I thank the Minister. I look forward to the progress report in 2026. That is good news. I agree that the move to fibre will improve Internet speeds, reduce connectivity problems and support modern services such as online learning, remote working, streaming and digital healthcare. I think that is what the Minister means by end users and vulnerable users. It is especially important for rural Ireland, where better broad…
TDs / Robert O'Donoghue
Robert O'Donoghue
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
988
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
61,781
words spoken in the chamber
Across 173 contributions
419
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
221
topics asked about
Across 19 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 988 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 173 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 35 | 4 |
| March 2025 | 46 | 6 |
| April 2025 | 45 | 8 |
| May 2025 | 35 | 15 |
| June 2025 | 27 | 8 |
| July 2025 | 46 | 5 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 34 | 2 |
| October 2025 | 58 | 26 |
| November 2025 | 93 | 2 |
| December 2025 | 29 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 68 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 89 | 10 |
| March 2026 | 108 | 11 |
| April 2026 | 65 | 6 |
| May 2026 | 60 | 15 |
| June 2026 | 49 | 14 |
| July 2026 | 62 | 16 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 16 | 4 |
| October 2026 | 23 | 5 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 114 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 Dublin Fingal West 29 November 2024 to now
- party Labour Party 29 November 2024 to now
I thank the Minister. I will claim some for myself. I believe the project is coming in under budget. It goes back to maybe Pat Rabbite's days and that is over 10 years ago, so it is a long time coming.
While the copper switch-off is an important step forward, many people still do not understand what it means for them. This goes back to the vulnerable end users. That is why the Government should run a public awarenes…
I am glad the Minister of State mentioned the Schuman Declaration from more than 70 years ago. I always feel like Jean Monnet always gets hard done by. It was the diplomat who did most of the work but the politician got his name on it. The EU is unique. It is the longest lasting confederation of states probably in the history of the world. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best we have got in the world we have? Yes. The E…
Within my office in the last few weeks we have been discussing the emails that have been coming in. These are from ordinary working people who are living with fear, desperation and pressure because of the cost-of-living crisis. We wonder whether the Government gets the same emails we do and whether it can be dealing with the same issues we are. If it was, the Minister of State would not be standing across from the Op…
I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the supports needed for hauliers and supply chains but also the wider reality facing working people across Ireland. We cannot underestimate how vital the haulage industry is in keeping our society running. Hauliers are the backbone of our economy. They keep food on the shelves, medicines in the pharmacies and goods moving in every town, village and community…
I am happy that this motion has been brought forward today. I urge the Minister to progress it without delay. Homeowners in my constituency have waited far too long. In the context of Rush, Lusk, Ballyboghil and Skerries in Dublin Fingal West, I have been dealing with this issue for years, dating back to my time as a councillor. I have submitted numerous parliamentary questions and direct emails to the relevant Minis…
I agree with Deputy O'Rourke. He said that every week his office is contacted by parents who simply cannot secure appropriate special education places for their children. It is the same in my office. I had such a contact just an hour and a half ago. When parents cannot access local provision within Dublin Fingal West, they are told to go into Dublin or to the adjacent counties of Meath and Louth. I would love to see …
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit St. Mary’s in Oldtown, which is in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. I want to begin by sincerely thanking Julie, the principal, for making me feel so welcome. What stood out to me immediately was not just the dedication of the staff but the strength of the entire school community. The teachers, SNAs and the board of management are deeply committed and compassionat…
I accept that due diligence needs to be carried out, that everything needs to be ticked off and that the boxes need to be ticked. The year 2028 would mean a long time waiting for the next tranche, so I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that additional projects may be taken on in the interim if the school reaches significant progression within the project stages. In the spirit of moving this on, the school ha…
As someone who worked in soccer refereeing for 15 years, I was probably called every name under the sun twice, and that was before I got into politics. I saw first-hand during that time the vital role that football plays in our society. It is far more than just a game; it is an anchor to local communities. It is a source of pride and a powerful force that connects people across generations, from young people taking t…
78. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of warnings from EU farm organisations that the price of EU-produced fertilisers has increased by approximately 25% in the past month compared with the 2024 average, and given that fertilisers account for between 15% and 30% of horticulture farmers’ input costs on average, the steps he is taking to support growers and the ho…
We have had warnings from European farm organisations that nitrogen fertiliser imports into the EU have fallen by 80% since the carbon border adjustment mechanism, CBAM. What assessments has the Minister made on the likely consequences it will have for fertiliser prices and the availability for the Irish horticulture industry in 2026? Has he raised the concerns with the European Commission given that growers of fruit…
I accept that we do not know when the war in the Middle East is going to come to a conclusion but does the Minister of State accept or acknowledge that if fertiliser prices rise again - compounded by high gas and fuel inputs - that may make many Irish fruit and vegetable producers unviable? We currently import 83% of our vegetables. This is a food security issue. There were 600 growers 20 years ago and there are 73 n…
I could not agree more with the Minister of State. We should buy Irish. We should all be looking at that. The horticulture sector is under immense pressure due to conflict and climate change, and costs have rapidly increased over the past 20 years. I have worked in the sector. I know the amount of toil that goes into it. I have picked and packed every fruit and vegetable under the sun at some point in the past 30 yea…
I endeavour to be half as entertaining as Deputy Ó Murchú.
I am glad to be speaking on this Bill because it goes to the heart of something that is fundamental in any democracy, namely, how our media operates, who owns it and who influences it. I was with Dublin City FM just last week. It brought many of the points in this Bill to my attention. I hope this Bill is enacted and that it ultimately protects the independe…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for bringing it forward. In fact, I was in the Chamber only last night questioning the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and highlighting alarming levels of online abuse directed at our national sporting representatives. Given that we are going into two by-elections, the people putting themselves forward for those two elect…
Across this country, we are witnessing a slow hollowing out of our post office network and in-person public services more generally. This is not simply an administrative shift or a commercial decision. It is the gradual stripping away of the civic infrastructure that holds communities together.
Post offices are far more than service providers - they are the beating heart of many communities. They bring people togeth…
132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the immediate measures he is taking to monitor, prevent, and address discriminatory online harassment and the alarming levels of online abuse directed at national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds; the way in which he will ensure that perpetrators are held accountable to protect t…
Recent incidents have highlighted the alarming levels of online abuse directed at our national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds. What immediate measures is the Minister's Department taking to moderate, prevent and address such discriminatory online harassment and how will he ensure the perpetrators are held accountable to protect the dignity and safety of our athle…
I thank the Minister. Online abuse is no longer confined to social media. It spills out into our stadiums, communities and local sports grounds. I was a soccer referee for a long time and I can attest to that. It is lovely to hear the Minister say there must be zero tolerance. For this behaviour, those responsible - it is hard to call them fans - should face real consequences. They should be banned from matches. They…
A member of my bunch's last time in Government can confirm that. I thank the Minister. I do not believe it was a good idea to withhold funding from the clubs based off the incident in Oriel Park when the root of the cause really lies elsewhere. It begins online with what is usually a small minority using social media platforms to whip up outrage and hostility before a ball is even kicked. Clubs, which do extraordinar…
Early childhood education and care in Dublin Fingal West is no longer a gap in planning. It is a failure of prioritisation. Dublin Fingal West has one of the highest concentrations of private childcare provision in the country, yet one of the lowest of community childcare provision. That imbalance has not happened by accident. It is the result of the State stepping back and leaving provision to the market, and famili…
I thank the Minister of State and welcome what she said. Dublin Fingal West would be the perfect area to roll out a scheme like that. I welcome that capital funding will be used to acquire or fit out the buildings. That would certainly help in my constituency. I would also like to address the Government's commitments to reducing childcare costs to €200 a month over the term of the Dáil.
That is obviously welcome. Ho…
No forgiveness: that was the message I received from a parent yesterday about the attempted SNA cuts. On 6 February, the Minister proudly announced funding for 45 special schools. The announcement read, "Every child deserves to reach their full potential." Three weeks later, the Government moved to strip SNA support from thousands of children across the country. Is it a question of every child or only those children …
It feels like déjà vu. We are back in the Chamber again discussing the ongoing crisis in our fishing industry. Somehow, it has worsened yet again. Our fisheries sector, for the nearly 17,000 people who work in it, who are just trying to do their best, make a living and support their communities, is completely swimming against the tide at this point.
I will speak on two deeply connected issues affecting our coastal c…