The Labour Party has proposed that the rural broadband network be owned by the State.
Speaking in the Dáil on a Private Members' Motion proposed by colleague Seán Sherlock, the party's leader said the Government's National Broadband Plan leaves the network vulnerable to being taken over by a vulture fund.
Brendan Howlin said that, in this case, the private sector cannot do anything the State could not and the State had delivered electrification and water to every home through publicly-owned networks.
He said he believes that given the private sector seems to be paying less than the State to build the network, the cost would be included in the national debt. He asked the Government to confirm if this would be so.
Mr Howlin said the motion states that no public money should be spent on a broadband network unless it is owned by a minister or a public agency on behalf of the people.
He called on all parties to support it.
But Minister for Communications Richard Bruton said the effect of the Labour Party motion and another from Sinn Féin was that the process to deliver rural broadband would have to start all over again.
Fianna Fáil is supporting the Labour motion.
Deputy Jack Chambers said the people of rural Ireland are not the only ones who are becoming sceptical of the Government's plan.
He said that private companies are building their own networks in areas earmarked for the National Broadband Plan and National Broadband Ireland will be duplicating their efforts in these areas.
Speaking for Sinn Féin, David Cullinane said Minister Bruton was disingenuous when he accused his party and Labour of treating people in rural Ireland as second class citizens.
Mr Cullinane said everyone in the house wants broadband for rural areas and it is not his party which shut down garda stations and deprived people of essential services.
He said he agreed with Mr Howlin when he said the decision on broadband was ideological because he had choices but he made the decision.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said the Government should do something as people are fed up hearing about rural broadband.
He said it is now heading into 2020 and for nine years the Government has presided over a mess.
Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle suggested that Eircom could be bought back by the State as it would be cheaper than the tender the Government has accepted.
