Purchasing this key strategic site by agreement ensures that the risk of delays and increased costs arising from the Compulsory Purchase Order process are significantly reduced.

Darragh O'Brien said that Dublin Airport's passenger cap "does not serve the State well" and "does not serve the people of the region well".

Mr O'Brien said the airport is of "strategic importance" with over 36 million passengers passing through last year.

Mr O'Brien told the Dáil that Ireland's reputation would also be affected if "capacity is restricted at our main international gateway".

But, he said, while the infrastructure has already improved this does need to continue nationally.

I think it'll be popular, I hope it will be.

I accept fully, that many people driving older cars like that are doing it because they can't afford to change their car. This will help.

I'm not going to be able to bridge the full affordability gap, but I think to be fair by looking at this, an additional €5,000, bringing it up to €8,500, is not an insignificant support.

We're going to invest about €45m this year in new charging points this year alone, which will see a 30% improvement in the EV charging infrastructure that's around the country.

I got approval earlier this year in the first quarter of the national EV rollout plan, not a strategy, an actual plan for new charging points that are being rolled out and we're investing heavily in it.

we will assess how it works, and look at it again