Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Do I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that within two weeks the bridge will be bought back for €600 million and that the current private toll will be replaced by a public toll? What is the position in respect of the 18 months before barrier-free tolling will be implemented? Ireland penalises motorists more than any country in the European Union in terms of taxation, such as VRT, and the cost of using this bridge, which comes to approximately €1,300 for a family that uses it to commute to and from work each day. This constitutes an imposition on motorists. When the Taoiseach states that he is caught by the contract entered into on behalf of the State by the former Minister, Pádraig Flynn, and George Redmond——

See this speech in context