That gives the logic itself, if the Minister is making the case for having physical offices at all, then the same case could be made in terms of the North whether Belfast or somewhere else.
Since the Good Friday Agreement, one of the primary and practical ways in which people who identify as Irish in the North vindicate that right and identity is to apply for an Irish passport. It is the case that increasing numbers…
TDs / Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
495
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
114,890
words spoken in the chamber
Across 584 contributions
377
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
101
topics asked about
Across 14 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 495 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 584 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 26 | 57 |
| March 2025 | 19 | 10 |
| April 2025 | 27 | 37 |
| May 2025 | 21 | 49 |
| June 2025 | 20 | 18 |
| July 2025 | 54 | 27 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 43 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 15 | 42 |
| November 2025 | 27 | 48 |
| December 2025 | 26 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 9 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 25 | 29 |
| March 2026 | 57 | 34 |
| April 2026 | 6 | 14 |
| May 2026 | 15 | 45 |
| June 2026 | 28 | 35 |
| July 2026 | 59 | 56 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 4 | 4 |
| October 2026 | 8 | 14 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 419 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 Cork South-Central 29 November 2024 to now
- party Sinn Féin 29 November 2024 to now
There were a couple of lines in the Minister of State's speech that jumped out, but there was one in particular. The Minister of State said "the Private Members' motion today misrepresents both as it links the proposed reform of the triple lock with Ireland's policy of neutrality". I have heard that previously. The Minister of State is saying that it is unreasonable to link changes to the Defence Acts, which govern t…
There is a lot of talk at the minute and a shared desire across all sides of this House to ensure we invest in our Defence Forces. The Defence Forces have been profoundly neglected and that needs to be addressed. As far as I am concerned, Ireland should be strong in neutrality and strong in defence; both things go together.
We hear a lot of big announcements from the Minister but, unfortunately, the reality is that …
The Minister of State will be aware that the Defences Forces are a significant part of the life of Cork city. I believe it is similar in his own county. Many personnel are stationed in Haulbowline, Collins Barracks and even in Kilworth in Liam Lynch camp. When I talk to people in the Defence Forces, they see a huge discrepancy and a gap between the kind of ambition that the Minister talks about and the manner in whic…
Will you bring it back to the Department of public expenditure?
I welcome the opportunity to have this debate. It seems clear to me that while the referendum and the legislation that followed it was a watershed moment, it does not represent the end of the discussion by any manner or means. It also seems clear to me that further reform is needed - reform that is evidence-based, thoughtful and compassionate - that will deliver better, less stigmatising access to abortion for women …
With no preconditions.
Tacaím leis an mBille agus tréaslaím leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh as a chuid oibre air seo ar feadh tamall fada. I commend Deputy Ó Snodaigh on his work on this over a considerable period of time. We have had many debates in this Chamber and, unfortunately, some attention has slipped away from Palestine and from the appalling atrocities that continue there despite so-called ceasefire. People are being killed daily but …
Nurses are held in huge esteem in this Chamber and right across the country. It is worth asking why that is. The reality is that it is because they perform their duties with compassion, dedication and commitment to public service and to the communities in which they live. We all hold them in huge esteem. The problem is that, far too often, esteem and respect are not followed through in policy.
I am concerned at the …
65. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline her proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; when she intends to bring forward a Bill in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33425/26]
The volatile nature of the world underlines all the more the reason that Ireland needs to maintain an independent foreign policy. Central to that policy, as was articulated by members of the Government while in opposition is the triple lock. This is a crucial protection for our neutrality. I would like an update as to where this legislation stands and what consideration the Minister has given to the pre-legislative s…
The Minister thanked the committee and I acknowledge that. It was under a different Minister, and I would say it is not an unheard-of occurrence, but it is remarkable that Government TDs and Senators on the committee were whipped to prevent extra hearings because there was such a rush in terms of this legislation, and now it is many months since that process was concluded. I find that hard to understand. We had a des…
The Minister spoke about the SCDP and potential deployment. Could she elaborate on that? Is she saying there would potentially be a CSDP deployment to Lebanon in place of UNIFIL? Could she please clarify that?
The issue in relation to the protection of future Governments is crucially important. That is my view, and I think it is the view of the people. Our troops have served under the UN flag with incredible distinc…
We can do that.
67. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence further to recent Dáil Éireann debates, her views on past health and safety measures in the Air Corps; the actions she intends to take to support former aircraft maintenance and ancillary personnel; whether she intends to ensure their medical needs are met; and the other supports that can be offered to the category affected as a whole. [33426/26]
Since our last engagement on this issue, we have had the "RTÉ Investigates" documentary, considerable reporting by Neil Michael from the Irish Examiner, and many disturbing and worrying disclosures and descriptions of what was going on. It is clear that Air Corps personnel were exposed to unsafe working conditions and to dangerous chemicals and there seems to be a strong correlation to very serious illness and bad he…
To be honest, that is a frustrating response because the Minister is well aware that I have outlined the point in the past. I would say there are issues in relation to the handling of the State Claims Agency of these cases. It is not appropriate for us to get into individual cases. I have never asked the Minister to do so. I have never tried to discuss individual cases in this Chamber, with the Minister or her predec…
If there is a pattern, we are not going to find that out in the High Court. That will be found out through a process the Department seems to be considering. A memo was due to be brought to the Minister in the first quarter but we are past the first quarter now. That is what I recall the Minister saying. Has the Minister considered this memo in relation to a whole-category approach?
I ask the Minister to not go back …
No, but it still goes on.
We should find out.
When will we find out?
I hear the Minister saying that but when will we find out?
85. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the matter of entry-level cadet pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33405/26]
The Minister has given indications in the past and she has talked about addressing this issue but it has been six months since she took office and ultimately nothing has changed. Cadets are still paid well below the minimum wage. That is damaging to recruitment and retention. Their pay is the lowest in the Defence Forces at €503 per week. That compares with €550 for a recruit. Considering that is weekly pay, there is…
I would love to hear about local bargaining. Local bargaining seems to be the solution to cadet pay, the service commitment scheme and to specialist staff. However many per cent it is, the scope clearly does not exist to expect it to be like the miracle of loaves and fishes and solve all the problems. There is scope to do a bit with local bargaining but ultimately the Department needs to recognise that these are stra…