The Government’s multi-billion euro broadband plan is at risk of being derailed after an Oireachtas committee called for a three-month freeze of the project to force a re-examination of its €3bn cost and the entire tendering process.

The Government is refusing to say if it will accept calls to reform its multi-billion euro broadband plan which could force the project to stay in public ownership and subject it to another in-depth review.

The Regional Internet Service Providers Association (RISPA) claims it could deliver an alternative to the National Broadband Plan for just over €400m.

The National Broadband Plan has been thrown into fresh confusion after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government will consider Eir’s claim it could deliver it for less than €1bn.

The Taoiseach has indicated that the Government could restart the National Broadband Plan (NBP) tender process after Eir claimed they could deliver the high speed network for one third of the current price.

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.

The former state telephone company, Eir, will today claim it could have delivered the Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) for under €1bn, one-third of its estimated final cost.

The communications regulator says introducing 5G for internet access would not meet the needs of everyone living in rural Ireland.

A cross-party investigation into the €5bn national broadband plan will also look at the best way to roll out a high-speed network to rural Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he supports an Oireachtas investigation into the national broadband plan, amid opposition warnings that billions of euro more must be found to fund the project.

Cross-party support for an Oireachtas committee investigation into the €5bn national broadband plan is likely to be agreed as the Government urges opposition parties to back the plan.

Labour is demanding to know what the consortium leading the €5bn broadband project will put up front as the party warned that a tribunal may rake over the costs and deal for the project in a decade.

The consortium behind the Government’s multi-billion euro national broadband plan will be “entirely on the hook” to pay any extra costs if the project continues to surge over-budget.

Politicians will question Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on online safety and regulation when they meet him tomorrow in Dublin.

A crackdown on harmful online material has been promised with the announcement of new laws to empower a cyber safety commissioner to fine, prosecute, and name and shame offending services.

The Government is to face strong opposition to plans to get Revenue to collect the TV licence. The high evasion rate is costing RTÉ €40m a year.

Are you a soap fan? Fair City, maybe? Did you know it costs around €130,000 per hour for RTÉ to make it? 

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will not review the crisis-ridden national broadband plan despite committing to “absolutely” consider a Dáil vote calling for an assessment of the project.

Government departments and State bodies will be exempt from sanctions and fines for misusing someone’s personal information under new Europe-wide laws set to come into force later this year.

A radical shake-up of the TV licence system is being considered, including a lower charge for all households which could be collected by Revenue.

Ireland's media funding laws need to be adapted for the digital age, according to the chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee.

The idea of a new TV licence, to cover all media devices, could be handed to an Oireachtas committee to work on.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has confirmed that the proposed broadcasting charge will not be introduced.

One of three mobile phone companies recently criticised by a Labour TD has agreed to meet with community representatives in Clare to discuss coverage issues.

RTÉ has bowed to mounting public pressure and will retain a longwave radio service until 2017.

The chairman of the Oireachtas Communications Committee said that if RTÉ can find the money to poach Ray D’Arcy from Today FM, it can find €250,000 to save the longwave service.

Two items in particular caught my attention in your paper recently.

RTÉ bosses have insisted they were right to pay out over the “homophobic” defamation controversy on The Saturday Night Show — despite the fact that those allegedly damaged initially only sought an apology.

The head of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has claimed UTV’s planned entry into the TV market in the Republic has highlighted major anomalies in broadcasting legislation.

The Oireachtas Communications Committee could discuss the possibility of having an automatic filter to block adult material online.

The Oireachtas communications committee is set to discuss the possibility of having an automatic filter to block adult material online.

RTÉ has claimed salaries paid to its top-earning presenters will have fallen by about 40% from their peak by the end of this year, despite ongoing criticism about their pay-levels.

The pay levels of RTE staff will be discussed when its Director General appears before the Oireachtas Communications Committee today.

The incoming chairman of An Post has warned that maintaining the existing post office network while still keeping the cost of its postal services affordable represents “a very fine balance”.

Internet search giant Google has claimed the introduction of digital literacy on the school curriculum would dramatically increase the safety of children online.

Representatives from Twitter and Facebook have been defending themselves before an Oireachtas Committee today.

An Oireachtas Committee has heard that getting people to pay to post on social media websites or register their passport numbers for IP addresses could help tackle the issue of anonymity of the internet.

Fine Gael TD, Tom Barry, has called for social media websites to make financial contributions towards the legal costs involved in fighting online abuse.

The Director General of RTÉ has admitted that a series of mistakes were made by the broadcaster on the night of the 'Frontline' presidential debate.

RTE chair Tom Savage needs to “set the record straight” about his PR company’s clients, a Labour senator has said, as the fallout from the Mission to Prey programme continues.

RTÉ chairman Tom Savage has insisted only Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte can force him to step down over the 'Prime Time Investigates' scandal.

RTE’s director general has insisted there will be no repeat of the defamation scandal surrounding Father Kevin Reynolds.

The chairman of RTÉ has said he still finds it inexplicable that the hugely damaging 'Mission to Prey' programme in which Father Kevin Reynolds was defamed was allowed to air.

The head of the Oireachtas Communications Committee says he has concerns about the role of the board of RTÉ in the Fr Kevin Reynolds libel case.