Robert Troy
Longford-Westmeath · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Only last weekend, I had the honour of representing the Taoiseach at the commemoration of those who had lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme. The presence of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland was a very positive development. I understand that it was the first time she was present in Dublin for that commemoration.”
“People deserve to know and understand not just the aspiration but the implication for their livelihoods, public services and future. Transparency is something I have tried to foster during my term as Minister of State in the Department of Finance. People expect it and are savvy enough to find it themselves.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this debate on the financial implications of Irish unity. It is fair to say that it is an important discussion and one that deserves to be approached with seriousness, honesty and respect.”
“If we are serious about unity - I believe we all are - we must be equally serious about preparation. That includes asking the difficult but necessary questions, including about the role of the UK in supporting any transition, whether financial contributions over a defined period would form part of any agreement and how the EU could be inv…”
“While many will view these as barriers so as to delay and misinform, we need to realise that our island has overcome its fair share of barriers in the past and we have the capacity to overcome any barriers in the future. What we should be looking at are the opportunities that a united Ireland presents.”
“It can be secured through reassurance, actions and compromise. Deputy Lahart indicated some of the compromises that may need to be considered. From a financial perspective, we need to look for clarity. Some fundamental questions need to be addressed. What would happen to public services? How would taxation be structured?”
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“The recourse is through the office of the financial ombudsman. The office of the financial ombudsman is always there when anybody feels any financial institution or pension institution is not acting in an appropriate manner. In the most recent budget, that office received a substantial increase in funding from the State to ensure it could hire more people so that cases could be dealt with in a much more efficient way. Senator Murphy talked about the number of cases where the Credit Review Office had recommended approval and the banks did not take that recommendation. A total of 78% of recommendations were accepted, with 608 positive cases, which means 22% were rejected. Ultimately, it is a commercial decision for the bank.”
“It is the very threat of the office that has kept the banks focused on ensuring that due diligence is taking place and that they are taking the correct decisions when they are assessing loans. They know that if the decision taken is not right, the threat of referring it to the Credit Review Office is there. That also helps. In relation to the transfer of loans from commercial banks or high street banks to funds, if those funds do not adhere to the terms and conditions set out in the original loan application, the funds are then acting against legislation. Legislation is there to ensure the terms and conditions for loans that are transferred are honoured.”
“I did not get it the last time I was there, but he was not a Senator at the time, so he did not require the vote. In all seriousness, this is somebody who is creating jobs in a rural location. That is really what this Bill is about. It is about protecting jobs and businesses. It is not an insignificant amount of money that the office has ensured stayed in the economy. It is €86.35 million that perhaps would not have been in the economy were it not for the establishment of this office. That means keeping businesses afloat and supporting jobs, so it is very important. I thank all Senators for their support of the Bill. As Senator O'Reilly said, it is not only the €86 million that has been continued.”
“I thank Senators for contributing to the debate this evening. I thank Senator Casey for sharing his personal experience in terms of the challenges businesses face, particularly during that difficult economic period for the country. I am delighted to see that his well-established and well-performing hotel in Glendalough, which I have visited many times, continues to thrive.”
“This Bill seeks to maintain, as far as possible, the status quo on how the credit review service works. This will provide important stability to the users of the service, with the overall aim of supporting viable SMEs to access bank credit. The Government recognises the importance of SMEs to the Irish economy. SMEs provide the majority of jobs in the State and are a critical source of regional employment in towns and villages across the country. A key strategic priority for the Minister for Finance is a well-regulated and sustainable banking sector. This includes promoting access to credit for viable SMEs. The credit review service is an important contributor to this priority and an enabler of success. I look forward to answering any questions and clarifying any matters relating to this Bill. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“Furthermore, the service may request representatives of the banks and officers of the Minister to attend a meeting to discuss the information and documents provided. In addition to its primary purpose, the Bill proposes that the service will continue to provide advice to borrowers and to the Minister and officials on SME lending matters. Sections 31 to 39, inclusive, outline transitional provisions and contain consequential amendments to other enactments. This Bill is a largely technical endeavour to create a stand-alone legislative basis for the credit review service, a body that has been in operation since 2010, providing valuable service to SMEs and farm borrowers. A number of amendments were made in the Lower House, largely of a technical nature, to ensure the legislation will operate as intended.”
“Enterprise Ireland provides services with advances, office space, human resources, information technology service and seconded personnel for which it is to be reimbursed, as outlined in the memorandum of understanding. Section 30 provides for the service, upon request from the Minister for Finance, to conduct a review of the provision of credit facilities to borrowers by in-scope banks, and the effect of this on the availability of credit. In-scope banks shall be required to provide relevant documents, aggregated data, and commentary for the purposes of the review. Any information and documents provided by the banks for this purpose are to be shared with the Minister for Finance.”
“Here, the Minister for Finance is empowered to create regulations to permit the service to levy fees on SMEs that apply for reviews, and on the banks whose credit decisions are reviewed. This will permit the current arrangements to continue. These fees and levies will ensure the credit review service is fully self-financing. The SME fees will be nominal. Currently they are linked to the value of the borrower's credit request, capped at €250. Banks within the scope of the Bill will pay the remainder of the credit review service’s running costs, which are expected to remain modest given the nature of the functions under the Bill.”
“Sections 18 to 24 cover accounts and audit, the credit reviewer's appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts and accountability to other Oireachtas committees. It sets out the obligation on the service to prepare an annual report as well as ad hoc reports related to the functions of the service and a three-yearly strategy statement. Furthermore, it addresses the liability of the service and the credit reviewer in handling confidential information. Sections 25 to 27, inclusive, contain provisions in relation to the review of credit decisions, lending practices and activities of banks. Sections 28 and 29 set out how the credit review service will be financed.”
“Currently, SMEs and farm borrowers can appeal to the Credit Review service when they are turned down for a loan of between €1,000 and €3 million. It is planned to maintain these thresholds. However, the Bill foresees the possibility of raising the upper limit to €5 million in the future if it is justified by the SME lending environment. Sections 5 to 7 contain provisions in relation to service of notices and other documents and include a standard section on expenses, repeals and revocations. Sections 8 to 17 outline the functions of the service, define the roles and responsibilities of the credit reviewer and the service staff, outline procedures for his or her resignation, superannuation and removal from office, and address matters related to the engagement of consultants and advisers.”
“Credit Review service officials report to the Department of Finance on their insights on trends in lending to SMEs and agricultural enterprises, which in turn supports policy formation by the Department and others. They also meet frequently with participating banks and trade organisations for SMEs and agriculture as well as other State entities to discuss these insights. This important role will be maintained. I will now outline the sections of the Bill. Credit Review is to be established as the credit review service - in Irish, an tseirbhís um athbhreithniú creidmheasa. Sections 1 to 4 provide for the Short Title, the commencement, definitions that pertain to the Bill, the prescribed amount of a loan that may be subject to review and the making of regulations.”
“It is planned to maintain the status quo where credit institutions lending to SMEs under Irish law, currently AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB, participate in Credit Review service appeals. The Bill provides, however, that the Minister for Finance can include other regulated financial institutions in scope if they are of sufficient significance in the Irish SME lending environment. Credit Review is fully financed by the participating banks and by nominal fees from applicants for reviews. This funding model is intended to continue. The Credit Review service maintains a helpline for SMEs that offers expert guidance and can assist in resolving disputes prior to escalating to a formal appeal. Up to the end of last year, the helpline had provided assistance to 5,695 callers.”
“The key role of the Credit Review service is to help SME and farm borrowers who have had an application for credit of up to €3 million declined or reduced by participating banks where these borrowers believe they have a viable business proposition. The service also looks at cases where borrowers consider that the terms and conditions of an existing loan or new loan offer are unfairly onerous or have been unreasonably changed to their detriment. The Credit Review service acts as a mediator between those businesses and banks in a process ending with the service making non-binding recommendations to the bank. While the lender is not obliged to accept the recommendations, it must explain if it does not accept them.”
“The Bill has been subject to consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Enterprise Ireland, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, industry representative bodies in the banking and SME space, and Credit Review itself. The feedback on the proposed continuation of the services provided by Credit Review was positive from all stakeholders. As far as possible, and following on from the impact assessment and stakeholder consultations, this Bill seeks to maintain the current practices of Credit Review when it becomes the credit review service. I will outline these practices now before turning to the specific provisions of the Bill.”
“The Bill establishes the body to be known as the credit review service on its own stand-alone legislative footing rather than the existing legal basis of the 2009 Act; replicates matters currently set out in guidelines issued under section 210 of the NAMA Act and SI 127/2010; codifies procedures that have developed as practice over time; and provides a means to extend the functions currently performed by Credit Review to other regulated financial service providers, if the Minister for Finance considers it necessary in the future, to take account of the service's changing operating environment. The Bill follows an impact assessment carried out by the Department of Finance that recognised the value that Credit Review provides to SME and farm borrowers and the wider lending environment.”
“Since that Act is under review with a view to winding down NAMA, the Government has decided it is appropriate to create a stand-alone legal basis for Credit Review and ensure that it continues its important work into the future. That is the purpose of the Credit Review Bill, which I am here to present.”
“The upheld appeals resulted in banks agreeing to make €86.35 million in credit available to SMEs and farm businesses over those years. In addition to these many specific cases, Credit Review's interventions have led to improvements in practices within the participating banks, particularly in ensuring that banks provide reasons for rejecting credit applications. Credit Review's work also provides valuable insights into SME performance and the market for lending to SMEs, which support the work of the Department of Finance and other bodies in this area. It is clear to the Government that Credit Review provides an important service to SMEs and farms throughout Ireland in supporting them in the process of securing credit from banks. As I mentioned, Credit Review was set up under the NAMA Act 2009.”
“In addition to its primary task of providing an appeals service for SMEs that have had their applications for credit - up to €3 million - turned down by Irish banks, it publishes information notes for SMEs on topical credit-related issues and regularly gives expert advice on SME lending to the Department of Finance and other stakeholders. The Credit Review Office's small team includes a panel of expert professionals with front-line SME and farming enterprise finance expertise. It performs its functions with an annual budget in the region of €500,000. From its establishment in 2010 until the end of December 2025, the credit review service received 1,468 formal applications. Of these, 1,038 have reached a final conclusion, with the office upholding appeals in favour of 608 borrowers.”
“The purpose of the Credit Review Bill is to establish a new statutory body, the credit review service, in place of the existing Credit Review Office. Credit Review is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance and was established by the Minister for Finance in 2010 under section 210 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 with the objective of facilitating access to bank credit for viable businesses. It provides a valuable service to SMEs and farm businesses that are having difficulty obtaining bank credit. It offers an independent review of a credit decision where a loan application is declined or where an existing credit facility is reduced or withdrawn. In the years since it was established, the Credit Review Office has proved to be an invaluable source of support and information for Irish SMEs.”
“It is anticipated that later this year the list of schools that are going to benefit from that substantial investment in school infrastructure will be published. The Deputy makes a very strong case, as does the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in relation to the school in question. I will be sure to bring the message back to my colleague the Minister, Deputy Naughton.”
“The Deputy is dead right. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is fully supportive of the upgrade to this school. Last year, in the updated national development plan, €7.55 billion was committed in respect of educational investment. This will ensure the completion of the 300 or so school building projects already under construction, which will deliver over 22,300 new and modernised school places across primary and post-primary, the expansion of special education provision and the provision of a record 14,000 additional places in special education classrooms and new mainstream school capacity. It will also ensure that we continue to invest and keep our existing stock up to a modern standard.”
“The NDP implementation plan for the education and youth sector and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published by the Department shortly. The plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in an area is insufficient and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money and meets functional needs.”
“In July 2025, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the national development plan. As part of this NDP allocation the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.”
“The stage 1 report outlining the proposed design and costings was submitted to the Department in July 2025. This is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public spending code. Once the review is completed, the outcome will be communicated to Cork Education and Training Board which will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them fully informed of progress. The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the public infrastructure guidelines.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to update the House on the current position regarding the school building project for Coláiste Daibhéid, Cork. The project referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project will provide one multimedia room, one textiles room, one graphics room, one construction room, one technology prep area, one science laboratory, and prep area and one project store. The inclusion of a PE hall or general purpose dining hall depends on site feasibility, constraints and input from the local authority and heritage officer. The delivery of this project has been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board.”
“It is a fair request that he has made, that, at the very least, the school authorities should be made aware of an indicative, realistic timeframe as to when they can experience the new building.”
“I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this project forcefully and working with Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy in advocating on behalf of the school, the teachers and the students who go to this school. As I said, the NDP allocation, which was announced last year, was €7.55 billion over 2026 to 2030. The Deputy made a very strong case that this school is part of that allocation process. All I can say is that I will bring the Deputy's message, that he brought very forcefully to the floor of the Dáil, to the Minister for education. It is just the most recent time that he has raised the issue. I know he has been advocating on behalf of the school for a long time.”
“This NDP implementation plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.”
“As part of this NDP allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the period from 2026 to 2030 to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. The NDP implementation plan for the education and youth sector and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published by the Department shortly.”
“Once the review is complete, the outcome will be communicated to WWETB as the delivery body for this project that will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them fully informed of progress. The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity, and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various project stages and the statutory approval process, which I understand, as the Deputy said, it has already gone through. In July 2025, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period from 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan.”
“This will cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 550 and provide two special education classrooms. The project is currently at stage 2b of the architectural design process. This stage allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining necessary statutory permissions and preparation of tender documents. A stage 2b report has been submitted to the Department from WWETB. The report is undergoing a detailed technical and cost review in line with the public spending code. All projects, including this one, are subject to the due diligence requirements of the public infrastructure guidelines. Managing timing, scope and the cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall programme.”
“I thank my friend and colleague. I will read the standard script because the previous question I answered was for my own Department. This one is in relation to the Department of education, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me, on her behalf, an opportunity to update the House on the current position regarding the school building project for Bunclody Community College, Bunclody, County Wexford. The project referred to by the Deputy is devolved for delivery, as he said, to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. The project brief is to provide an extension to the existing school building, as well as the appropriate refurbishment of the existing buildings to be retained for ongoing educational use.”
“We are unfortunately allowing too many things slide on by weeks and weeks, which become months, and the only people who are affected are the people whom we are here to represent. That is not good enough.”
“However, none of us as public representatives, be it as TDs, Senators or people who are fortunate enough to serve in executive positions, should accept that decisions that are meant to be implemented at a specific time are just allowed to roll on. We have to hold officials to account such that when a policy decision is taken it is implemented in a timely fashion. I always give the example of planning permissions with local authorities. It is legislatively prescribed that a decision must be taken within two months and a decision is taken within two months. I have said internally in my party that even if we have to bring in legislation that states when a decision is to be taken, the date is not a target but, rather, the decision has to be taken by that time.”
“When the Government took office this year, we committed to a step change in the delivery of supports and services for people with a disability and their families. That is a priority for the whole of Government. Budget 2026 is the first step in the delivery of this ambition, providing €3.83 billion to specialist disability services next year. That is an unprecedented increase of €618 million a year, or 20%. That reinforces and demonstrates our commitment to disability services. I will take back what the Deputy said about an interim measure and I will talk to the Tánaiste when we meet next week about seeing whether that is feasible in the Department. I am told that it is not and that that is the reason a whole new scheme was to be devised.”
“As Government Ministers, we have to take responsibility for ensuring the decisions we take are implemented in a timely fashion by the officials working for us in our respective Departments. I cannot give a definitive timeline tonight, but what I can say is that the Deputy's amplification of this problem further reinforces an issue that needs to be prioritised. I will talk directly to the Taoiseach to ensure the unit within his Department prioritises a speedy decision in relation to the new scheme. I will talk to my colleague, the Tánaiste, as I am sure the Deputy will, to ensure this process moves ahead at pace. We cannot afford to wait any longer for the new scheme to be implemented. The consultation has already happened. There should not be any need for further consultation.”
“If we roll on four years, despite the fact that my Department has made a significant contribution to the national disability inclusion strategy to develop a proposal that would be fit for purpose and would mirror international best practice, we do not seem to be any further along. It is fair to say, however, that the new Government, on assuming office, prioritised disability services. Disability and supporting people with a disability into work, education and independent living are a priority. The delay in implementing this reform further reinforces the decision the Taoiseach made to establish a disability unit within the Department of Taoiseach to ensure that schemes such as this one are pushed ahead at speed.”
“She gave an example of someone in her constituency and I am aware of people in my constituency who I have tried to assist in relation to this. I did not come in with a prepared script from the Department because, quite frankly, some of it is embarrassing. The Deputy has given a timeline for a commitment given to reform a scheme or multiple schemes that all of us, including me and my predecessors, acknowledge are not fit for purpose. The timeline for implementation is embarrassing. I say that with regret. In 2022, a report was published based on the national disability inclusion strategy, having established a transport working group as part of the review of all Government-funded transport and mobility schemes. I am not going to outline the findings of the report. Suffice to say that they are not at all positive.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this extremely important topic. She is right in part of what she said. The Department of Finance, the Tánaiste and I acknowledge that the disabled driver's and disabled passenger's scheme, as the Deputy outlined, is not fit for purpose. That has been confirmed on multiple occasions. While acknowledging that it is not fit for purpose, it is important to recognise that the scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the use of adapted cars. It also provides an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant scheme for anyone who holds a primary medical certificate. In 2024, €150 million was spent on the scheme. That is very welcome and beneficial to those who qualify. However, the Deputy is right, and she makes a very valid point in this regard, that the scheme is very rigid and excludes many people.”
“It is also worth reiterating that motor insurance premiums, while having risen in the past 12 months due to inflationary pressures, are still approximately 34% lower than their peak in 2016. We acknowledge the increases in the past nine months. Work is under way to address that. The Government cannot accept the motion put forward by Sinn Féin as it does not reflect established facts or realities. Fiscal policy must strike a balance between, on the one hand, providing relief where it is appropriate to do so and, on the other, maintaining our public finances on a sustainable trajectory over the medium term. The House should reject Sinn Fein’s Private Members’ motion on the cost of motoring and instead support the Government’s countermotion.”
“The public-private partnership, PPP, companies calculate the maximum tolls for the eight PPP concession schemes and propose the tolls that should apply. The mechanism for these calculations is set out in the individual toll by-law and is based on the consumer price index, CPI. Actual tolls charged may not exceed the calculated maximum toll for each scheme. Following the application of the CPI inflation figure of 2% for the period from August 2024 to August 2025, the board of TIl has approved a number of toll changes from 1 January. It is worth pointing out that auto fuel prices in June 2022 recorded that average petrol prices were €2.17 per litre and average diesel prices were €2.15 per litre. As of Monday, 11 November, average prices are significantly lower, with petrol prices at €1.74 per litre and diesel prices at €1.68 per litre.”
“The motion fails to recognise that there have been extra inflationary costs in the construction industry, including products used for pavement repair, meaning the cost of the protection and renewal of the existing road network has increased significantly. The Opposition also failed to recognise that revenues raised by toll roads are invested in the operation and maintenance of our road network, as well as paying off the cost of loans to build these roads. In terms of the framework for setting tolls, toll by-laws for each individual road set out the basis for calculating maximum tolls each year. Maximum tolls are calculated for each vehicle category. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, calculates the maximum tolls for the Dublin tunnel and the M50 and decides the tolls that should apply.”
“I have been advised by my officials that the Sinn Féin Private Members’ Bill - the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 - draws heavily on measures introduced in the UK and, as such, does not take account of the significant past and ongoing work undertaken by the Government to address the cost of insurance. The Bill could potentially undermine ongoing efforts to reform the insurance sector, while also creating barriers to market competition and potentially passing additional costs to consumers in the form of higher premiums, which is something I do not think the party wants. The Opposition motion also seeks to stop the proposed toll increases planned for January 2026.”
“It will ensure that the insurance market operates with integrity and builds trust and that consumers are empowered to make informed decisions. The development of this code is well under way, and I will discuss it with my colleagues on the Cabinet sub-committee on insurance reform in a matter of weeks. High legal costs also remain a challenge and are impacting the cost of motor insurance. The implementation of further legal reform to strengthen the role of the IRB and amend the Judicial Council Act 2019 to strengthen transparency and implement a robust process for a future review of personal injuries guidelines are priority actions in the action plan to address further transparency and affordability of insurance.”
“Taking account of general price developments in the economy, it is only in recent times that the gains from previous Government reforms have begun to be eroded. This is something we acknowledge and are taking action on. The Government developed additional reform measures as part of the 2025 action plan for insurance reform, which I published in July 2025 - there was no submission from the party opposite - to enhance transparency, affordability and competitiveness. One of the key actions in the new action plan is the development of a transparency code for the insurance industry. The code will require insurers to provide simple and understandable explanations of how premiums are formed and what broader factors influence pricing.”
“A significant number of measures were introduced by the previous Government under the 2020 action plan for insurance reform to address issues with the cost and supply of insurance, namely the establishment of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market, a rebalancing of the duty of care, enhanced data transparency from the national claims information database, the reform of the Injuries Resolution Board, IRB, and the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines. The latest data from the national claims information database on motor insurance premiums shows that the average premium increased by 9% last year to €623. However, it is still lower than its peak in 2017 of €729. While certain reforms have begun to stabilise award levels, delays in litigation and wider inflationary factors continue to impact premiums.”
“That is something I would very much support. Motor insurance premiums are influenced by multiple factors, including risk exposure, legal expenses and claims trends. Looking to premium trends in the UK and eurozone, premiums increased proportionately by 65% in the UK between 2016 and 2024 and by around 20% in the same period across the eurozone. In contrast, Ireland saw a 34% proportional reduction in average motor insurance premiums over the same period.”
“While taxation affects the final retail price, amendments to tax rates cannot fully absorb price shocks given the larger impacts of energy markets and embedded costs, as well as pricing policy at wholesale and retail level. On the surcharge on motor tax, funnily enough, I am in general agreement with Sinn Féin. However, nowhere in the motion does it state how it will fund the €35 million it costs to equalise the rate for people paying in instalments. I agree that people who pay in instalments for motor tax are those who cannot afford to pay annually and should not be penalised. However, I note that the general scheme of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 proposes the elimination of the requirement to display a paper disc and, as such, there is scope for review of the surcharge in the future.”
“Analysis undertaken for budget 2026 using SWITCH, the ESRI tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax increase and the compensatory welfare package estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive - they help people who are less well off, something the Opposition fails to acknowledge. Half of households are better off due to the measures part funded by additional carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefiting the most. Ultimately, it must be recognised that a number of factors affect the final retail price of fuels, including energy market dynamics, wholesale pricing, individual retail pricing policy, transport costs, exchange rate fluctuations and taxation.”
“Importantly, the additional yield raised by carbon tax is ring-fenced for climate action and just transition measures. Budget 2026 provides for over €1.1 billion to be allocated towards such measures, an additional €163 million on the allocation for 2025. Further, €350 million of this is allocated to targeted social protection interventions. As of budget 2026, the Government has allocated over €4.2 billion in carbon tax revenue for climate action and just transition measures since 2020. Many such measures are welcomed by Opposition Members when they are announced. ESRI analysis shows the lower income deciles are better off as a result of the social protection measures funded by the increased carbon tax.”