It was announced yesterday that on New Year's Day, the Government will introduce a road toll increase, the second in six months. The Government started kite-flying about this during the summer. It is madness that the Government would go ahead with this increase. People rely on the roads to get to work, to bring kids to school and to attend medical appointments in different parts of the country. In particular, people from more rural areas do not have an alternative as of yet to private transport or the use of a toll road. At a time where the cost of living is really hurting families and indeed business, this is not a time for such a hike in road tolls. A bit of common sense is required here. Could the Taoiseach ensure that the toll increases set for January do not go ahead?

The toll increases are linked to inflation. It is part of the contracts that we have with the toll operators and, in some cases, the companies that built the roads. We have done a deferral in the past, paid for by the taxpayer, but that is something that can only be done on a temporary basis. If it is Sinn Féin's position that it is going to breach these contracts if Deputy McDonald becomes Taoiseach, she should say so because that would be a significant matter legally and would probably open the country to very significant compensation claims at the expense of the taxpayer. It is important that at some point that the Deputy clarifies Sinn Féin's policy on this because there are lawyers listening to what she says in a way they did not in the past and her words could really cost this country money.

So is that a "Yes" or a "No"?

I call Deputy Bacik.