98. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the programme for Government commitments on insurance reform under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38994/25]
TDs / Tony McCormack
Tony McCormack
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323
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
23,430
words spoken in the chamber
Across 198 contributions
432
votes recorded
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129
topics asked about
Across 20 departments
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Questions asked 323 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 198 in all
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| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 10 | 6 |
| March 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 32 | 26 |
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| July 2025 | 12 | 5 |
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| July 2026 | 21 | 9 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 | 4 |
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Plus 192 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
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Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Offaly 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
I ask for an update on the programme for Government commitments on insurance reform under the remit of the Department of Finance.
I thank the Minister of State for the update. I was speaking with business owners whose premiums have gone up exponentially over the last four years, even without any claims. It is hard for them to see the impact of the reforms on the ground. Could the Minister of State outline how his Department is working to make sure reforms generally bring premiums back to sustainable levels for businesses like that?
I appreciate the Minister of State's answer. One business owner even told me he is considering not paying insurance at all. Smaller businesses like landscape gardeners, plumbers and electricians are in the same position. This is all because they want to keep the doors open. That is how desperate some SMEs feel. How can we reassure these small employers that there is a plan to make insurance both fair and accessible s…
11. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will request the Irish Embassy in Washington DC to engage with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to ensure its members are not subjected to disinformation in regard to proposed Government legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38165/25]
In County Offaly and across the country, farmers are increasingly alarmed by the spread of bovine TB, with one in five farms nationally now affected. Given the established role of badgers and deer in transmitting this disease, what specific measures is the Department taking to prevent further outbreaks, particularly in high-incidence areas like Offaly? How can we ensure this does not become a bigger problem for Irish…
7. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 4 April 2025. [33561/25]
I thank the Taoiseach for his update and welcome the reconvening of the Labour Employer Economic Forum under his chairmanship. It is clear the forum plays a vital role in bringing Government, employers and unions together, especially in times of uncertainty. As someone who engages regularly with small business owners and retailers across the country and in my county, Offaly, I welcome the recognition of the need to s…
16. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional supports being provided to SMEs to address rising costs and staffing challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33029/25]
I thank the Minister and compliment his Department for all its hard work. We are in an economy with full employment. That does not happen by chance. I refer to all the work that has been done in the past and needs to be done in the future. We are in uncertain times. We are looking at tariffs. We are working with our European partners to negotiate tariffs with the United States. Now, more than ever, we need to be supp…
I now turn to the issue of high-street retail, which is in serious decline. In towns like Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and similar towns all over Ireland, we see more and more shops closing. Footfall is down, rent and staffing costs are up and the result is that once thriving town centres are slowly emptying out. This is visible, urgent and deeply worrying. The reality is that this cannot be solved by one scheme or Dep…
82. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her Department’s work on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD. [32481/25]
I welcome the Department's leadership in advancing the national disability strategy. The shift towards to a whole-of-government approach embedding the UNCRPD into policy across Departments is critical to making rights real for people with disabilities. The move of disability policy from the Department of Health to the Minister of State's Department was a significant step towards a right-based model and the upcoming s…
I appreciate the update on the Department's engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UNCRPD is not just about legal commitments; it is also about meaningful lived change for people with disabilities throughout the country. The first report in 2021 was an important step but real transparency and accountability come from continuous engagement with the committee and stakeholders h…
The capitation grant is no longer fit for purpose. I know it has been brought up in the House quite a lot, even earlier today, but I add my voice to that. I have met with the INTO and spoken to principals from Bracknagh National School, High Street National School in Belmont, Scoil Mhuire in Tullamore and the Offaly School of Special Education, to name but a few. Schools are under serious financial pressure just to m…
I am looking for the Taoiseach's support for a new school building at Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa in Clara, County Offaly. The existing school building is simply not fit for purpose. It is outdated, overcrowded and lacking in proper facilities. The school community, including teachers, parents and local residents, have been calling for a new building for years. There is a proposed site at Drayton Villa. This site was pu…
20. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to increase training capacity in modern methods of construction nationwide to meet housing and infrastructure targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25972/25]
69. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the strategies being implemented to combat rural isolation, especially among the elderly population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25971/25]
I thank the Minister for his response. I acknowledge the valuable progress made through initiatives, such as the Local Link service which has provided vital transport connectivity for rural communities and older people in particular.
Rural ageing, however, must be placed more centrally within the Minister's Department agenda. Rural Ireland is ageing at a faster rate than urban centres and while transport is critical…
Following up on this, I wish to highlight the decline of rural services such as shops, post offices and pubs has done more than hurt the local economy. It has deeply affected the social fabric of rural life. These were not just businesses but gathering points and places where older people in particular had a chance to interact, feel valued and maintain a sense of belonging. This role has now largely fallen to local G…
72. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to address rural depopulation and encourage young people to remain in or return to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25970/25]
What steps are being taken to address rural depopulation by encouraging young people to remain in, or return to, rural areas?
The continuing loss of young people from rural areas like Offaly is deeply worrying. The truth is that we are educating our children to live elsewhere. We equip them with the skills, ambition and drive but the jobs, housing and services they need to build a future in the locality are not in place.
This trend is affecting everything - from school enrolments to local businesses and the fabric of rural community life. …
I wish to highlight one example which reflects the broader issue. I refer to the sharp decline in the number of young farmers. Farming is still the backbone of rural life, in particular in Offaly, yet fewer young people see it as a viable future. They face high entry costs, housing challenges and limited local supports. This is not just about agriculture, it shows how rural Ireland is becoming less accessible for the…
I welcome the Government's plans to make it easier and quicker for new teachers to become permanent - that is a positive step - but I ask the Government to also look at bringing in a rule that new permanent teachers must wait five years before taking a career break. Principals and teachers I have spoken to in County Offaly are very clear on this. Early career breaks are causing problems with staffing and making it ha…