I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — there are 11 toll roads in operation across the State, 10 of which are on the national roads network with two of these being in full public ownership and eight roads across the State are tolled under Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with the Minister for Transport holding responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the National Roads Programme; — motor tax can either be paid in one less expensive lump sum or more costly instalments disproportionately impacting lower-income motorists; and — annual increases in Carbon taxes raise the price of motor fuels, with the Minister for Finance holding overall responsibility for tax policy; regrets that: — despite a raging cost of living crisis, motorists are faced with price hikes at every turn, particularly those living in rural areas, who are forced to use a private car due to the failure of successive Governments to put in place sustainable public transport options; — the average cost of motor insurance rose by nine per cent last year to its highest point in five years, which is almost double the European average and over four times the rate of inflation; and — Irish motorists pay some of the highest prices in the European Union for petrol and diesel; further acknowledges that: — private toll companies have recorded millions of euros in after-tax profits in the past year and the profits of motor insurance companies in the state have been way above industry norms in recent years; — the existing gold-plated PPPs contracts that permit these toll increases, and generous traffic guarantee payments, are a legacy of bad economic policy choices and decisions made by successive Fianna Fáil-led administrations; and — the Government's latest action plan to lower insurance premiums follows a similar action plan during their previous term which failed to make any difference; condemns: — the failure of the Government, in particular the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien to respond and include the necessary financial provisions in Budget 2026, and to cancel these planned increases and lessen the burden on workers, families, and businesses in the midst of the cost-of-living and fuel crisis; and calls on the Government to: — reverse the carbon tax increase of May 2025 on home heating oil and gas, reverse the carbon tax increase of October 2025 on diesel and petrol, and do not proceed with future scheduled increases; — end the financial penalty imposed on people who cannot afford to pay motor tax in one single payment; — stand up to insurance companies to ensure fair and stable motor insurance costs and to address the disproportionate profits in this industry; — progress and enact Sinn Féin’s Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021, to ensure the benefits of reforms are passed onto customers in the form of lower premiums, rather than captured as higher profits for insurance companies; and — stop the proposed toll increases planned for January 2026. Drivers are being hammered with skyrocketing costs, paying some of the highest prices for petrol and diesel in the EU. The cost of motor insurance continues to also increase year after year despite lower awards. Now, the Government wants to hit drivers with another round of toll hikes. These are people who are commuting to work, driving their kids to school and just trying to get from A to B. The Government's policies are punishing people for just living their everyday lives. It is time to end the rip-off and cut the cost of driving. Enough is enough. The solutions are at the Government's fingertips, but it has made the political choice not to use them. Let us be clear - these extra costs are not inevitable. They are political choices made by this Government, choices that put private profit ahead of public need and choices that deepen the cost-of-living crisis. This is not just about cars. It about fairness, about whether people can afford to get to work, college, school or the doctor, and about rural communities where public transport is limited and people are being doubly punished yet again. In relation to toll hikes, the Minister for Transport has the power to stop them but is choosing not to. He did it before when Sinn Féin forced the issue in 2023. The Government can do it again this time. Instead, it is allowing the toll operators that already pocket millions of euro in profits to treat Irish drivers like cash cows. Following the previous toll hikes, profits for private operators of the Limerick tunnel surged by 10% to €12 million while toll income on the M50 reached €212 million, €12.5 million of which was from penalties for drivers. If traffic falls on these roads, guess what? The taxpayer steps in to guarantee private profits through the traffic guarantee clause. This is a rigged system and a safety net for corporate owners, and it is ordinary people who pay the price. The price of petrol and diesel tells us a similar story. Irish drivers already pay the third highest petrol and diesel prices in the EU. What do Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents do in response? They push prices even higher with continual increases in the regressive carbon tax on petrol and diesel. Despite what some say, annual increases are not set in stone. It is another example of a policy this Government is actively pursuing. After all, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the regional Independents, supported to the bitter end by the Healy-Raes, could have chosen not to proceed with the increase, which has hiked up the cost of petrol and diesel even further. Their stubbornness on this is frustrating, not least because certain Government-supporting TDs and Ministers of State deny they are playing any part in it whatsoever. I fail to see how a Minister of State, who is in government, can absolve himself from any responsibility for the policies of that Government. The Minister of State, Michael Healy-Rae, is either part of it or he is not. Insurance is more of the same, with ordinary people being ripped off no matter what way they turn. If a driver is paying the average premium here, which is now €620, did the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, know that they are paying almost double the European average? Profits in the insurance industry have been far above industry norms for the past few years while ordinary families struggle. Sinn Féin has a plan to stand up to the insurance companies in our Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 so that savings from reforms go to customers and not into the pockets of multinational wealthy insurers, but this Government drags its feet. Then there is a motor tax, which is a system that penalises those who cannot pay in one lump sum. If a person is wealthy, they pay less. if they are struggling, they pay more. This is not fairness; it is a punishment. It is the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and regional Independents that have abandoned ordinary people. Before the election, they promised tax cuts for workers. They gave them to banks and developers. They promised to help with energy bills. They withdrew credits. They promised affordable childcare and failed to deliver. Now, they want to make driving even more expensive. Our motion is simple: stop the toll hikes; end the penalty for paying motor tax in instalments; stand up to the insurance companies; and reverse the carbon tax.

Sentiment score: -0.03

On a point of order, the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, mentioned that there was countermotion. That was not notified to the proposers. We checked with the Whip's office and it does not seem to have it either.

Sentiment score: 0.00

There was none lodged. It was not moved.

Sentiment score: 0.00

If ever anybody in this State needed proof or evidence that the Government does not care about the cost-of-living crisis or the increased costs on motorists, they can see it in the Minister's own speech from earlier on. He said that this House should reject the Sinn Féin Private Members' motion and instead support the Government's countermotion on this matter. The Government did not even bother to lodge a countermotion. It is farcical in the replies the Minister gave earlier on that he mentioned he is aware that motorists are penalised in that if they cannot pay upfront, they pay an extra 5% in increments. He knows about it but is not doing anything about it except for a Bill that he is announcing some time in the new year. He knows as well that despite carbon tax increases not being effective because people have no choice in what they do, he is not going to reverse the carbon tax increases. The funny thing is that despite all the money paid in taxes, the Government is going to continue with the toll increases. The Government does not need to do this. It is mean and unfair. It is punishing commuters and people who have to go to school, college or the doctor's. The biggest laugh of all is that in tackling the insurance cost, the Government argued that our Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 does not take into account the significant work undertaken by the Government. It is not working. For 40 years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been doing everything that the insurance companies want them to do, hoping against hope that motor premiums will reduce. When claims fell by 40%, premiums fell only by 5%. The Minister's statement goes on to say that it "could potentially undermine" the Government's efforts. It is hardly going to do that when the best that he could come up with was the introduction, sometime in the future, of a new code for insurance companies. This is not mandating them. Rather than bringing in legislation, it is bringing in a new code, to which it is hoped the insurance industry will sign up. The amount of leeway that is being given to insurance companies is laughable. What we propose is not radical. It is common sense. It is fairness. It is not left or right; it is what people need now. The Government should not hide behind excuses anymore or pretend that its hands are tied. It is sitting on its hands at the moment. It has the power to act against the rip-offs and against the cost-of-living increases but it is doing nothing about it.

Sentiment score: 0.03