I want to bring up the issue of name-calling that I have witnessed in this Chamber. It is an unwelcome and unnecessary part of debate. It actually is a reflection on the person themselves who does the name-calling and demonstrates that they do not have the language to deal with the issue. It shows a total lack of respect for the other person and, hence, a lack of respect for our democracy. It also lessens the authori…
TDs / Edward Timmins
Edward Timmins
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
268
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
27,719
words spoken in the chamber
Across 174 contributions
442
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
117
topics asked about
Across 18 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 268 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 174 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 5 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 3 | 10 |
| March 2025 | 7 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 11 | 7 |
| May 2025 | 18 | 8 |
| June 2025 | 8 | 4 |
| July 2025 | 22 | 28 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 12 | 5 |
| October 2025 | 16 | 12 |
| November 2025 | 23 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 18 | 12 |
| January 2026 | 14 | 7 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 6 | 3 |
| April 2026 | 23 | 8 |
| May 2026 | 16 | 9 |
| June 2026 | 16 | 6 |
| July 2026 | 10 | 4 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 | 6 |
| October 2026 | 12 | 10 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 148 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 Wicklow 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
126. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding the American Presidents Trail. [74079/26]
Twenty-three US Presidents have Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland. As the Minister of State knows, I first floated this idea of an American Presidents Trail early last year in the House. I thank the Government for the support already given and wish to ask for an update on its progress.
I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, for bringing this project to Cabinet and getting approval in April of this year.
The actions in July are the start of what will, we hope, eventually be a fully fledged tourist route. I strongly believe this proposal could be a huge positive North-South project. There is support for this in Northern Ireland as w…
Never has it been so important to highlight the close relationship we have with the US. This trail will promote our closer ties. It is a perfect example of the use of soft power. Soft power is something we have with the US. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact, develop it and not take it for granted. It has contributed a massive investment, as the Minister of State said, by the US in this country. It w…
10. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strategy for selecting cattle herds to be tested for TB given recent reports that large numbers of herds have not been tested in over two years. [71014/26]
What is the strategy for selecting cattle herds to be tested for TB given recent reports that large numbers of herds have not been tested in over two years. Before the Minister answers I would just like to say that I welcome the announcement that the compensation limit will be increased from €3,000 to €3,500 per animal for TB.
The Minister will know, as he alluded to, that I come from west Wicklow which is an area that has the highest incidence of TB in the country. I welcome the progress being made but we still have a long way to go. TB has caused huge financial and mental pressures on many farmers. Measures on cattle testing are good but we need to address the wildlife spread.
This issue is particularly acute in Wicklow, where deer are …
I was just about to refer to badgers. This morning, I spoke to a man who has been a vet in west Wicklow for more than 40 years. Most of the TB cases he has encountered have been linked to badgers. They are not as visible as deer and, therefore, do not get the same level of attention.
Will the Minister ensure the TB scourge is constantly monitored and that actions are taken to address it? We must do all in our power …
As Vice-Chairman of both the Committee on Budgetary Oversight and the finance and public expenditure committee, I welcome the budget. Financial changes, as anyone with a grasp of finance knows, happen over a period of time. The budget covers just one year but the direction of travel is clear. It is rewarding work while at the same time protecting the less well-off. The budget is possible because of the massive taxes …
It is so important that in all discussions here, we choose our language carefully. We must not say anything that might inflame situations or give encouragement to any extreme positions. We must stick at all times to the facts because we remember that we are talking about fellow human beings. The most important thing is that we have open and frank discussions. This will lessen the possibility of false information and …
As the Minister will know, we will take in approximately €17.5 billion in windfall corporation taxes this year. Our budget surplus of €8 billion looks great but without these windfall corporation taxes, our finances would be in deficit to the tune of €8 billion or €9 billion, which is concerning. It is moving in the wrong direction. I know the Minister is aware of this. Would he consider doing something like what is …
65. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in the targeted plans to reduce childcare costs for parents, whether there are plans in place to review the Core funding programme to ensure that funding reflects the increasing costs faced by childcare providers and if consideration will be given to increasing funding and, where necessary, allowing providers greater flexibility to adj…
I wish to raise the concerns of some service providers as to whether there are plans to review the core funding programme to ensure that funding reflects the increasing costs faced by childcare providers and if consideration will be given to increasing funding and, where necessary, allowing providers greater flexibility to adjust fees to ensure the continued financial viability and sustainability of services.
I thank the Minister but I want to raise the concern among providers about the fee arrangements under the core funding programme and the disparity between long-established childcare providers and numerous service providers entering the scheme. I welcome what the Minister has outlined - the continuous improvement in funding from €259 million when the programme started in 2022 to an increase of over €480 million from S…
I am happy to see this is progressing. Several providers involved in core funding since 2021 have contacted me and they have experienced a considerable increase in their overheads. I would also like to point out the fee payment thresholds table. Can I ask that County Wicklow be aligned with Dublin? At the moment it is in a mid-east bracket, and strangely for some of the mid-east brackets the upper limit on the thresh…
12. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the actions that have been taken to implement cost control in Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51538/26]
It may not be the most interesting subject, but it is probably the most important subject in the Minister’s brief, and that is the issue of cost control. What actions are being taken to implement cost control in Departments?
I thank the Minister for his response. We have interacted quite a bit at committee level on the same topic and will continue to do so. The starting point is a detailed, accurate and complete budget. This must be prepared on a zero-waste budgeting model where all costs must be justified and it is not just assumed that last year's budget funding is a given. This, then, must be closely monitored on a month-by-month basi…
I will list some specific items, but the list is not exhaustive. Regarding funding given to quangos, can we review whether there is overlap between these organisations and if the Government is funding them to do the same things? Can we use the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to do more work on bid rigging prevention? Do all Departments publish reports on overtime, the cost of agency staff and co…
The 132 bus service is the only bus to Dublin for most of west Wicklow. A year ago, I was told by the National Transport Authority, NTA, that the frequency of the service would be doubling. Nothing has happened since then. How do different Departments and Government bodies talk to one other? The NTA made that announcement without even having a timetable from Bus Éireann. How will communication be improved between Dep…
68. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he can provide an update on the American Presidents trail as we approach America 250; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44534/26]
A total of 23 US Presidents have had Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland. As the Minister of State knows, I floated the idea of an American Presidents trail in the House early last year. I thank the Minister for his great support. I ask the Minister of State for an update on the progress of this project.
I thank the Minister of State. I am glad that progress is being made. The actions announced are the start of what will, hopefully, be a fully-fledged tourist route. I strongly believe that this proposal could be a positive North-South project. It could also be a major attraction for US visitors, especially those with Irish links, and could be comparable to the Wild Atlantic Way. I have pinpointed several key counties…
Never has it been so important to highlight the close relationship we have with the United States. This trail would promote our close ties. It is a perfect example of the use of soft power. Soft power is something we have in the context of the US and we need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact, develop it and not take it for granted. It has contributed to the massive investment in this country by the US. The …