Most tests work by seeing how long it takes to transferr a file of known size. This is used to check the real speed of a connection.
Irish broadband are trying to con you by telling you this. They are not going to admit that it's your connection that's at fault. they'll say the test is at fault and don't believe it.
Tell them that you have tested it with 4 different types of test
Flash
Java
Direct file download
and then ask them why at one time it will download 10Mb in 5 mins and the next day the same download takes twice as long. I bet they'll come up with another excuse so that it's not their fault.
