Latest news with #RegionalIndependents
The Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Taoiseach denies claims that specific infrastucture plans being withheld to protect 'Lowry deal'
TAOISEACH MICHÉAL MARTIN has strongly denied claims by the opposition that full details of the National Development Plan have been 'held back' to protect his government's deal with Michael Lowry and the Regional Independents. Ahead of the publication of today's review of the National Development Plan (NDP) — which sets out government infrastructure spending up to 2035 — some opposition TDs claimed that details of the review were being withheld. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney said: 'Let's be clear that the details of the NDP are being withheld so that the Lowry deal isn't yet exposed'. This notion was echoed by Labour TD Conor Sheehan, who said: 'Details of the NDP are being held back in order to try bury the Government's deal with the Lowry independents'. After government formation talks concluded earlier this year, a number of government supporting Regional Independent TDs claimed they had received a range of commitments for their localities, but details of these were never officially announced by government. This led to calls from the opposition for the government to be more transparent about what members of the Regional Independents (who were led by TD Michael Lowry during government formation talks) received in exchange for their support. Today's NDP review outlines top level investment being directed to each government department, but unlike previous years, it does not outline funding for specific projects. Advertisement During a press conference about the NDP this afternoon, the Taoiseach rubbished the claims from the opposition as being 'ridiculous'. He said specific projects had not yet been agreed by each individual Department, with ministers deciding what to prioritise spend on themselves 'closer to the Budget' in October. 'It has absolutely nothing to do with any agreement with the Independents,' Martin said, adding again that it was a 'plain ridiculous' suggestion from opposition TDs. 'Nothing at all,' he stressed. He said individual ministers will announce their funding priorities over the coming weeks and that this was 'no big deal'. 'It will happen,' he said. The Regional Independents spokesperson in government, junior minister for roads in the Department of Transport Sean Canney, said that right now, he does not know what roads will be built as a result of the NDP review. 'That's the focus that I'd be having for the next five or six weeks, is to make sure that we have a plan that's implementable, and that for the money we have now…that we actually spend it all right and proper for the people,' he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Roads, houses and water: Ireland's biggest ever infrastructure plan to be announced today
THE GOVERNMENT WILL today map out how it plans to spend €200bn on massive infrastructure projects over the next decade. The National Development Plan (NDP), which is due to be published after the Cabinet meets this morning, will set out the large-scale infrastructure plans this government and future governments will roll out. There will be a big focus on housing, the energy grid, water infrastructure, roads, public transport and health facilities that are needed over the coming decade. Defence will also see a boost in funding. It is not yet known how much money will be spent on each priority. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Minister of State Seán Canney – who represents the Regional Independents in government – met with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers yesterday to flesh the final details of the spending plan. Much of the discussion centered around housing yesterday, with increased funding for the delivery more units understood to be key to the new NDP. As part of the announcement, the government will also set out how it is going to spend the Apple tax money. Advertisement The €14bn Apple tax windfall is being used to partially fund the massive spending plan, along with money from the sale of AIB shares and cash from other State funds, including the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. The Apple escrow account was closed in May of this year, with a total sum of almost €14.25bn transferred to the Exchequer. Apple had originally transferred €14.3bn to the account in 2018 ahead of its appeal against the European Commission decision, which found that the company owed Ireland €13.1bn plus interest of €1.2bn. October's budget In addition to the National Development Plan, the government will also publish the Summer Economic Statement (SES) today, which outlines the parameters for October's Budget. While there was a bumper package announced last year, the Taoiseach and ministers have been tempering expectations that this year's Budget will deliver the same level of savings into people's pockets. The threat and uncertainty of US tariffs is making it increasingly difficult to plan for the Budget, the Taoiseach has previously said. The government has already ruled out any once-off cost-of-living measures, similar to those rolled out in previous years. The increase in protectionism, rising tariffs and the fragmentation of global supply chains poses a threat to Ireland's economic model, ministers will be told today. The finance minister, in publishing the SES today, will state that the government is in a good position to tackle these challenges head on. Budget 2026 will deliver taxation measures Budget 2026 will see additional public spending and taxation measures delivered, it is understood, with the government's budgetary strategy being threefold this year: to increase investment in productivity-enhancing public infrastructure such as water and energy to continue to improve public services to build-up financial resources to guard against future shocks. Related Reads Minister says 'sensible decisions' will be made by Govt on how to spend €13bn Apple tax money Hospitals, trains, millions of Oasis tickets: Nine ways Ireland could spend its Apple billions The government plans strike a balance between enhancing public infrastructure, improving public services and maintaining the long-term sustainability of the public finances. The programme for government commits to increasing capital investment in key areas, while at the same time, continuing to use the resources available to invest record levels of public money across the public service to improve healthcare, education and social protection. These investments will be made on a permanent basis, rather than the previous once-off measures. The finance minister will also outline that the government is focussed on maintaining the stability of the public finances. He will warn that due to Ireland being a small open economy, the country is vulnerable to external developments. It is crucial that that country has the resources available to maintain capital investment even in the event of an economic shock, Donohoe will tell ministers. The increased costs associated with an aging population and other challenges will also need to be factored in. Much of the focus is on corporation tax take, with the Department of Finance warning last year that the concentration had increased, with €1 euro in every €7 coming from just ten companies last year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
How will Ireland divvy out €200 billion? 5 politicians are signing off on big decisions today
THE LEADERS OF the coalition will meet with the two money ministers this afternoon to finalise capital expenditure plans for the coming decade. Tomorrow, a review of the National Development Plan (NDP) — which sets out government infrastructure spending up to 2035 — will be published by the government. Overall, €200bn in spending is planned for the coming decade, with an additional €30bn being injected into Ireland's infrastructure since the plan was first announced. This money will be made up of the €14bn Apple Tax , the sale of shares in AIB, and money from other State funds, including the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Minister of State Seán Canney (who represents the Regional Independents in government) will today meet with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers to flesh out which Departments the additional money will be directed to. Advertisement Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1′s Morning Ireland earlier today, Canney said the 'broad figures' for each Department will be announced tomorrow, but it will be at a later date that each Department will publish its implementation plan for the spending. Canney was tight-lipped on details about what will actually be announced, however, he stressed that it will be important that what is announced is 'functional' rather than 'award-winning'. 'Especially in housing and in hospital infrastructure,' he said. 'I think most people would like to have a home that's comfortable and functional rather than have an award-winning housing estate from an architectural and aesthetic point of view. 'So that's that's the key message in this National Development Plan, is that we're here to make sure that whilst we're putting more money in, we want to see more coming out at the other end, and want to see it coming out quickly.' On top of the main takeaways from the publication of the NDP review tomorrow, the announcement may also give us a further glimpse into what the Regional Independent TDs secured as part of their government formation deal. For example, Canney, who is minister of state in the Department of Transport with responsibility for roads, confirmed that more road projects will be given the go-ahead as a result of tomorrow's announcement. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
'Government expects support of Regional Independents in key votes'
The Government expects all Regional Independent TDs to support it during votes of confidence and while passing budgets, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers has said. Mr Chambers said there is an ongoing commitment from Regional Independent TDs to back the Government, after both Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole voted for a Sinn Féin bill on Wednesday night. The two independent TDs backed Sinn Féin's legislation that would prohibit the Central Bank from handling Israeli government bonds. 'Obviously they made individual decisions yesterday evening as non-aligned TDs in the Dáil, but they've also outlined their commitment to continue to support the Government,' Mr Chambers said. On Wednesday, Mr Heneghan confirmed he voted against the Government, saying in a statement that it was about 'standing up for international law and basic human rights". 'Matters of conscience' "I'm fully committed to the programme for government but, as an Independent TD, I reserve the right to act on matters of conscience. The situation is urgent, and Ireland must show leadership,' Mr Heneghan said. Pressed what sanction the two TDs would face for voting against the Government, Mr Chambers said it was 'not about punishment'. 'We obviously have a whip system within the party groups, within Fianna Fáil, within Fine Gael and indeed ministers and ministers of state, our office holders within the Government. 'We have an ongoing commitment I think, and we've heard from the TDs in the last 24 hours around continued support for the Government. They've been generally supportive across many areas of legislation.' Mr Chambers said it reflected previous debate on non-aligned TDs and that Regional Independent TDs would be able to make up their mind on an 'individual basis'. However, when pressed if he expected the Regional Independents to back the Government during key votes such as budgets or confidence motions, Mr Chambers said that he did. 'We've had a very constructive working engagement with all of the Independent TDs and the non-aligned TDs who are members of Government and I expect that to continue in the period ahead," he said. 'On a vote of confidence or a budgetary matter, if they're continuing to support the Government as it is, that's obviously a more significant vote. I'd expect them, in light of the statement after the vote last evening, that they'll continue to support the Government.'
