I thank the Deputy for his question about the public sector pay deal and its successor. I have huge respect for all who deliver our public services. I can see so many men and women throughout the country who are doing just that. My late mother was a nurse and I am familiar with the health service. It is her two-year anniversary today. I am proud of our nursing community throughout the country who go beyond the call o…
TDs / Peter Burke
Peter Burke
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
99,195
words spoken in the chamber
99,195 as a minister, 0 as a TD
306
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Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
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Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 403 in all
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Debates they spoke in most
Plus 360 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Longford-Westmeath 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 23 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 2 June 2025 to now
-----to commence negotiations. Where is Sinn Féin's money? I ask it to put its money where it mouth is.
I have made it clear to the Deputy that the negotiating table is open. The invitation has gone out. We want union leaders to take their seats and negotiate for fair pay for all their members and a sustainable deal for our country.
Again, the Deputy has not answered how much Sinn Féin has in its alternative budget for the public sector pay deal. I have made it clear that the Government has €1.2 billion to commence ne…
I thank the Deputy for this very important question. I reaffirm the Government's commitment to RTÉ. It is very important in a free democracy that we have public sector broadcasting no more can that be seen than in the Government's commitment from the increased supports over the past number of years that RTÉ has received, particularly in 2025 at €225 million. This year, €240 million has been committed.
Over the budge…
To be very direct in response, the Government does not expect compulsory redundancies. RTÉ put forward its own plan on how to deliver reductions in staff within the national broadcaster and we are holding it to account on that plan, as every government should. It is RTÉ's plan. We got €725 million of a budget over three years for the national broadcaster. This year, the national broadcaster has been budgeted on a mul…
The Minister is working with the board of RTÉ and the chief executive officer trying to work out how we can reinvigorate those reforms and ensure that we can deliver genuine public service broadcasting right across the economy at a time of significant challenge.
We need that and RTÉ's independence should not be challenged in any way. That is why we have Coimisiún na Meán to do that good work. I have answered the Deputy's questions.
We are not expecting and do not want compulsory redundancies. We want to ensure that we have planned phased implementation of the reforms.
Money has continued under the reforms. That is the key here. I am explaining where the money is.
It key in terms of the reforms that have to happen in the organisation.
I thank Deputy Nash for his very important question. I will address lower paid workers in the economy. We came forward with a 5.6% increase in the national minimum wage, which is growing significantly ahead of inflation. Wage growth in our economy for next year is projected to be at 4.1%, which means that lower paid workers are getting increases that are ahead of inflation. This has been the case over the last four y…
That is why the Government has put together a figure to commence negotiations. It has put €1.2 billion on the table to commence negotiations and has asked our union leaders to negotiate and work a sustainable agreement. I am very clear that it has to protect those who deliver our public services, whose most important work we appreciate, and give them increases that support their families.
The Deputy said that the bu…
Those are the people who keep our economy going. Many middle-income earners do not qualify for benefits in our society but are doing everything they can to support their families and working hard. We supported the lower paid workers with an increase of 5.6%. We have increased indexation of tax credits by 6.25%. We increased the entry point to the top rate of tax by 5.6%. We are ensuring that we are rewarding work and…
I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising a very important issue and one that would be so stressful for any family to respond to and deal with, especially when they are looking for those additional services, which they deserve. The State needs to step up and ensure that parents do not have that worry carrying through to their older years. The Before We Die campaign has done incredible advocacy in this area. I know Deput…
I share the Deputy's concern. In my clinic, I have met many families who are facing very difficult circumstances, particularly parents in their 50s who can see their children getting older and getting more dependent. They are trying to get a line of sight of what the future will hold. I assure the Deputy that we will do more, and we have to do more. We can further flesh out the 489 new residential units in the budget…
I thank the Deputy for his question. In relation to Galway County Council, it was successful in the Athenry public realm enhancement community and enterprise hub project under the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. At that point, the council approved €6.07 million in principle. As regards the design lead, Galway County Council holds the responsibility for the delivery of the project. It is my understandin…
I thank the Deputy for his concern about this project. There has been a meeting with the Department to push progress and ensure that the local authority delivered both projects. Since 2020, approximately €20.5 million has been allocated to nine projects in County Galway under the RRDF. In July, the Minister, Deputy Calleary visited a number of those projects. He is obviously very much aware of both of the projects th…
This is a record budget whereby the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, has been very clear in supporting the users of home heating oil, including kerosene, by bringing the carbon tax back to €48.50 and keeping it at 2023 levels for the remainder of the Government’s duration. Sinn Féin has brought forward an alternative budget that does not answer any of the questions faced in solving the long-term probl…
In its proposal, Sinn Féin does not say that it is going to-----
The Deputy will not let me finish. If he is not interested in hearing the facts-----
All Sinn Féin wants to do is spend more,-----
-----promise more, borrow more and tax more.
I was answering the question.
It is very clear that lower income earners benefit more in terms of the social welfare code through budget 2027; that is those on the lowest deciles in our economy. We have been very clear about the increase in the fuel allowance for pensioners, which has gone up quite significantly in recent years. It is up by an additional €5 in budget 2027. Again, that supports families that are significantly challenged. We have p…
Could Deputy Hearne please let me finish? Did he not get a question?
Did he not get his slot?