CI╔ management had up to 10 proposals from firms to partner them in the telecoms market but only fully considered the Esat offer.
The rail signalling inquiry heard CI╔ had inquiries from firms, including British Telecom (BT), going back to July 1996. But the company only employed consultants to examine plans for a venture after it signed heads of agreement with Esat in June 1997.
The inquiry questioned this approach given the importance of the venture to CI╔'s finances and its frequent use of consultants at other times. The inquiry has heard reference to over a dozen consultants who worked with CI╔ in the past five years.
The former CI╔ head of property, Mr James Gahan, told the inquiry he set up a "core skills" group within CI╔ with personnel expert in engineering, signalling, telecommunications and surveying to consider the BT offer.
But BT was only interested in operating a service on the Dublin to Belfast line and the CI╔ chairman, Mr Brian Joyce, said discussions "petered out".
Mr Pat Rabbitte TD asked the witnesses what happened to approaches from companies including Princess Holdings, the ESB, Alcatel, Murray Telecommunications Ltd and Cable Management Ireland. He referred also to offers from ABN-Amro bank and Arthur Andersen consultants to advise CI╔ on any potential venture but these did not seem to have been followed up. He asked what efforts CI╔ made to evaluate "potential suitors".
Mr Gahan said the core skills group was in place and that the company had also employed consultants, Norcontel. But Mr Rabbitte produced a letter dated May 1997 which said CI╔ had not yet decided to take on consultants.
This was just weeks before the heads of agreement were signed with Esat.
"For a company that hired consultants at every hand's turn, it appears extraordinary that in the biggest technological revolution since the industrial revolution, you did not think of hiring consultants," Mr Rabbitte said.
Mr Gahan objected to Mr Rabbitte's questioning and accused him of "impugning" his reputation. "I find Deputy Rabbitte's questioning of me offensive from a personal and professional point of view."
He said the heads of agreement were not a contract and CI╔ could walk away at any time.
Dr Ray Byrne, former head of programmes and projects at CI╔, said the company focused on Esat because none of the other proposals were realistic.