Robert Troy

There is no magic money tree out there.

We must underline and understand that what we are seeing at the moment is a large increase in the wholesale market price of oil as a result of the supply shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East. This is compounding the supply issues we faced at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. That is what is driving the increase in fuel costs. Sinn Féin’s motion on fuel prices fails to mention that f…

You supported that.

You supported it.

You supported it.

The Opposition cannot even agree what government we would have.

I thank all my colleagues for their contributions today. As the Minister, Deputy Foley, set out earlier, the investigation of burial arrangements in mother and baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, an independent, statutory body that was established in 2015. One of the key reasons for its establis…

What did the ESRI say?

The ESRI said it was a progressive budget.

I thank the Deputies for their contributions this evening. The financial resolution amends provisions for a partial repayment of mineral oil tax on auto diesel purchased in the State and used in qualifying vehicles by licensed Irish and EU road transport operators. As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, indicated earlier, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the specific and detriment…

Will you stop?

I am glad to have the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Government to statements on the consular aspect of this crisis. It has been a deeply frightening and uncertain time for citizens who are resident in the region and those visiting or transiting through the region. It is clear all Deputies share my deep concern for the safety and well-being of our citizens. The work of the consular crisis…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I will outline the ongoing initiatives for developing capacity in the electricity grid and relay the advice received from ESB Networks on the matter received. The Government does not have a role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is in line with the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of tr…

I thank the Deputy for his contribution on the matter. I acknowledge that he has raised a serious and specific query regarding an issue in his constituency. As I said, the national electricity grid must deliver locally. That should mean providing quality electric supply for new and existing customers. Under the grid connection policy set by the CRU, connection applications are dealt with on a sequ…

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I can confirm that I drive through her constituency probably every day getting to Leinster House and I have been in it many times. My brother lived down from the Iveagh Markets in Francis Street, so I know it well. The Iveagh Markets complex, a protected structure located on Francis Street, Dublin 8, was designed to provide accommodation for street trade…

I thank the Deputy for her kindness in her response in acknowledging that I was given the wrong answer to the question that was submitted. I appreciate that. My understanding from listening to her follow-up is that Newmarket was a community market that operated in an open space and subsequently ceased trading, and planning permission was approved for a development of a structure of some sort. I am…

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue in the House. The proposal for the Cork northern distributor road, NDR, is set out in the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy 2040, CMATS, which was developed by the NTA in collaboration with Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. During the preparation,…

It is not in my gift to say that we can accelerate the timeframe for the delivery of-----

I will acknowledge that the Deputy makes a very valid case to ensure we have the right infrastructure in place to serve major companies that are contributing significantly in terms of corporation tax to our country and employment for Cork and across different regions in Ireland. I have been given a document this evening to outline on behalf of the Minister for Transport the current timelines in pl…

I thank Deputy O'Hara for his question. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with members of the House today on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I understand that the Deputy’s question is in relation to the Athenry relief road in County Galway. As Deputy O’Hara is aware, and as outlined in the 2026 regional and local roads programme, the Government is strongly committed t…

I thank the Deputy for raising forcefully the need for clarity and certainty in relation to when the next phase of works will happen for this relief road. I have outlined the current state of play and there is no point in outlining it again but I will undertake to raise what the Deputy has said this evening with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and ask him to come back to the Deputy with any further …

The Minister for Children, Equality and Disability would like me, on her behalf, to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and offering her, through me, an opportunity to respond. She sends her genuine apologies that she cannot be here to take this debate. On 17 February, the board of Southside Traveller Action Group informed its public funders, including the Department of Children, Di…

Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and, indeed, for the whole of Government. The Minister acknowledges the staff, volunteers and community members who have worked with commitment and dedication over many years to advance the rights and well-being of Travellers in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area. The…

I thank the Deputies for bringing forward their proposals for these amendments to the legislation and for their contributions this evening. I assure them that the Government has listened and agrees with the overarching aim to provide for broader access to spent convictions. This is a highly technical and complex Bill with consequences for a number of different Acts which touch on sensitive and di…

I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important issue of supporting savings and investment. I fully agree with everything he has said. We need to look at areas where we can incentivise wider participation in retail investment and to activate the €170-odd billion that is sitting idly on demand deposits in this country. According to the Central Bank of Ireland’s retail investor participation report,…