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"Ireland is being digitally divided by the broadband haves and have nots”

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has raised the impact of the dire state of broadband across rural Ireland – especially due to the repeated national lockdowns and the need to be able to work from home.


An Teachta Tóibín:


“Week after week, my office is inundated with calls from across Meath and other rural constituencies, pleading with me to do something about the inexcusable state of Broadband in rural Ireland. The government has said remote working is here to stay, and will be part of a new way of doing business post-pandemic.


“How can this be done, when in many areas there is not even a mobile phone signal. Remote working represents a huge opportunity to address regional imbalance and end the commuter hell that is afflicting at least 1/3 of this country. In a pandemic where you can’t go 5km from your own home, people find themselves in a postcode lottery where some are connected to the outside world and many are not”.


“This crazy situation has highlighted a new educational inequality where many children and teenagers are unable to attend classes online because the signal is permanently reconnecting. How in God’s name can you expect Children to sit a traditional leaving cert in this situation”.


“Leaving cert students and University students are unable to participate in remote exams or assessments, and have to explain to their lecturer that it’s not their fault – but the governments. For high risk persons, how can they be expected to permanently stay at home and not leave the house, when the broadband can’t remain constant enough for them to do a shopping delivery or pay a bill online?


“It is all well and good, to promote remote working or demand people work from home or people not leave their houses, but this all too indicative of the Dublin-centric mind-set of our government. If you live in Dublin, for most, broadband is not a barrier to working at home. Ireland is being digitally divided by the broadband haves and have nots. This is not the time for vague commitments, the government needs to accelerate roll out”.

By Aontú Press | 19 January, 2021



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The Irish political system is radically broken



In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.



Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.



Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.




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