Simon Harris
Wicklow · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are more than 10,000 routes and thousands of buses involved and the number of students using the services is not a million miles away from 200,000. The current terms of the scheme are going to continue to apply for the 2026-27 school year.”
“I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is genuinely an important issue. I do take the point that when we talk about this in the abstract or from a process point of view in here, that for people watching this is their real lived experience.”
“There number of children who have been supported by means of the school transport scheme, as Deputy Fitzmaurice knows and has alluded to, has grown significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the number increased from 120,000 in 2018 to more than 181,000 now. Included in that figure are 24,000 pupils with special educational needs.”
“I knew the Deputy would have to mention the GAA, especially with Galway and Limerick playing at the weekend. I wish everybody involved the best of luck. We are very committed to the school transport scheme. If the Deputy wants to see our commitment, he should look to our budget.”
“An ageing population, increasing healthcare needs, the transition to net zero and the need for continued investment in housing, energy and infrastructure will place a significant demand on public resources.”
“There is also a legitimacy to the point the Deputy made about how it is a legitimate form of transport for some people. We see this working in other European countries. We see it in our nearest neighbours. I do not want to get the regime wrong, but I think they have registration at the point of purchase that allows people to track this.”
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“I will get the very best information I can and write to the Deputy. The information I have here tells me the NSAI, as the Deputy correctly said, is carrying out the review of IS 465. It carried out a consultation last year, which closed on 11 July. There were over 640 submissions and the technical committee is reviewing them. That is at an advanced stage. I am advised the review will be completed in the month of April. The NSAI will then publish an update on its website when the review has been completed. The month of April is what I have been told.”
“I was told very recently that it is now through the County Donegal childcare committee in contact about the State-led childcare programme. Perhaps that could be a way of making an intervention. TDs and Senators in Donegal work on this together. The State-led programme might be an area worth having an engagement with the Department of children and the Minister on. It might be an opportunity to try to rectify some of these issues.”
“On childcare which the Deputy has raised with me in the House before, as it relates to mica, Letterkenny Community Childcare was approved for a building blocks grant of €750,000 in May last year. I am familiar with Raphoe Community Playgroup. I accept collective responsibility for this but I am irked we have not found a way forward yet. It received funding in 2025 to procure an external expert to assess relocation options. It was approved for further sustainability funding to cover rental costs for a temporary premises for 2025 and 2026. I know it applied for the building blocks grant scheme. I think those criteria need to be looked at. It engaged in good faith and the criteria did not allow that application to progress.”
“This will involve adopting a programme approach to the issue but will provide a pathway for schools currently waiting on remediation of mica issues and any schools affected into the future. I am told it is doing this in partnership with Donegal Education and Training Board. As part of this programme approach, an assessment will be done on overall accommodation requirements in each of the relevant areas to determine what scale of accommodation is required over the medium to long term to cater for local demographics. The Department will undertake site visits during the current school year to further inform that remediation approach. More broadly the Department has provided €225.65 million in capital funding for Donegal schools since 2020.”
“I am being honest - the Deputy represents Donegal but from any of my visits to Donegal I always leave with the clear impression that there are going to be issues outside of the scheme that need to be addressed. That is just a statement of fact. Specifically in relation to schools, the Department of Education and Youth has said it will work with schools impacted by mica. My understanding is it is aware of 16 schools all based in County Donegal, which have submitted emergency works applications for funding related to testing for the presence of mica. The Deputy might have better information than me but that is what I have been told. The Department is working through a mica strategy for schools, which it will develop this year.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue; in fairness to him, he raises it on an ongoing and, quite rightly, intense basis. The pace at which the defective concrete blocks scheme is operating has clearly accelerated over the past two years. More than €155 million was spent in 2025. This compares to just under €60 million in 2024. As the scheme ramps up, additional funding will be provided as required. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion. That excludes inflation, which has become a very topical issue. We are working to make sure the scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective way. That work is ongoing. The Deputy raised quite a few issues so I will go through them.”
“I agree fully with what the Deputy said. I used to play underage soccer for Greystones United; I think I let seven goals in in one game. I was never allowed in goals again. I knew soccer was not going to work out for me. The Deputy's broader point is right because it is about the sense of community, providing our children and young people with focus, purpose, a sense of belonging and place and health and well-being. The return on investment is manifold. I say this in good faith; I would like to understand more why there is that situation with the lack of a full-size pitch. I am not making excuses but there may be lack of green space. I do not know. I am happy to engage with the Deputy, the city council and the relevant Ministers. Let us see if some good can come from this discussion.”
“We had the Olympics recently and the inspiration Kellie Harrington in the Deputy's community provided. If the question is whether we can do more through our sports funding to target disadvantage, urban and rural, and specifically the issues in relation to a full-sized pitch in the Deputy's own community, the answer is, "Yes". I will genuinely work in good faith with the Deputy and with colleagues to make progress on the matter.”
“I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, about the points the Deputy made on that. We are increasing the level of funding for sport in a very real way. Part of the Deputy's question to us is whether we can make progress in bridging some of that funding gap. I am certainly up for that challenge and I know Government colleagues are as well. The Deputy mentioned golf. I am not suggesting the Deputy is, but sometimes these debates can become zero-sum games. There is an opportunity to get the model right for everybody. Golf has brought great success to this country also. We will host the Ryder Cup. There are communities and young people I hope that will inspire. There are young people I hope soccer will inspire.”
“Indeed the cost sometimes of providing facilities in more sparsely populated communities can also be greater. While the figures produced by the Deputy are validated and I do not disagree with them, it is not always comparing apples for apples and oranges for oranges. However, the broader point the Deputy makes about the lack of a full-sized pitch for the use of children in the inner city, north or south, is a very valid and real one and one I will commit the Government to working constructively with the Deputy's community, constituency and Dublin City Council on. We are planning on opening a new sports capital round of funding shortly. I do not have the exact date but I expect it to open in the coming weeks.”
“I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge his community and constituency have done more than its fair share for moments of incredible national sporting pride, no more so than Troy currently. I acknowledge that it is some community he represents in terms of the scale of national heroes it is producing. If I can be slightly parochial, in terms of a Bray woman, I hope that Katie Taylor might get that retirement fight in the large Croke Park facility in the Deputy's constituency as well, but maybe that is for another day. The Deputy made a serious point. I will not say I agree or disagree with it but I do take the point about needing to ensure the funding is getting to those most in need. The Deputy was not intending to do this but disadvantage can be both rural and urban and in fairness, the Deputy acknowledged that.”
“Renters, people who own homes and all people in the country will benefit from the €250 million intervention and the Government will remain nimble, agile and willing to act further should this economic crisis globally deepen in the time ahead.”
“Tomorrow, I will attend a special Eurogroup meeting on this specifically, because we also need to continue to engage and see what other countries are doing too. On the issue of the short-term lets, I do not accept there is a watering down. There is a change but it is not a watering down. We have to get the balance right here. I do not think anybody intended, or certainly I did not - I not sure the Deputy did - that there would be a situation where crucial rental properties in small rural communities would be taken out of the tourism sector so we have to get that proposal right and arrive at a balanced way forward, and we will.”
“We brought in measures this week that benefit everybody in terms of the cost of fuel at the pump. That was the important and right thing to do. What the Deputy is highlighting in this House today concerns renters. I say this respectfully; I hear other people highlighting different aspects in media and newspaper commentary. We have to be very careful with the economic interventions we make. There is an annual budgetary process. We will have an annual budget. We have a rent tax credit in place and have funded that tax credit for the years ahead. We will no doubt have a debate and discussion, and there are commitments in the programme for Government on the scale of the renter's tax credit as well. I have to be very honest with the Deputy. We need to have a comprehensive understanding of the depth and duration of this economic challenge.”
“I am concerned about what the Deputy said about the case in County Sligo. There are clear rules but there is also basic compassion and decency. If the Deputy sends me further details, I would be very happy to look into it.”
“We want to make sure we can provide additional housing stock but also protect housing stock for the tourism industry, particularly in rural Ireland. We almost have a way forward on that. We have a different view when it comes to protections for renters. I genuinely believe the Bill we brought forward does bring in a suite of measures to protect tenants, the likes of which we have not seen in this country before. There will be six-year tenancies for the first time ever. The RPZs will be done on a nationwide basis for the first time ever. I recall when this Dáil was first convened many in the Opposition thought the Government was going to get rid of the RPZs. Not only did we not get rid of the RPZs, we made them nationwide. As well as that we brought in what are effectively bans on no fault evictions for future tenancies.”
“I disagree with the Deputy on how investors are presented. Even the Housing Commission report recognised that while the Government has to continue to invest more in housing, private investment will also be required. We need people to come to this country and invest privately in building and providing homes too. That is good and I think all parts of this island, and the Administrations in both parts of this island, were represented in trying to attract investment at the event in Cannes. On short-term lets, the Deputy makes a fair point that this has been going on for quite a while. It is important we get it right and we are moving towards legislating on this. I have had very good meetings with the Ministers, Deputies Burke and Browne, in recent days on it.”
“The Deputy has not done this, but I certainly would not want the Government's position to be misrepresented to suggest we are talking about the end of May and then we will see an end to this moment of economic challenge. That is not looking likely, based on what we see now. We may well have to come back to the House at future moments and indeed in budgets in the time ahead and have conversations about further assistance and interventions to support our economy and our people, should this conflict go on for a prolonged period. I know we all hope it de-escalates and ends because the quickest way to provide economic stability and move through this period of economic challenge is, of course, for this awful conflict to stop. That is before we even get to the humanitarian impact of war, which we should never be numb to in this House.”
“I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising the matter and the impact of the real cost-of-living pressures, the current conflict and how, for the purposes of his question, they are having a particular impact on those renting as well. I will make a couple of points. One of the reasons the Government this week provided a package of €250 million for a time-bound period was a recognition that the economic medicine we are endeavouring to administer now may need a different type of prescription in the time ahead. I say that genuinely with humility because I cannot predict - respectfully, no one in this House can, and I am not sure there are many people in the world who can - where the scale of economic challenge will go and where the key areas of pressure may be in the time ahead.”
“-----and I say to people who do not qualify for fuel allowance that this Government is making a number of interventions to help, not just with the NORA levy but also through petrol and diesel measures. I also say to those people that we stand ready to intervene further but we must remain nimble and agile. Did the Deputy hear the Central Bank this morning? Has he read the Central Bank's report? If this conflict goes on for a prolonged period, we may need to intervene further. The Deputy talked about mistakes. He has made three this week. First, he said the State was taking in €38 million a week extra in taxes-----”
“I hope that when the Deputy meets somebody at risk of fuel poverty and brings their case into the Dáil, as well as just reading them out in here, he helps them get the financial assistance our system provides in terms of the fuel allowance. I would like to see the data, and please send it to me, showing that the majority of people in the country at risk of fuel poverty do not receive any assistance from the State with fuel costs. The fuel allowance-----”
“There are real challenges and we may well need to intervene again, but the package we put in place was the right package for the right moment and we will remain nimble and agile on any further interventions that are needed.”
“It is helping people when it comes to the fuel allowance, it is helping people with the living alone allowance, it is helping people in our farming communities, it is helping with the transition in the form of EV grants and infrastructure, it is helping with the peatland rehabilitation and it is progressive and helps those most in need as well. Sinn Féin opposes it. I think it is nearly on its own. It might have a few others but of the main Opposition parties I think it is on its own in opposing carbon tax. It is no longer Opposition versus Government but most parties in this House versus Sinn Féin when it comes to the policy rationale here. It party cannot resist this populist tendency to just oppose everything for the sake of opposing everything.”
“They were left on their own when the rest of the Opposition decided that, maybe on this one occasion, they would take off their party jersey and vote with the Government because this package of measures will help people in some way. I thank people who constructively engaged on that. There clearly is a constructive Opposition in this House, and then there is Sinn Féin. On carbon tax, there was a document published on budget day on the use of carbon tax funds. Deputy Doherty is at this a long time - 16 years, in fact. He is the longest serving Opposition spokesperson on finance in the history of our State. The carbon tax allocation clearly goes to those most in need and it clearly shows it is helping people most at risk.”
“Extending that into the summer period, considering the level of volatility around fuel, is the right thing to do. We also took practical and more universal measures to help everybody in the area of excise. There was general and widespread support for that too in this House. Sinn Féin did not vote for it in the end. It had a different set of proposals. When push came to shove pretty much, every other political party in the Opposition, while they might have different ideas and might have wanted a different package, still pressed the "Tá" button in favour of cutting excise on petrol and diesel. Sinn Féin were too partisan and too involved in performative politics. So much for the united Opposition.”
“I do not know about the Deputy's office, but I certainly got queries from people wondering whether, if they had opted in to the lump sum payment for the fuel allowance, they have that opportunity to receive the four-week extension in the same format and the same lump sum. They do, and that can be paid from next week too. We have taken real, practical measures. There is €70 million worth of additional fuel allowance, which I think everybody in this House supports. It is a measure that is targeted and helps those most in need. It helps many working families, by the way, because we have extended it to the working family payment. It helps many pensioners and older people, many people with a disability and many carers. It factually helps those most in need of assistance with the cost of fuel.”
“This week we brought in one of the largest interventions of any EU member state, based on population, to help people in the here and now, at the petrol pump, with the price of diesel, to help our hauliers, our coach operators and to help those at most risk of fuel poverty, including those most at risk when it comes to the cost of things like their home heating oil. Deputy Doherty knows that as well. He knows that from as soon as next week, nearly 500,000 households in this country will benefit from the decision we took to increase the fuel allowance. I want to provide clarity in this House.”
“I might lean into that, to start in a moment of harmony. I genuinely join all Members in this House and people right across the country in supporting the Irish national soccer team tonight as they take on Czechia. At a time of real challenge in our country and our world, of turmoil and uncertainty, the Irish team have really lifted our spirits. There is a real sense of belief, from the youngest to the oldest person in this country, that Ireland can do this. I wish the best to our manager, Heimir, the entire team, the many thousands of fans who have travelled to Czechia to be there and the many millions who will tune in tonight. We are all behind our team and in the truest possible sense of the phrase, come on you boys in green.”
“Many of them are carers, pensioners and people with a disability but also helping people who are getting in the car tomorrow and this week and driving to work or college and trying to go about their business and trying to help somewhat while being honest that no government can absorb all of it. I propose this resolution tonight. I reiterate our message to industry - let us play fair and let us see that passed on quickly. The Government will monitor this closely. I say to this House and the people of this country in all honesty that we have to be nimble. We may well need to return to this conversation but tonight is a start in terms of an intervention that we believe is the balanced, proportionate and measured response that will make a real difference in the here and now.”
“I note with significant concerns the comment from the Alliance MP, Sorcha Eastwood, today in relation to the delays and the lack of urgency on the part of the Sinn Féin economy and finance Ministers in relation to measures to help people with heating costs. I hope that can be resolved as well. I hope Sinn Féin's concern in relation to energy costs are not partisan concerns and do not stop at the Border. We will work constructively with anybody in this House on ideas and proposals. Today, we are bringing forward a balanced package of measures to help people at risk of fuel poverty and people who are struggling with the home heating oil by extending the fuel allowance season for a further four weeks, helping almost 500,000 households most in need.”
“We have to make sure we keep a degree of our economic powder dry because the economic situation that our country will face in the winter is very different to an economic situation that our country could face this summer if this conflict goes on for a longer period of time. We all hope it does not. We must all work for de-escalation. The set of measures we may need to consider together will indeed be different too. I am happy and eager to engage constructively with the Opposition. I ask people to acknowledge that we are taking efforts today - a €250 million package - to try to help people in the here and now. I hope in the Northern Ireland that the Executive takes the measures too that are required.”
“The Government reserves the right to consider any further action - legislative or otherwise - that may be required should this not be the case. More broadly, I indicate again tonight the Government's intention to strengthen further the powers of the CCPC and to work on a collaborative basis across this House with the view of doing that as well. I have heard much commentary in relation to the Government's proposals today from the Opposition. Some are constructive and some are less so. I look forward to engaging constructively in the time ahead because we all must approach this challenge with a degree of humility.”
“Specifically on this resolution, we saw prices rise quickly enough on the forecourts when the war in Iran broke out. It is very important that we see these cuts passed on to the consumer very quickly as well. The Government will be monitoring this extremely closely. In the past the CCPC has done useful work. At the start of the brutal illegal Russian aggression and war on Ukraine the CCPC monitored the passing on of the impact. I hear what the industry says. I accept the logic that for some small rural stations that it might take a little bit longer but for the vast majority, we expect to see very quick passing on of this. People were quick enough to put it up. They need to be quick enough now to show the benefit of that.”
“This conflict also is a sharp reminder that we must accelerate our transition towards energy independence. While much of the discussion is quite rightly on what we can do to help people in the here and now, and that is one of the reasons we are bringing forward these measures tonight to take effect from midnight, we also have to remind ourselves that as long as we are reliant on fossil fuels from far-flung parts of the world, there is a real vulnerability from an economic security point of view as well. We have to see what we can do at a European level and an Irish level to accelerate that transition in terms of our fuel and energy supply. I think that is a view shared across this House and I welcome suggestions and proposals in relation to that.”
“We have to navigate this period of uncertainty to the best of our ability. To put it bluntly, nobody knows what the situation will be in a month from now. We have to remain flexible in our response. The economic impact will depend on the depth and duration of supply disruption. The Government will help to share the burden of the energy price shock but no government in the world can fully absorb the impact. That is why there is also benefit in continuing to work at European level. I will attend a meeting of the Eurogroup on Friday and the Taoiseach attended a meeting of the European Council last week because we have seen in the past where conflicts have become elongated. Europe has often considered how it can move together and various policy responses and levers we can consider as a collective.”
“It is very much in line with the European Council conclusions from Brussels last week and also with the response of other EU member states. I think I referenced in the House last week the decision taken by the Italian government to bring in measures for 20 days. Every government and set of people are trying to grapple with a fast-evolving situation both from a humanitarian point of view but, for the purpose of this debate, from an economic point of view as well. These measures will provide mitigation for businesses and households for against the recent fuel price increases. It is real money and a real reduction in taxes on petrol, diesel and green diesel. These excise reductions strike the balance between mitigating costs to consumers while managing the tax base and also respecting the law under the Energy Tax Directive.”
“We have an ability to respond because of the sensible economic decisions this Government and successive governments have taken in recent years and the resilience and hard work of the Irish people. These measures will be in place for a defined period of time. I want to be very clear why that is. We have to remain nimble, agile and flexible in relation to any set of measures. It is entirely possible that what seems like the right economic medicine today may not be the prescription required in the weeks and months ahead. Therefore the Government - and let our position not be misrepresented - reserves the option to adjust our approach as circumstances evolve to revise, amend, edit and start or stop measures that may be required in the time ahead. This approach is not unique to Ireland.”
“When coupled with the NORA levy proposal and the fuel allowance expansion that brings the total Government intervention today to €250 million. The Government is conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses arising from this ongoing conflict. These measures are an effort in the here and now to help reduce fuel prices and to help in a practical way people at the pump and to endeavour to support key sectors of the Irish economy. Solid budgetary management in recent years means we now have the capacity to respond in a timely and targeted way to help with this energy price shock. That point should not be lost on any of us. If we look at countries endeavouring to deal with this global economic challenge, and deal with it from a position of deficit, we see how the market responds to those countries.”
“When the excise reductions in petrol and diesel are combined with the changes to the NORA levy, that means a 22 cent reduction in a litre of diesel and a 17 cent reduction in a litre of petrol. These are concrete actions to help and support families, working people and business with the real and rising cost of fuel and energy. We know the pressure people are feeling right now. People are genuinely worried about the impact this conflict is having on their energy costs and what is facing them and their families in the weeks and months ahead. There will be a second resolution, which we will discuss later in the House, on the diesel rebate scheme providing practical support to hauliers and coach operators. The estimate cost to the Exchequer of the two resolutions relating to the Department of Finance is approximately €160 million.”
“7 of 1927). This is the resolution for the temporary reductions in mineral oil tax. This first financial resolution provides for reductions in the rates of mineral oil tax applying to petrol, auto diesel and to marked-gas oil. These reductions will take effect from midnight tonight until 31 May 2026. The rate of mineral oil tax will be reduced on a VAT inclusive basis by 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel and 3 cent per litre for marked-gas oil. To further ease the financial impact of the significant energy price shock arising from the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region and Middle East region, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, will also reduce the NORA levy from 2 cent per litre to a nominal amount. That will require primary legislation which will be forthcoming this week.”
“39 of 2023)): SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX Light Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Heavy Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Rates per 1,000 litres With effect as on and from: Petrol Aviation gasoline Used as a propellant Used for air navigation Used for private pleasure navigation Kerosene used other than as a propellant Fuel oil Other heavy oil Used as a propellant Other liquefied petroleum gas Vehicle gas: Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value 10 March 2022 €474.11 €474.11 €413.51 €413.51 €413.51 €84.84 €118.01 €120.55 €118.27 €54.68 €9.36 1 April 2022 €465.98 €465.98 €405.38 €405.38 €405.38 €84.84 €118.01 €120.55 €118.27 €54.68 €9.36 1 May 2022 €465.98 €465.98 €405.38 €405.38 €405.38 €103.83 €141.12 €111.14 €130.52 €66.93 €9.36 12 October 2022 €483.34 €483.34 €425.45 €425.45 €425.45 €103.83 €141.12 €111.14 €130.52 €66.93 €9.36 1 May 2023 €483.34 €483.34 €425.45 €425.45 €425.45 €122.83 €164.23 €131.47 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 June 2023 €532.12 €532.12 €466.10 €466.10 €466.10 €122.83 €164.23 €140.28 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 September 2023 €589.03 €589.03 €506.75 €506.75 €506.75 €122.83 €164.23 €149.09 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 11 October 2023 €606.39 €606.39 €526.83 €526.83 €526.83 €122.83 €164.23 €149.09 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 April 2024 €638.91 €638.91 €551.22 €551.22 €551.22 €122.83 €164.23 €163.96 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 May 2024 €638.91 €638.91 €551.22 €551.22 €551.22 €141.82 €187.34 €184.30 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 1 August 2024 €671.43 €671.43 €575.61 €575.61 €575.61 €141.82 €187.34 €199.17 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 9 October 2024 €688.78 €688.78 €595.68 €595.68 €595.68 €141.82 €187.34 €199.17 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 1 May 2025 €688.78 €688.78 €595.68 €595.68 €595.68 €160.81 €210.45 €219.50 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 8 October 2025 €706.14 €706.14 €615.76 €615.76 €615.76 €160.81 €210.45 €219.50 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 25 March 2026 €584.18 €584.18 €453.15 €453.15 €453.15 €160.81 €210.45 €193.06 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 1 May 2026 €584.18 €584.18 €453.15 €453.15 €453.15 €179.81 €233.57 €213.39 €179.49 €115.90 €12.84 1 June 2026 €706.14 €706.14 €615.76 €615.76 €615.76 €179.81 €233.57 €239.83 €179.49 €115.90 €12.84 14 October 2026 €723.49 €723.49 €635.83 €635.83 €635.83 €179.81 €233.57 €239.83 €179.49 €115.90 €12.84 1 May 2027 €723.49 €723.49 €635.83 €635.83 €635.83 €198.80 €256.68 €260.16 €191.74 €128.15 €14.20 13 October 2027 €740.85 €740.85 €655.90 €655.90 €655.90 €198.80 €256.68 €260.16 €191.74 €128.15 €14.20 1 May 2028 €740.85 €740.85 €655.90 €655.90 €655.90 €217.80 €279.79 €280.49 €203.98 €140.39 €15.56 11 October 2028 €758.21 €758.21 €675.98 €675.98 €675.98 €217.80 €279.79 €280.49 €203.98 €140.39 €15.56 1 May 2029 €758.21 €758.21 €675.98 €675.98 €675.98 €236.79 €302.90 €300.83 €216.23 €152.64 €16.91 10 October 2029 €773.25 €773.25 €693.38 €693.38 €693.38 €236.79 €302.90 €300.83 €216.23 €152.64 €16.91 1 May 2030 €773.25 €773.25 €693.38 €693.38 €693.38 €253.25 €322.93 €318.45 €226.84 €163.25 €18.09 (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No.”
“I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act (as amended by section 52 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (No.”
“I know he is working his way through this matter and I will ask him to come back to the Deputy with an update. There are a number of things in this Bill and sometimes they are all viewed as some kind of homogenous package. I think we should be trying to move ahead as quickly as we can with measures that would specifically help our pubs, which are a vital part of our economy.”
“I do not want to jinx it, but I think there is a compelling case for providing flexibility in terms of people being able to watch us qualify for the World Cup and then, God willing, get to the World Cup. I wish our team all the very best starting next week in what is a crucial period of time for Irish soccer. The Deputy's point is a really important one and it is also an economic point. When people come to our country, they want to be able to access our hospitality. We need to make these things as simple as possible for publicans and provide them with the flexibility as well. Obviously, we need to do all this while being conscious of public safety, conscious of Garda resources and conscious of access to transport. I recently spoke to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on this.”
“Today, the focus is on energy but the longer this conflict goes on, the greater the impact on inflation is. The country has made a lot of progress on inflation. Real wages are rising now and inflation is falling. That is why, alongside the interventions, we need to continue to call for de-escalation. That is, of course, the best economic intervention we can seek.”
“I agree with everything the Deputy has said. It is our intention to finalise a package. It is our intention to agree that package at Government next week. One of the criteria that we have set for measures we bring forward is whether they can be put into effect quickly. While I am not talking about the Deputy, people in this House, often those on the Opposition benches, have ideas, even some good ideas, but actually it is about looking at what we can do quickly and also providing ourselves with the flexibility to respond to a fast-moving and evolving situation. Anything we do in the first instance should be for a short period of time to allow us that agility, as a State, to respond. The Deputy is right on inflation though and this is a concern I have as Minister for Finance.”
“Along with spending a lot more on resilience and adaptation measures, we need to review how effectively the use of taxpayers' money through these payments is assisting people. In the aftermath of a variety of adverse weather events, this is an area we want to look at, from both a social protection point of view and an enterprise point of view. We need to make sure the schemes we have in place are working well. Data is a key part of that. I will certainly follow up further with both relevant Ministers and revert to the Deputy.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising this matter. I know the flooding experienced in his constituency of Dublin Bay North was really horrendous. I remember witnessing the video footage of it. We all saw the videos in particular of the basements of apartment blocks being flooded, and the fear and anxiety that created. The emergency response payment administered by the Department of Social Protection does not exclude apartments from supports. That has been confirmed to me by the Department. However, the Deputy's broader point is absolutely right. We are living through a time when we are seeing more incidences of severe weather. We are therefore spending more on trying to assist people.”
“I will speak directly to the Minister who, I know, will raise the Deputy's view on garda numbers in south Tipperary with the Commissioner.”
“I thank Deputy Healy for raising this issue. We are seeing very significant increase in the number of gardaí entering training in Templemore. It is a huge priority for the Government to increase the number of gardaí. I am absolutely disgusted and angered to hear about any assault on a member of An Garda Síochána. When I was justice Minister, we changed the law to increase the sentencing available to the courts for anybody who assaults a member of our emergency services, including a member of An Garda Síochána. An attack on a garda is an attack on our democracy and an attack on all of us. One of the reasons we are rolling out bodycams is to provide protection for gardaí. People often stick a camera in a garda's face and the garda is left having to endure that. It is really important that bodycams are rolled out.”