Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 May 2025

• Prelude (0 speeches)
  Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Mairéad Farrell) i gceannas ar 8.47 a.m.
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Road Network (7 speeches)
    1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to ensure regional and national roads in Kerry are adequately maintained; if he has considered conducting a...
  • Departmental Policies (7 speeches)
    2. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he intends to bring forward a new national aviation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23103/25]
  • Public Transport (7 speeches)
    3. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he is making to improve the experience of commuters on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23024/25]
  • Public Transport (11 speeches)
    4. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce a policy to ensure that there is no increase in public transport fares until we are on track to meet our...
  • Departmental Policies (7 speeches)
    5. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if work has commenced on a new State aviation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23069/25]
• Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (0 speeches)
  • Public Transport (10 speeches)
    7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to expand free public transport access for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22821/25]
  • Rail Network (7 speeches)
    10. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions his Department is undertaking to address capacity issues on InterCity rail services; and if he will make a statement on the...
  • Public Transport (7 speeches)
    11. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he can provide an update on the delivery of next generation ticketing, given that one year has passed since the signing of the contract...
  • Rail Network (7 speeches)
    12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issues affecting the rail service between Athenry and Galway city, including persistent capacity...
  • Departmental Policies (17 speeches)
    13. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the review of the National Aviation Policy to maximise the use of our regional airports, as promised in the...
  • Driver Test (13 speeches)
    14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 1 April 2025, to provide an update on the number of driving test assessors currently assigned...
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Departmental Bodies (14 speeches)
    91. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide details from all agencies under his remit of capital projects that cost more than €500,000 and were either...
  • Economic Policy (5 speeches)
    92. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider establishing a night-time economy commission or advisory group in each major city to provide expert guidance...
  • An Ghaeltacht (7 speeches)
    94. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cén pleananna atá aige chun scéim na ndeontas tithíochta Gaeltachta a reáchtáil arís de bhun...
  • Tourism Industry (9 speeches)
    95. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which his Department will work with officials throughout Government to ensure the tourism industry is supported across...
  • Sports Facilities (8 speeches)
    97. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he and his Department officials will visit a new clubhouse development (details supplied) to speak with the board. [22889/25]
  • Tourism Promotion (8 speeches)
    98. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific measures his Department is taking to support and grow the tourism sector in County Offaly, including investment in...
  • Tourism Promotion (11 speeches)
    99. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the initiatives he is implementing to promote tourism in Kells, County Meath, to enhance the town’s appeal as a destination...
  • Sports Funding (10 speeches)
    100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that was spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2024; and if he will make a...
  • Arts Policy (12 speeches)
    101. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the second research report into the basic income for the arts pilot scheme will be completed and published, and if he will...
  • Sports Funding (7 speeches)
    102. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline any engagement there has been between his Department, the Louth county board of the GAA and GAA headquarters...
  • Soláthar Tithíochta (9 speeches)
    103. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cén obair atá ar siúl aige maidir le soláthar tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sé...
• Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (38 speeches)
  Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil oibrithe agus teaghlaigh ag streachailt cheana féin le costais maireachtála. Déanann an chaint seo ar tharaifí dochar do...
• Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (2 speeches)
  We now move to questions under Standing Order 38A, and Deputy Catherine Ardagh. As the Deputy is not here, we will move on to Questions on Policy or Legislation.
• Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (52 speeches)
  So much for backbenchers wanting so much time on Leaders' Questions. The Government did all this for Lowry and now its backbenchers do not even turn up for the thing it forced through. It is so...
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Defence Forces (11 speeches)
    152. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces and if he will...
  • Defence Forces (7 speeches)
    153. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the planned negotiations for a radar detection system; the expected cost of the system; a timeline for the delivery of...
  • Military Neutrality (19 speeches)
    155. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a peacekeeping mission deployment has ever been unable to proceed due to the lack of agreement of the UN General Assembly, as provided for in...
  • Air Corps (7 speeches)
    154. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline, further to recent Dáil debates, his views on past health and safety measures in the Air Corps, and potential engagements with...
• Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (0 speeches)
  • Cybersecurity Policy (10 speeches)
    157. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to strengthen our cyberdefence capabilities in light of increasing global threats to digital infrastructure; and if he...
  • Defence Forces (7 speeches)
    158. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to radically restructure Defence Forces recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/25]
  • Departmental Meetings (11 speeches)
    159. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 5 February 2025, if the minutes of all meetings with an organisation (details supplied) will now be...
  • Defence Forces (5 speeches)
    160. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the professional instructor payment will be paid to commissioned officer instructors in the Defence Forces, as committed to by the...
  • Naval Service (18 speeches)
    161. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Naval Service’s two new inshore patrol vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, will enter service; and if he will make a...
  • Defence Forces (8 speeches)
    162. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline his plans for investment at Gormanston Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/25]
  • Defence Forces (7 speeches)
    163. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Department's plans this year for funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on...
  • Official Engagements (9 speeches)
    167. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on his recent trip to Lebanon and, in particular, his meeting with Lebanese officials about the ongoing legal...
• Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (28 speeches)
  I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a period...
• Parental Choice in Education: Motion [Private Members] (28 speeches)
  I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — more than 90 per cent of Irish primary schools are under religious patronage, while only 5 per cent are multi-denominational;...
• Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (1 speech)
  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss...
• Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (1 speech)
  Before we start, I would like to express on my own behalf and that of the House good wishes to our new Pope elected this evening while we were doing the session. I wish him well. Our hearts and...
  • Air Services (4 speeches)
    We have seen the rapid growth of commercial drone activity in Ireland, especially in my constituency of Dublin West. Manna Drone Delivery has been piloting a delivery service from a local base...
  • Legislative Reviews (4 speeches)
    I am calling for an urgent and speedy review of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Many of us recognise and applaud the intent and ambition of the Act in supposedly giving greater...
  • School Accommodation (4 speeches)
    I thank the Minister of State for being here to answer this question. I wish to raise the issue of an additional accommodation scheme application from Ballinora National School in County Cork....
  • Special Educational Needs (4 speeches)
    I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this very serious issue. A number of ASD units were approved for three secondary schools in south Tipperary. Three principals and their...
  • Overseas Development Aid (4 speeches)
    I want to raise an issue that is of significant concern to me, the Green Party and many Irish people, namely, the impact of the highly politicised attack on overseas aid by the US Government....