Michael Murphy

I speak on behalf of the small convenience store, often the only store now in every village in rural Ireland. I want to raise serious concerns about the new tobacco and vaping licence fee due this month. What was a once-off fee of €50 is now a combined annual fee of €1,800. That is a 3,500% increase and 36 times higher than what it previously was. I understand the public health issue at the heart …

I have a copy of the RSA's provisional review of fatalities for last year. I encourage all Members, as policymakers and legislators, to read this review because it reflects the crisis we have in this country when it comes to road safety. Last year, 190 precious lives were lost. They were 76 drivers, 21 passengers, 41 pedestrians, 14 pedal cyclists, 30 motorcyclists and three e-scooter-related deat…

I ask the Tánaiste to provide an update on the proposed college of the future for Clonmel. It is a project with which the Tánaiste is very familiar. The proposal is the first of its kind for a fully integrated tertiary campus of further and higher education on the one site in the heart of Clonmel. I pay tribute to all of the stakeholders involved, particularly Tús and Tipperary ETB. We are very mu…

I take this opportunity to highlight a very strong example of how Government investment in infrastructure and regeneration can deliver a real and measurable impact. That example is Clonmel, which is identified as a key economic driver in the regional economic and spatial strategy. Clonmel has spent the past number of years doing exactly what national policy has encouraged towns to do, namely devel…

6. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the alternative arrangements being developed by the HSE to ensure continuity of coronial post mortem services for the south-east region from January 2026, given that consultant pathologists at UHW will no longer provide this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5311/26]

I ask the Minister for an update on the provision of post mortem services at Waterford University Hospital following the decision by HSE pathologists operating as independent contractors for the Department of justice to withdraw from the service from 1 January.

As the Minister says, this is ultimately the responsibility of the Department of justice under the Coroners Act. I thank the Minister for her engagement with me over the last six months. As she knows, behind every post mortem is a family in deep distress and shock. Often, these post mortems are the result of a sudden, accidental or tragic death. I welcome these interim arrangements. It is not idea…

I agree and I acknowledge that our HSE pathologists have been doing this work as independent contractors. However, these pathologists are primarily concerned and occupied by diagnostic, surgical pathology work, for example, in cancer diagnosis. Therefore, for obvious reasons, they are withdrawing as independent contractors. Between 3,000 to 4,000 coronial post mortems are carried out annually in t…

The Minister just mentioned the allocation of gardaí to Cork. Maintaining law and order is not just a challenge for Cork or Dublin; it is also a challenge for every town and village across Ireland. The absence of a Garda presence has become normalised rather than exceptional in my constituency of south Tipperary. A town without order is a town that shuts down socially and economically. The Ministe…

6. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection to explore the possibility of reducing the minimum hours of the wage subsidy scheme from 15 hours to ten hours (details supplied). [1439/26]

Somewhat following on from the last question on the wage subsidy scheme, I want to acknowledge the reforms introduced by the Minister over the last number of years. I want to further explore the possibility of reducing the minimum hours from 15 to ten. Doing so this would help many service users in centres of excellence like MooreHaven in Tipperary town to achieve their dreams and it would make wo…

I welcome the Minister's reply. I thank and acknowledge everybody working within the scheme and, in particular, individuals in the Department of Social Protection around the country working on this and other activation schemes. It is such a fantastic scheme and it is not about money or policy. It is about being able to be seen to be capable of working, to be able to work with others. I am consciou…

It was remiss of me not to acknowledge the many employers across the country who participate in the scheme. Indeed, their willingness to provide opportunities has had such a positive impact. I am engaging with service providers, not just the MooreHaven centre, but others within my constituency, and they have indicated to me that the ten-hour threshold would be far more achievable, first of all, fo…

One hundred and ninety precious lives were lost on Irish roads last year. We have a crisis when it comes to road safety. We also have a crisis when it comes to compliance with existing road traffic legislation. In December alone, there were 26,500 fines for speeding, thousands were fined for not wearing a seatbelt or for using a mobile phone, 765 were convicted of either drink or drug driving, and…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate following the European Council meeting in December. I will focus my remarks on Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU and the opportunity that this presents to reconnect European policymaking with people and communities on the ground across the country. Europe is not an abstract concept; Europe is present in every city, town and village acros…

120. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current status of the IDA-owned lands at Ballingarrane, south Tipperary; the extent to which IDA Ireland is actively marketing the site following the recent grant of planning permission for an advance building solution; the marketing strategy now in place, including international promotion, engagement with pot…

Following the Minister's recent visit to south Tipperary, what is the current status of the IDA-owned lands at Ballingarrane in Clonmel? Can he confirm the extent to which IDA Ireland is actively marketing the site, state whether any expressions of interest have been received for the site and outline the timeline for the delivery of an advance building solution that was recently granted planning p…

I thank the Minister for his reply. In particular, I thank him for visiting south Tipperary in December, when he got an opportunity to see the strengths of south Tipperary and of our key towns, particularly Clonmel. He also got an opportunity to see our strengths in terms of our strong employment and the really strong presence of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. All of t…

I agree with everything the Minister said. Crucially, balanced regional development must be reflected in outcomes on the ground. South Tipperary, Clonmel and all the other key towns offer everything the IDA is looking for, such as a proven industrial ecosystem that the Minister mentioned. A town like Clonmel has so much potential. The crucial step in this regard was securing planning permission, w…

I heard the Taoiseach speaking earlier about the 180 precious lives lost on Irish roads so far this year. Motorcycle deaths are the highest in more than 20 years. As policymakers and legislators, we have to do more. I am currently working on an action plan and working closely with road victim advocacy groups. Over the next four years during the lifetime of this Government, 500 more lives will be l…

12. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has assessed the potential cost implications for public service pay and pension liabilities that would arise in the event of Irish unification. [62807/25]

To what extent has the Department assessed the potential cost implications for public sector pay and pension liabilities that would arise in the event of Irish unification? This is not a political question. It is a simple question of forward planning, good governance and having all the facts in the context of this important debate.

I support the long-term aspiration of Irish unity based on consent. However, if we are serious about this aspiration, we also need to be serious about the practicalities that come with it and the financial implications. Right now, there is little discussion about the fiscal implications of Irish unification, particularly disparities that exist in public sector pay and pensions, social protection s…

I am sure the Minister agrees there are huge disparities between systems North and South in public sector pay structures, pension liabilities, welfare supports in particular, and broader public spending. Any future settlement, whenever it might arise, will have significant financial consequences for this State. Ignoring that reality does not make it go away. All I am seeking, and what the public d…

The warmer homes scheme is supposed to protect the most vulnerable households in our society, including older people, low-income families, people living alone and those wholly dependent on supports like the fuel allowance. Right now the scheme is failing them and it is about to get far worse. I will outline the current reality. On 4 November this year my office contacted the SEAI on behalf of a vu…