national broadband plan by the end of the year.

Days before the last general election, the man who would be minister for climate action, Denis Naughten, told RTÉ Radio’s Late Debate that when he was out canvassing, no-one on the doorsteps was asking about climate change.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has warned Facebook chiefs they will be hit with multi-million euro fines if they continue to breach online safety rules.

The Environment Minister has admitted we have not made the progress we should have when it comes to sustainable development.

What is Environment Minister Denis Naughten’s problem with deposit-refunds on bottles, cans and plastic bottles, and a ban on cups and tableware that can’t be composted or used again?

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has given the final regulatory approval needed for the takeover of the Irish Examiner, Evening Echo, and other media assets owned by Landmark Media by the Irish Times.

Schools and neighbours will be told the name and address of “high-risk” sex offenders who are living in their area and pose a threat after being released from prison.

It is to be welcomed that Communications Minister Denis Naughten is to ask Cabinet today to sign-off on laws allowing the electronic tagging of sex offenders when their prison sentences end.

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten TD has announced that Frank and Honest will replace all non-recyclable single-use cups with a new compostable cup and lid from September this year.

Denis Naughten has said he is sorry the controversy over his conversation with a lobbyist from INM has taken up four days of attention in the Dáil.

Pressure is continuing to mount on communications minister Denis Naughten.

Denis Naughten should excuse himself from anything to do with the Irish Times bid to buy the Irish Examiner, according to the Social Democrats.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten should remove himself from any media merger decisions unless he issues a public statement accepting he was wrong to discuss Independent News and Media’s (INM) bid for Celtic Media with a lobbyist.

The Taoiseach has claimed members of the Opposition were simply “looking for a head” in going after Communications Minister Denis Naughten.

The Taoiseach insists Denis Naughten did not do any favours for anyone over his handling of the INM controversy.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has offered his “full support” for Communications Minister Denis Naughton.