I apologise to both Deputies for not having time to give them an oral response in full, which they also now have. I recognise their concerns. Following on from what I said, I will be bringing this to the attention of the Minister. I also understand the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's time constraints.
The Department of Transport is prioritising the safe and effective transition of the aviation contract, without the interr…
TDs / Michael Healy-Rae
Michael Healy-Rae
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
898
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
41,713
words spoken in the chamber
33,601 as a minister, 8,112 as a TD
302
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
201
topics asked about
Across 18 departments
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
What they ask about
The subject headings the Oireachtas filed their questions under.
Who they ask
The departments their questions were addressed to.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Questions asked 898 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 254 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| January 2025 | 24 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 94 | 11 |
| March 2025 | 47 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 35 | 9 |
| May 2025 | 45 | 3 |
| June 2025 | 39 | 9 |
| July 2025 | 64 | 3 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 53 | 3 |
| October 2025 | 43 | 48 |
| November 2025 | 53 | 29 |
| December 2025 | 38 | 27 |
| January 2026 | 35 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 26 | 61 |
| March 2026 | 17 | 9 |
| April 2026 | 31 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 81 | 3 |
| June 2026 | 54 | 13 |
| July 2026 | 29 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 43 | 1 |
| October 2026 | 47 | 7 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 91 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Worked out by computer from the subject headings of each TD's questions, giving more weight to headings few TDs use. It shows shared subjects, not shared views.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Kerry 29 November 2024 to now
- party Independent 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 29 January 2025 to 14 April 2026
I thank both Deputies. I acknowledge their commitment and support for the previous debate with regard to the N24 and N25. On behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, I am taking this debate.
The Department of Education and Youth has a strong record of delivering the Government's school building programme. Since 2020, more than €6 billion has been invented in schools across the country under t…
I again thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. The Department of Education and Youth capital investment programme helps to ensure that close to 1 million primary and post-primary students in schools across the country learn in fit-for-purpose buildings. This includes many thousands of children with additional needs who are supported in special schools and classes across the country. Funding under the ND…
I sincerely thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for raising this very important issue for farmers in Kerry and throughout the country. I have the exact same concerns with regard to badgers and deer and their role in spreading this disease.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in bovine TB, with levels nationally causing an economic and emotional burden for farmers, their families and rural communities. Bo…
I thank the Deputy very much. On the names of cows, the Deputy may recall that our late father had a cow, and he called her Thatcher for some reason only known to himself.
Current TB levels are leading to stress for farmers who have had a bovine TB outbreak. For those who are living in fear of having TB outbreaks and are worried about the impact it would have on their livelihoods, we need to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to reduce disease levels and ultimately take the stress associated with bovine TB out of farmers' lives. The aim of the action plan is to reset the bTB …
I once again strongly reiterate the Minister, Deputy Heydon's personal commitment to making sure that during his tenure as Minister for agriculture that he, the Department and all of us will work together in reducing the TB outbreaks. I thank the Deputy for raising this most important matter on behalf of the people of County Kerry.
I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health. At the outset, I sincerely thank the Deputy and his party for their commitment to the radiology services in County Louth and giving me the opportunity to speak on this important issue. Louth County Hospital is part of the HSE Dublin and North-East health region. In conjunction with Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, these hospitals operate…
I want to once again recognise Deputy Ó Murchú's work and commitment to this very important issue. I thank him again for raising it on behalf of his constituents.
It is important to recognise that significant investment has been allocated to both LCH and Drogheda hospital in recent years, which has uplifted capacity, staffing and bed numbers in each of the hospital sites. These two hospitals operate conjointly and p…
I can assure the Deputy that I will bring that to the Minister.
I move amendment No. 1:
To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that:
— the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, protects workers from penalisation for speaking up about wrongdoing in the workplace; and
— persons who make protected disclosures or 'whistleblowers' should not be treated unfairly, lose their job or face legal proceedings because they have made a protected disclos…
I acknowledge the Minister's commitment to the horse and greyhound racing industries and to ensuring they achieve their maximum potential.
The world-class reputation for excellence in horse racing, greyhound racing and breeding that Ireland enjoys today has been enabled by the support provided through public funds. I thank the Minister, the programme for Government and previous Governments, which have ensured that p…
It means nothing.
We never thought we would miss you so much.
I am thankful for the opportunity to provide an update to the Chamber on the progress being made with responding to the significant damage caused by last winter's storms, particularly in forestry. The volume of timber normally felled over a 2.5-year period was blown down overnight during Storm Éowyn. The latest damage assessment maps show that 27,000 ha of forests were windblown, with 11,400 ha impacted in private fo…
I concur with the Minister on the seriousness and importance of the situation. I acknowledge the fact that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle are allowing this debate to go forward. I thank the Opposition for being here to debate this matter because this is not a case of us or the Department versus anybody else. We are all trying to ensure that we have a vibrant and strong tillage industry in this coun…
I thank Deputy McCarthy.
Farm safety, health and well-being is a priority for this Government. The Department is implementing a range of initiatives this year on farm safety, utilising dedicated funding of €2.5 million secured in budget 2025. I was pleased to secure an increase in this dedicated funding for farm safety, health and well-being to €3 million in budget 2026. In relation to 2025 funding, I have approved …
As I said at the beginning, this Government considers farm safety of the utmost importance. I highlight that farm safety continues to be one of the most critical issues that need to be addressed on farms today. Statistics show that over the past decade, farm incidences account for almost 40% of all workplace fatalities, while accounting for only 6.1% of the working population. In addition, there are approximately 4,5…
I confirm that, as I said, there will be an increase in funding for safety this year to €3 million. I have been visiting schools. An agri-aware safety programme is running in our schools. It is excellent. This great work was started by our senior Minister, Deputy Heydon. He took it upon himself to focus on safety for young people, in particular. In the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Governme…
Forests have an important role to play in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing greenhouse gases. This can be achieved through the expansion of our forests and the increased use of timber products. In 2020 we planted 2,234 ha, followed by 2,016 ha in 2021, 2,073 ha in 2022, 1,651 ha in 2023 and 1,573 ha in 2024, and so far this year we have planted 2,297 ha. I have personally contacted a large number …
My Department will therefore have delivered significant growth in 2025 and will continue to build on this success. In 2025 we launched a communications plan promoting the options available to farmers and other landowners through advertising on radio and in the national press, the targeting of information through social media channels and text messages and direct engagement with farmers and landowners through local an…
Will the Deputy not acknowledge it is double the figure from last year?
Has the Deputy anything positive to say?
Thank you.
The Deputy will be glad to know I do not need to be told to be ambitious by anybody on any side of any House.