I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together.
On 4 April, I chaired the first plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum since the formation of the new Government. The LEEF is made up of representatives from the Government, employers and trade unions and provides for tripartite dialogue on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market. The meeting discussed the latest eco…
TDs / Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
688,766
words spoken in the chamber
686,628 as a minister, 2,138 as a TD
197
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 6,546 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
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| Month | Contributions |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | 11 |
| January 2025 | 6 |
| February 2025 | 438 |
| March 2025 | 518 |
| April 2025 | 317 |
| May 2025 | 426 |
| June 2025 | 424 |
| July 2025 | 344 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 146 |
| October 2025 | 375 |
| November 2025 | 291 |
| December 2025 | 281 |
| January 2026 | 326 |
| February 2026 | 529 |
| March 2026 | 229 |
| April 2026 | 385 |
| May 2026 | 474 |
| June 2026 | 425 |
| July 2026 | 181 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 198 |
| October 2026 | 222 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 6,426 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Cork South-Central 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Taoiseach 23 January 2025 to now
The question is about the LEEF.
I think Deputy McAuliffe was the first contributor. He raised pensions and pensioners' input into their pension issues. It has been an ongoing concern for pensioners generally across the economy, particularly for public sector pensioners or those in agencies and so forth. There is a sense that once they leave employment, they lack any real influence over their pensions in the future. I will raise that issue with the …
There is going to be a flow and a fluidity in this from year to year, but the overall picture of investment in the south east and in Waterford has been positive and will continue to be in terms of Government commitment to the county.
Deputy Moynihan raised the very important issue of SMEs, and that is covered by the LEEF. Divergence in employment standards and taxation issues between North and South were mentioned. …
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 20, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on health last met on 4 June 2025 and is due to meet again on 17 July 2025. It oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers health reforms, including Sláintecare and the reform of public health and health system prepared…
I will start with Deputy Sherlock's questions on the patient safety (licensing) Bill and cervical cancer screening. The patient safety (licensing) Bill came through Cabinet today and the Minister can go through the details with the Deputy in due course, in terms of specifics on safe numbers, safe staffing and so forth. A lot of it has been introduced without legislation in accordance with agreements. The Minister wil…
There is not a huge shortage. Thousands of people have been recruited. Let us be straight about it. The seven-day use of hospitals is something that should happen. It should not be dependent on more and more staff. The assets were not being used. Expensive diagnostic equipment was not being used optimally and the hospitals themselves were not being used optimally when there were five-day, nine-to-five services. Produ…
That is very unfair of Deputy Tóibín. He arrived late himself.
I am normally very generous, Deputy. Come on. I am normally very generous.
In the first grouping, there were many questions answered. I accept there are several questions in the third grouping. A lot of people did not turn up at all at the beginning. It cuts each way. All of the Deputies wanted this session------
-----but the number of Deputies who were absent at the beginning of this session left me surprised.
One of the most difficult decisions for any family to have to take is to place a loved one in a nursing home. It is a very difficult decision. The least people can expect is that the dignity of their loved one will be respected at all times and that their loved one will be looked after, cared for and not be subjected to the abuse, neglect and unacceptable behaviour revealed in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme.…
In recent years the push has been towards home care but home care also involves privatised nursing care. People contract in people to help. I will come back to the final point I was going to make.
The interim report outlines a whole series of measures that were taken to enhance and strengthen the measures and powers of the chief inspector of HIQA, in terms of the legal timeframe for decisions by the chief-----
You are interrupting again, Deputy. I have had enough of that now. I have the floor now.
I will answer it but you have a tactic all the time-----
-----of interrupting every time I get to my feet and make a point.
I do not interrupt Deputies.
The fundamental power that HIQA has, particularly in the face of breaches, in my view, and it is one that should not be balked at, is cancellation of the licence. In my view, this is the teeth that HIQA has. Yes, we do need to review the methodology-----
-----of HIQA and it has said it itself.
No, sorry I-----
Hold on a second-----
How long is this going to continue?
It is not my problem. I am not in a position now to answer.
I cannot get my points across because of this constant-----