The Deputy asked whether we are satisfied with the legal advice we received which the Taoiseach read in this House. Of course we are. The Deputy has an opportunity tomorrow morning to raise specific points around his motion. As I said to him in my initial answer, this whole area is something that remains under review both at EU and national level. We want to make sure the process is fair and transparent and that prot…
TDs / Darragh O'Brien
Darragh O'Brien
Minister for Climate, Energy and the EnvironmentMinister for Transport
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
168,229
words spoken in the chamber
166,330 as a minister, 1,899 as a TD
323
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.
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Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 680 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
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|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 30 |
| March 2025 | 29 |
| April 2025 | 54 |
| May 2025 | 22 |
| June 2025 | 59 |
| July 2025 | 4 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
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| June 2026 | 82 |
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| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 49 |
| October 2026 | 6 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 529 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Dublin Fingal East 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister for Transport 23 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications 23 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister for Transport 2 June 2025 to now
- office Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 2 June 2025 to now
To deal with the important matter that the Deputy raised, I know Sinn Féin has legislation in that regard. I outlined earlier on some of the measures that the Government was taking on this important and critical issue. I will certainly discuss Sinn Féin's Private Members' Bill with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and will revert directly to the Deputy in relation to how the Government proposes to approach that. In …
He is travelling back as we speak.
I will let him know the Deputy was asking for him.
I agree with the Deputy. I mentioned in my opening remarks earlier on during Leaders' Questions that all us share responsibility in this House but also outside the House, and that includes corporate bodies and our education system. Our teachers and our other educators are doing a lot of work in this regard from a very young age, particularly in relation to boys' and young men's attitudes towards sex, pornography and …
With the young population that we have, it is important we support childcare services. I was in this House when a previous Government, in 2009 to 2010, brought in the early childhood care and education programme, ECCE. We see the advancement of that in terms of childcare right the way across the country since then. While it is fair to make constructive criticisms, it is also fair, by way of balance, to see where we h…
Hold on-----
I think I have answered the question so if the Deputy wants to keep interrupting-----
I was in the middle of answering it.
I am very pleased Deputy Boyd Barrett-----
I know that too. I have a lot of friends who are taxi drivers who work in the industry and I am a big supporter of our taxi drivers and the sector-----
In fairness, Richard is just back, and it is good-----
-----to see him back. I have written to the NTA on this very specific issue - I mention friends, constituents of mine and, indeed, people across the country - in my role as Minister for Transport so I want to get to the bottom of this. I have asked the NTA to look at it. I attend the taxi forum. I attended just four or five months ago and I will be attending again this week. I do not have an answer back from the NTA …
This is a joke.
The first question in relation to Lariam is probably more appropriate for a parliamentary question but I will raise the matter and seek a response for the Deputy. I do not have the details or the answer to hand on that. Each Minister travels and a Head of Government has to attend international events-----
In relation to what medication different Ministers use, I have no idea. That is a matter for those particular Ministers as well.
I will. I know how critical this project is for Galway and Galway city. It is a matter of regret that it has taken so long. It has taken so long for many reasons. We have had serial and continuous objectors to this critical piece of infrastructure. The Government wants to see this road built. It is critical for the city of Galway and the surrounding areas. Following the Deputy's intervention today, I will seek an upd…
The summer works scheme is important for schools and there will unfortunately be some that fall outside the boundaries of it. I noted the announcement last week by the Department of education relating to moneys allocated through the climate action fund to allow energy upgrades for schools. Specifically on Our Lady's Girls National School, I will raise that matter directly with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, on Deputy…
In the review of the national development plan, we secured that €1 in every €4 invested between now and 2030 would be in transport and transport measures. That is just short of €25 billion, which is the largest investment ever made in public transport and transport infrastructure. I intend to publish the sectoral NDP tomorrow. Details of projects of €200 million or more will be published tomorrow. Separate road alloc…
The Deputy must wait until it is published.
This is an awful situation, which the Deputy has also discussed with me directly. I am familiar with it. I will raise this matter directly with the line Minister. I think this will cross over between the Departments of justice and Finance. It is an horrendous situation that these prospective home buyers find themselves in. It is something I will discuss directly with the Tánaiste and the Minister for justice. I thank…
Sport has the ability to lift the nation. The Deputy mentioned the boys in green. The girls in green came through against Belgium. We have seen some great sporting events recently. We will not talk about the rugby at the weekend, but I blame that on the referee and a poor refereeing performance.
Alex Dunne, who is driving Formula 2 at McLaren, is unquestionably an incredible talent. I am a fan myself. I am not aware…
Caredoc across the country is critically important, particularly at weekends and out of hours. I will raise that matter directly with the Minister for Health on the Deputy's behalf. I will ask the Minister to respond directly to him about the situation he has articulated here as it pertains to Wexford.
It is an area that is growing greatly. Lots of young families are moving in there. I have had the pleasure of being in the Deputy's constituency on a number of occasions recently. You can see the development happening there. A great frustration for me is unreliability of public transport. This ghost bus phenomenon on certain routes is not acceptable. From time to time, things happen. Drivers can be sick, and people u…
I agree with the Deputy. It is a clear danger. I chaired the north Dublin regional drugs and alcohol task force for about ten years and we saw the increased prevalence of nitrous oxide or laughing gas, the small canisters which are being used for recreational purposes by a lot of our young people. It is a matter that the Department of Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for the drugs strategy are awa…