Ken O'Flynn

73. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assessment that has been made of the precedent the Mercosur trade agreement would set for future EU trade deals, particularly in respect of trading away European agricultural standards in exchange for geopolitical concessions. [46952/25]

109. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in view of the most recent data showing that over 300,000 households are now in arrears on their energy bills and given mounting reports that families are being forced to choose between paying for electricity or groceries, if consideration will be given to reintroducing targeted energy credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44786/25]

113. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason for the cancellation of the €250 universal energy credit in budget 2026; if a cost–benefit analysis was conducted comparing universal versus targeted relief; and the estimated number of households adversely impacted by the change. [44912/25]

114. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current Government strategy to support households facing rising energy costs in the absence of universal credits; and if further supports such as winter fuel allowances, insulation grants, or reduced VAT are under consideration for vulnerable households. [44915/25]

159. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of the investigation into the mass fish mortality on the River Blackwater in north Cork; the preliminary Marine Institute test results; the suspected pollutant class; the affected river length; the estimated mortality; and if a compensation scheme for angling clubs and river stewardship groups is being prepared. [46129/25]

166. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the immediate measures that will be taken to relieve households and businesses in Cork from disproportionately high energy costs, given the rising cost of electricity bills driven by grid charges. [46379/25]

167. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the means by which he is planning to synchronise local infrastructure investment in Cork to maximise benefits in energy resilience, cost relief, and renewable uptake, with the Celtic Interconnector due for completion in 2028. [46382/25]

169. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the immediate investigatory and remediation measures that are being deployed in response to the largest-ever fish kill in the River Blackwater; and the means by which affected communities and ecosystems will be supported. [46396/25]

170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the projected timeline for connection and activation of the Celtic Interconnector’s subsea cable, with laying now underway; and the means by which the benefits will be communicated and leveraged for regional investment. [46399/25]

185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Irish households are paying 30% above the EU average for electricity, with annual bills €350 higher; and if this cost burden is being factored into the forthcoming energy poverty strategy, particularly given that 301,000 households were in arrears as of July 2025. [46828/25]

223. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department’s plans to replace Ireland’s primary overseas deployment following the UNIFIL drawdown concluding in 2027, including candidate missions under UN, EU, or NATO-partnership frameworks; the projected deployment strength and cost profiles for 2026–2028; and the status of triple-lock reform proposals and timelines. [46514/25]

274. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he has received complaints, internal correspondence, or protected disclosures concerning potential breaches of corporate governance, conflicts of interest, or procedural irregularities during the recent appointment of a chief executive at a State-owned port company under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44811/25]

275. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department was formally informed by members of the board of a State owned port company of any divergence of views, allegations of conflict of interest, or concerns regarding adherence to statutory or advertised criteria during the recruitment of a new chief executive; and the actions, if any, that were taken in response. [44812/25]

276. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm whether the candidate ultimately appointed as chief executive of a State owned port company met the advertised requirements, specifically the need for substantial commercial experience at or near CEO level within a complex, customer facing B2B organisation with a significant infrastructure asset base; and if his Department undertook any independent review of compliance with the eligibility framework. [44813/25]

277. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether the Department maintains specific protocols or published guidance for identifying and managing potential or perceived conflicts of interest involving members of selection panels in semi-State executive recruitment processes; and whether such protocols were followed during the recent executive appointment at a State owned port company [44814/25]

278. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has received and reviewed the most recent external governance evaluation of a State port company where serious internal disagreement was recorded during a senior executive recruitment process; and if he will publish or present to the Oireachtas Transport Committee the findings of the review alongside any available records of internal board performance self-assessments conducted during the same period. [44815/25]

283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide statistics on the number of major national or regional transport projects currently delayed due to judicial reviews; and if he plans to introduce legal reforms or expedited processes to prevent long-term stalling of essential infrastructure projects. [44914/25]

320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the details of the NTA funding profile if the Lehenaghmore Road improvement scheme, by quarter through completion; the KPI targets for bus journey-time reliability and cycle counts at Forge Hill/Matthew Hill; and the contingency arrangements to maintain access for residents and businesses during phased works (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45419/25]

321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the expected ridership in year one of the TFI Local Link route 530, Fermoy to Mallow starting 18 August and route 255 Kinsale to Cork west on 25 August; the integration with Cork BusConnects corridors and TFI 90-minute fare policy; and the metrics for first-last-mile connectivity in rural Cork for bike parking and on-demand links. [45423/25]

322. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the projected ridership levels for Quarter 4 2025 of the TFI Local Link route530 between Mallow and Fermoy; and if a follow-up survey on rural access to education and healthcare will be published to assess impact in the northCork region. [45440/25]

377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to report on NTA and Bus Éireann punctuality and planned service changes for Routes 223-225 and associated local link additions; and to commit to an autumn performance plan covering the Ringaskiddy–DePuy catchment, Glanmire, and Mallow links. [46611/25]

390. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in light of significant truck driver shortages reported in Cork, up to 40 vacancies locally, the measures that will be taken to fast-track HGV licensing, streamline cross-departmental employment permits, and support sectoral recruitment in Cork’s haulage industry. [46809/25]

392. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in light of reported HGV driver shortages including up to 40 vacancies in Cork and the burdensome licensing and permitting processes, if he will commit to inter-departmental reforms to expedite licensing and recruitment. [46823/25]

466. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the Government’s overall policy in relation to the protection of households and businesses from aggressive debt collection practices by financial institutions such as a firm (details supplied); and the steps being taken across Government to ensure that debt recovery is conducted in a fair, proportionate and transparent manner consistent with the rights of debtors. [46994/25]

495. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance his response to the imposition of new US tariffs on EU exports, particularly pharmaceuticals; if an assessment has been made of the impact on Ireland’s corporate tax receipts and foreign direct investment strategy; and if he will provide details of any measures to diversify Ireland’s tax base and reduce overdependence on a small number of multinational contributors. [44844/25]