Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Quinn's fine proposal. I hope that the Leader will flag our willingness after we win the referendum next Friday to work on a proper reform package. I am appalled that two former Ministers on fine, hefty pensions are outside the House today denigrating this Chamber's work as well as the fine Members elected to it.

I call for a debate on tolling policy following yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, of a one-month toll holiday in November on the M1, M3, M6 and the Limerick tunnel to encourage the owners of heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, to use the motorways that were built to carry heavy traffic. Large numbers of HGVs are using regional and local roads to avoid tolls, driving through towns and villages, causing damage to the roads and posing a serious hazard. In debating this issue, I hope that the House may be able to make the toll charges more attractive to owners of HGVs so that they might continue using roads for the purpose for which they were intended.

I hope that we will have an opportunity to examine the deals made in respect of public-private partnerships, PPPs, to determine whether we are getting good value for money and whether the State should consider renegotiations or making other arrangements.