I thank all colleagues who have made such personal contributions, not only about their own experiences but also facilities and gaps that remain on the island within cancer services. If I could be indulged, I wish to acknowledge a wonderful young girl from Bailieborough, Orlaith Lennon. At 24 years of age, she has lost both of her parents, her dad only a month ago. She had the bravery to go out on Friday for Daffodil …
TDs / Niamh Smyth
Niamh Smyth
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Portrait: Niamh Smyth (CC BY 4.0) · source file
994
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
67,002
words spoken in the chamber
67,002 as a minister, 0 as a TD
328
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
161
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 994 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 160 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 41 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 40 | 24 |
| March 2025 | 61 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 59 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 47 | 3 |
| June 2025 | 30 | 6 |
| July 2025 | 34 | 10 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 101 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 46 | 2 |
| November 2025 | 61 | 15 |
| December 2025 | 39 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 45 | 15 |
| February 2026 | 51 | 4 |
| March 2026 | 63 | 4 |
| April 2026 | 56 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 56 | 12 |
| June 2026 | 58 | 8 |
| July 2026 | 35 | 14 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 59 | 12 |
| October 2026 | 12 | 1 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 110 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 Cavan-Monaghan 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 29 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 2 June 2025 to now
I thank Deputies Gibney, Gogarty, Healy-Rae and Dolan, who spoke so eloquently about this issue. I also thank People Before Profit and Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy for tabling this incredibly important Bill. It comes with a backdrop where we have all been subjected to abuse, as Sinéad was last night. I have been subjected to it myself, as has everybody in the House and particularly women. I do not think the gentl…
We have had an interesting debate. I will begin by acknowledging a very special lady in Mullagh, County Cavan, Jane Duffy, who was lovingly known as a postwoman for 38 years. She recently retired and I want to wish her and her lovely husband, Peter Duffy, the very best of luck. The night she retired epitomised what has been said across the House during this debate. The community came out in force to go to mass. Fr. P…
The programme for Government commits to the Government partnering with An Post and local communities to identify and preserve heritage post office buildings that are no longer in operation, respecting their historical value and exploring potential new uses. The Department is working in the first instance with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss possible options. An Post also advises th…
I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I sincerely thank Deputy Byrne, as Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and the overall committee for the important work they have undertaken in their first interim report, which is the subject of this motion. The extensive engagement by the committee that informed this work, including the range of views and perspectives gathered through cons…
I thank each and every Deputy for their measured, considered contributions. We are all striving and working towards the same thing. I might specify two particular issues that have been raised overall.
On simplification, I know how Deputy Gibney in particular feels, but we all feel passionate about it. The idea of simplification does not in any way diminish our protection of citizens and our fundamental rights. That …
I thank the Acting Chair. If I could be given a little bit of latitude to conclude.
In November 2024 the Government designated a list of national public bodies that protect fundamental rights. We need to just keep that in our minds. These are nine national bodies to protect fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination in relation to certain high-risk uses of AI systems specific to the AI Act. In addition, once established the national AI office of Ireland will engage and consult wit…
I thank the Labour Party and colleagues on all sides of the House who made really important contributions. It is has been a very fair and balanced debate on the pros and cons, as there always are with these matters, of the proposals before the House.
As set out by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in moving the amendment to the motion, the Government is committed to delivering sustainable transport projects an…
I thank all the Deputies on the committee because we had some robust debates on this matter, which I appreciate. I welcome the representatives of RAAP, who are in the Gallery. I thank them for the engagement they have had with the officials in my Department on this. I know they were sincerely meant and very meaningful.
I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for these amendments. The sharing of equitable remuneration or royalties…
I have listened to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's arguments but, on this occasion, I cannot accept the amendment.
I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for his amendments - amendments Nos. 3 and 7 to which I will speak, as well as to the Government amendments Nos. 4 and 5 . I also thank Deputy Gogarty for his contribution. Amendments Nos. 3 and 7 were discussed at length during Committee Stage. I do not support them.
The Bill sets out a new process to decide how equitable remuneration is shared if this cannot be agreed between those involv…
I thank both gentlemen for their contributions. To reiterate the point, there had been no referrals to the controller before the most recent dispute arose. The adjudication of such matters does extend into the judicial remit. The courts are therefore best placed to deal with this. I take on board the point that it is certainly not pleasant and not a financial direction anyone wants to take but, if the matter extends …
I move amendment No. 4:
In page 4, line 13, to delete “reasonable.”,” and substitute the following:
“reasonable.
(3F) Subject to subsection (3G), a party to an order under subsection (3E) or (3H) may apply to the Circuit Court to vary that order where a change in circumstances has occurred since the order was made, relevant to the particulars of that order.
(3G) An application under subsection (3F) may not be mad…
I move amendment No. 5:
In page 4, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:
“(i) in paragraph (a), by the substitution of “this section, or” for “this section,”,”.
I thank the Deputy for these amendments; however, they go beyond the scope of this Bill. They seek to amend the Copyright and Related Rights Act to state which collective management organisation has the ultimate decision-making authority as to how equitable remuneration is divided among either performers or producers. This extends beyond the scope of the Bill. This matter was the subject of a long, but now concluded,…
The Deputy does not have to.
I thank the Deputy for his amendment and for raising this point. It has been raised with my officials by RAAP, an organisation that represents performers, in a submission and in a meeting with it. The Government attaches great importance to ensuring Ireland’s national copyright law is in line with our obligations under international and EU law. This is a point which, to my knowledge, has been raised before. It is als…
Given the already considerable delays in getting this small but complex Bill to this stage, it cannot be further delayed. It is a complex point on the interplay between national, EU and international copyright law and international conventions. It requires careful consideration if required, to ensure no unintended consequences arise from any amendments.
I will begin by thanking colleagues around the House for their understanding that I could not be here at the very beginning of the debate. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for taking the reins. I thank colleagues who made contributions here today, which were all very heartfelt. This week has shown how we can react and respond. It is not just about reacting. I will take up a couple of the points th…
I thank the Deputy very much for her important question. The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth and competitiveness. I am pleased to report that the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers last year, indicative of a resilient performance.
In total, over 2.8 mil…
I thank the Deputy. As she will hear in my response, I acknowledge the fact, laid out in the CSO data, that there is a clear rise in youth unemployment, with the unemployment rate pertaining to young people between the ages of 15 and 24 having risen to 14% in quarter 3 of 2025 from 11.5% a year previously. This compares to a more modest rise in unemployment among our older cohort, from 3.4% to 3.9% among those aged 2…
Pathways to Work, as a national employment strategy, addresses the key targets, as the Deputy has laid out. The key target strategy includes: supporting 75,000 long-term unemployed into employment by May and reducing long-term unemployment by 2.5% of the labour force by 2025; reducing youth unemployment to below its 2019 average of 12.5%; ensuring better labour market outcomes for those most at risk of poverty, inclu…
I thank the Deputy for his question and the discussion we are going to have on a much-loved and treasured architectural building in his own county of Galway.
In 2020, the Shannon Airport Group informed Government that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive readjustment to its structure in order to ensure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business. A number of challenges had presented themselves, inc…
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As noted by the Government in its decision of January 2021, the Shannon Airport Group operated Shannon Heritage on a commercial basis, in line with its commercial mandate, meaning that sites were only likely to open on a seasonal basis and where a commercial business case existed. Dunguaire Castle was operated by Clare County Council on a goodwill basis for the sum…