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 communications minister has refused to give any commitment on when rural broadband will be delivered.

Minister of state Pat Breen has rejected calls for his resignation, insisting he has “nothing to resign for”, after criticism of an invitation he issued for a private dinner between a national broadband bidder and former communications minister Denis Naughten.

Despite the looming commercial spectres of Brexit and poor rural broadband, the risks from poor succession management are an increasing concern for Irish food and agribusiness SMEs.

One in six Irish adults has never used the internet while more than half of older users are going for months without logging on.

The Taoiseach is “very confident” that the roll-out of rural broadband will not be delayed despite SSE’s decision to pull out of the project.

Cork-based company Nova Broadband says it is aiming to create up to 20 new jobs in the next 24 months following a €250,000 investment in expansion.