TDs / Naoise Ó Cearúil
Naoise Ó Cearúil
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
919
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
51,027
words spoken in the chamber
Across 276 contributions
407
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
241
topics asked about
Across 20 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 919 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 276 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 8 | 12 |
| March 2025 | 11 | 25 |
| April 2025 | 50 | 11 |
| May 2025 | 65 | 20 |
| June 2025 | 45 | 24 |
| July 2025 | 38 | 20 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 36 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 83 | 13 |
| November 2025 | 101 | 13 |
| December 2025 | 93 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 69 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 56 | 5 |
| March 2026 | 30 | 10 |
| April 2026 | 83 | 12 |
| May 2026 | 39 | 19 |
| June 2026 | 41 | 13 |
| July 2026 | 28 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 21 | 4 |
| October 2026 | 22 | 16 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 224 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 Kildare North 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le haitheantas a bhronnadh ar bhailte a chur isteach ar stádas mar líonra Gaeltachta? Cathain gur féidir leis na ceantair sin a bheith ag súil go mbronnfar an stádas sin orthu?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Mar atá ráite aige cheana féin, tá trí cinn de na líonraí seo in Éireann faoi láthair: Inis, Baile Locha Riach agus Cluain Dolcáin. Ó thuaidh, tá Carn Tóchair agus iarthar Bhéal Feirste chomh maith. Ó thaobh Cill Dara go háirithe, tá Cill Dara le Gaeilge ann. Is eagraíocht é seo atá ag déanamh iarracht líonra Gaeilge a bhunadh i gCill Dara. Tá an oiread sin Gaeilge á labhairt i gCill Da…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Buíochas leis as an aitheantas sin chomh maith. Tá sé seo an-tábhachtach do na pobail Ghaeilge seo, go háirithe lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ní airgead amháin atá ann. Tuigim go bhfuil airgead i gceist sa chás seo ó thaobh líonra Gaeilge a bhunú ach is rud fíorthábhachtach é an t-aitheantas mar líonra Gaeilge do phobal na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach go háirithe i gCil…
This morning I published my first Bill to establish the national AI office, oifig náisiúnta na aintleachta saorga. As part of the EU's AI Act, every member state is required to produce a regulator in the state. The idea behind this particular office is that it would act both as a regulator and an enabler for SMEs and for State entities.
I have spoken with the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth, about this. I submitted t…
I commend Deputy Byrne on the work he has been doing as Minister of State with responsibility for foreign affairs and, in particular, European affairs. There are two areas that I would like to cover following the European Council meeting: Ukraine and the Middle East.
It is critical that Ukraine remains at the forefront of our minds and that we continue to call out the illegal aggression of Russia as it continues to …
22. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [34039/25]
I commend the establishment of the infrastructure committee. It is rightly targeting key areas of society: water infrastructure, energy infrastructure and housing. However, I ask that policy on social infrastructure be considered as part of this. I am referring to schools, Garda stations, crèches, playgrounds, etc. When we are considering the development of towns and villages and increases to the amount of infrastruc…
The situation in the Middle East, specifically in Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territories, is beyond tragic; it is catastrophic. Ireland must speak with moral clarity and courage. As I have said before, and as many people in this House have said, what is happening is clearly genocide.
Ireland has long supported the two-state solution and advocated for peace but peace without justice is not peace at all.…
I want to acknowledge the extensive work being done by the Minister of State with responsibility for special education. I have seen first hand his commitment to his brief. He has visited Kildare with me. He has visited the Presentation Girls' School in Maynooth, Maynooth Community College, An Garraí Beag in Donadea and St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge. The schools' staff, the parents and I appreciated the Mi…
134. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on his plans for a successor scheme for the basic income for the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34834/25]
The basic income for the arts pilot scheme has already shown a transformative impact. Artists report producing more work, enjoying better well-being and feeling more financially secure. It has been extended for six months to allow for a full evaluation. I ask the Minister outline to his plans for a successor scheme and to confirm that budget 2026 will include ring-fenced funding for its continuation.
I thank the Minister for the reply and for the work he continues to do on the basic income for the arts pilot. The scheme has made a real difference to the lives of close to 2,000 artists. We know that the evidence the Minister has mentioned points to positive outcomes across practice development, sectoral resilience and community engagement. Given the Department is preparing the full report and a cost-benefit analys…
Other countries such as Finland and Germany have introduced similar schemes as part of long-term cultural and economic planning. Has the Department engaged with these international examples or does it plan to do so? Something I am very conscious of, and I know the Minister is also, is ensuring there is no cliff edge for participants when the pilot ends. Many of these artists will have structured their lives and livel…
It is said a society should be judged on how it treats those who are most vulnerable. In this case, it is older people in our society. What we saw in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme was not care. It did not look like the dignity of older people had been looked after. We owe a debt of gratitude to "RTÉ Investigates" for shining a light on what happened in some settings and on the fear it is happening in others. What …
97. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport the expected timeline for the roll-out of contactless fare payments on all public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34135/25]
We have seen the extension of contactless fare payments in cities such as London, Edinburgh, Barcelona and Milan, as well as in the Netherlands. I am looking for the expected timeline for the roll-out of contactless fare payments on all public transport.
The Minister has announced extremely positive news here this evening that is extremely welcome. It would be great to see a breakdown of the timelines. What do we need to do in order to get to the first phase in the summer of 2027? Is there a need for procurement of IT systems? Are particular systems for buses, etc., required? It would be great to see the routes included in phase 1 as well. Would it be possible to exp…
As I said, this is extremely positive news. It is great to see such a development. Indra Sistemas, which is carrying out the work, has done similar work previously in an international context. Are there any binding milestones built into the contract? The reason I ask is because there are four phases, which is excellent, and we can see clear steps to achieve the overarching aim, but the priority should be to ensure th…
The programme for Government commits to reforming the disability allowance and addressing anomalies in the current means test. That commitment is vital and timely. One of my constituents - a wheelchair user with spina bifida and hydrocephalus - saw her weekly payments drop from €211 to just €36 per week when her partner changed jobs for marginally better pay to help support her. Not only that, but she has now been as…
5. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [29736/25]
The EPA recently identified 115 risks to Ireland from climate change. These range from disruption to Ireland’s energy system, as we saw recently with Storm Éowyn, to damage to Ireland’s built environment from extreme wind and weather events. Will the Taoiseach clarify if the Cabinet committee on climate action will address this report and provide updates on it? Furthermore, we have heard talk of data centres, etc. Th…
17. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach the role the new ministerial council on national security has in developing measures to tackle cyberthreats; how these will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18017/25]
The Taoiseach will recall that in 2021 the HSE experienced a cyberattack. The estimated cost to the HSE was in the region €102 million. The upgrade costs on its security amounted to an estimated €657 million. With the rise of artificial intelligence, we are now seeing far more sophisticated cyberattacks. I have asked the Deputy Malcolm Byrne, the chair of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, whether the co…
13. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the role his Department will play in the preparation of a revised national security strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30994/25]
As the Tánaiste knows, the programme for Government committed to the development of a revised national security strategy, one that reflects the changing threats and geopolitical realities Ireland now faces. Progress has been made with the establishment of the national security council and secretariat, but five years on from the original commitment the full strategy remains outstanding. Can the Tánaiste outline the ro…