Robert Troy

I thank the Deputy again for the opportunity to discuss this important topic. While the Deputy's question focuses on one aspect of the current tax regime, it is clear that the overall approach to taxation of retail investments needs to be considered. Stakeholders including individual investors and industry participants have made their position on the current approach, including deemed disposal, c…

I acknowledge the serious damage caused by recent flooding events and their impact on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. The Government remains committed to protecting Ireland’s current and future generations by investing in climate adaptation measures to manage the impacts of extreme weather. Accordingly, €1.3 billion has been committed to the delivery of flood relief schemes ov…

EU legislation, the Solvency II directive, states that neither the Central Bank nor the Minister for Finance can compel insurance companies to provide insurance cover. The last action plan on insurance reform delivered but gaps remain, and we acknowledge that. That is why we published a new action plan on insurance last summer. We acknowledge that State intervention is needed. That is why there ar…

The Government is dealing with this issue. That is why it is a number one priority in the action plan that was launched last year. The flood protection gap in this country is one of the lowest in the European Union. Under 5% of people cannot get access to flood insurance. I acknowledge that is of cold comfort to that 5%, but in terms of coverage from a European Union perspective, we have one of th…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I would like to acknowledge the severe impact the recent storm has had on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. In doing so, I also acknowledge the work of our emergency services, our local authorities, the Civil Defence and the very many organisations and individuals who worked tirelessly for their communities over the past few w…

I thank Deputy McCarthy for making those very clear and valid points this evening. The Tánaiste has just reminded me that the Cabinet committee on climate is meeting in the morning and one of the items on the agenda is consideration of what interim measures can be introduced in advance of permanent flood defences going in to particular areas. We need to speed up mitigation measures in areas such a…

The Deputy mentioned particular areas where flood defences have been put in place but flood insurance cover remains problematic. That is a big concern because the Government has invested tens of millions of euro in permanent flood defence mechanisms but the insurance companies have not responded adequately. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, earlier today and am due to meet with the Minist…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter again. I acknowledge that he has engaged with me on this on a number of occasions. I reiterate my earlier acknowledgement regarding the serious damage caused by the recent flood events and the impact they have had on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. As previously stated, insurance reform, including increasing the affordability and acce…

With due respect, flood defence measures are an important part-----

-----of providing protection for households and businesses. Speaking to any of the unfortunate householder or businesses in areas where the schemes have been held up for a myriad of reasons over the past number of years, they eagerly await the roll-out of the flood defence mechanisms. It is fair to say that in many constituencies, such as in Athlone in my own constituency, where permanent flood de…

I thank the Deputies for raising their points. I do not know whether Deputy Byrne was present earlier when I mentioned that the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy is meeting tomorrow to examine what immediate measures can be taken to protect areas where there is a longer lead-in for permanent flood defence measures to be introduced. In relation to Deputy Callaghan's poin…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is progressing the commitments in the programme for Government to further reform the insurance sector in Ireland and ensure transparency, affordability and availability of insurance for all consumers. Significant progress was achieved through the 2020 action plan for insurance reform. Key measures delivered included the introduction of the…

We have seen an increase in car insurance in the past 12 months but that came on the back of reductions over the previous number of years. The previous action plan delivered savings in the motor insurance industry in particular. I acknowledge that some of those gains have started to be eroded. That is why there was a need to introduce a further action plan to continue to build on the progress of i…

To be fair to the insurance industry, and we quite frequently stand to criticise it, providers introduced a voluntary code of practice in this area back in December 2023. It was on the back of that voluntary code that we were able to see the difference the right to be forgotten makes to cancer survivors. We have brought forward provisions in the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 to put that volun…

First, I would like to acknowledge the serious damage caused by recent storm events, and the impact they have had on families, communities and businesses. In the aftermath of Storm Bram and Storm Chandra, I engaged with Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the Irish insurance industry, regarding the insurance sector’s response to claims and reiterated the Government’s expectations that i…

I thank the Deputy. I will need to ask the insurance industry about that specific question he raised regarding how a previous flood claim may exclude people from future cover. I cannot quantify if that has happened in the past, and, if so, in how many instances. I will undertake to get that information and relay it to the Deputy. It is a problem. We mentioned in previous replies that approximately…

I would love to think that the insurance companies would help with flood prevention mechanisms, but I do not think that is realistic. The challenge and the frustration of Government, and I made this point in reply to a previous question, is that insurance companies have not responded positively where the Government has expended large sums of money installing permanent flood defence mechanisms and …

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…

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…

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 sc…

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…

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, …

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…

I welcome, on behalf of the Minister for Finance, the opportunity to discuss the Private Members' motion tabled by Sinn Féin regarding the cost of motoring. The Government proposes to put forward a countermotion. While it is acknowledged that the cost of motoring may be a challenge for many, the Opposition's motion fails to take into account the progress made by this and previous Governments in t…

That is not what I said.