Results 1-20 of 12,282 for speaker:Paul Murphy

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: I welcome the long overdue publication of this report. AsIAm has pointed out that it is worrying to see references to amending the Education Act, which could delay the action we need to see. All parents know, and the Government acknowledges in all its statements, how crucial timely intervention is, but for many it is not delivered. I will take the opportunity to raise an important...

Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025: First Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the campaigners on this issue. It is outrageous that there are still people today walking around with historical convictions for the so-called crime of being gay. The Government, of course, will say no one should be criminalised for consensual sexual activity, but a working group was set up to examine disregarding those convictions back in 2021 and still...

Animal Health and Welfare (Welfare of Pigs) Bill 2025: First Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to improve the welfare of pigs by prohibiting teeth-clipping, tail-docking and castration, limiting the use of tusk reduction and regulating sow stalls and farrowing crates. I start by thanking the National Animal Rights Association, NARA, especially Laura Broxson and Dr....

Animal Health and Welfare (Welfare of Pigs) Bill 2025: First Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: I support for the call for statements on Pride. I also call for a debate and a motion to be brought forward by the Government, if it wants us to sign up to this European armament programme called SAFE. It is part of ReArm Europe, and entails €150 billion worth of loans, effectively to be paid for by the public into the pockets of the armaments industry in Europe. It was announced on...

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: This Bill is a very serious attack on freedom of speech and the right of people to protest. Mo Chara from Kneecap is being prosecuted in Britain for opposing the genocide and expressing solidarity with Palestine, and now the Government here is trying to pass legislation that would allow him to be prosecuted here too. Section 3 of the Bill expands the legal definition of provocation of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: When Russia invaded Ukraine, schools organised shows of solidarity with Ukraine but when it comes to Israel's genocide in Gaza, some teachers are being silenced and their clothing choices are being policed. I contacted the Minister recently about Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School where members of staff have been told not to wear their Keffiyeh scarves. Keffiyehs are simple...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: 128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will abolish the TV licence and replace it with a tax on big tech companies to fund public service broadcasting. [35187/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: The TV licence is a regressive, unjust tax.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: The richest household in the country has to pay the same €160 as the poorest eligible household in the country.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: Increasing numbers of people are voting with their feet and boycotting the TV licence. Will the Minister read the writing on the wall, scrap this regressive tax and replace it with a levy on big tech corporations?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: I thank the Minister. I presume he accepts that the tax is deeply unpopular. Licence sales have plummeted since the Tubridy scandal and everything else that came out in terms of the behaviour of those at the top of RTÉ. In 2022, €950,000 was paid. This dropped to €825,000 in 2023 and €790,000 in 2024. This represents a drop of more than 155,000 households that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: The Minister might tell us if considers all the countries across Europe that have abolished TV licences not to be constitutional democracies. Is the test of being a constitutional democracy having a TV licence? He might clarify that. I presume he is aware that just over one third of funding for RTÉ and public service broadcasting comes from the TV licence. It is not even where a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Television Licence Fee (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: It sounds like the Minister is interfering now.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: 8. To ask the Minister for Health the action that will be taken against surgeons who performed unnecessary surgeries on children at CHI. [34934/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (26 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: 124. To ask the Minister for Health the action she will take to ensure that financial motives do not compromise children’s healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34935/25]

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (25 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: Another year, another cursory debate and then another voting-through of draconian legislation tonight. I will speak against and vote against the legislation but the Government and the vast majority of the Opposition will vote in favour of curtailing basic civil liberties. The Special Criminal Court was established 53 years ago, supposedly on an emergency basis. The original emergency for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (25 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: 78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether an organisation in receipt of State funding (details supplied) should provide an apology to the mother of a girl who died in their care, in circumstances in which as a result of a civil action, the organisation admitted liability. [34674/25]

Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: I found the “RTÉ Investigates” programme horrifying, obviously, and very difficult to watch. It was clear that the older people were not being treated as human beings, with decency, dignity and respect. Instead, many were being treated simply as a burden – a burden for whom there were not enough gloves or incontinence pads. They were treated like sacks of meat...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jun 2025)

Paul Murphy: I want to raise the poor state of healthcare for those suffering with allergies in this country. Many parents are forced to spend huge amounts to travel abroad to get their children the treatment they need. I spoke to a woman a few months ago who had to go to America for six weeks. She had to pay €8,000 for treatment. She was also out of work for six weeks and had to pay for...