213. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an outline of the engagement there has been with his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen's University Belfast about their recent partnership to create Dundalk university college; the plans for the future development and enhancement of the partnership; and if he will make a statement on the…
TDs / Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ruairí Ó Murchú
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1,135
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
176,932
words spoken in the chamber
Across 897 contributions. Plus 338 contributions from the chair, not counted
413
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
246
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 1,135 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 897 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 10 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 33 | 33 |
| March 2025 | 24 | 23 |
| April 2025 | 29 | 57 |
| May 2025 | 38 | 75 |
| June 2025 | 33 | 69 |
| July 2025 | 205 | 34 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 203 | 23 |
| October 2025 | 31 | 50 |
| November 2025 | 51 | 85 |
| December 2025 | 41 | 68 |
| January 2026 | 68 | 54 |
| February 2026 | 37 | 56 |
| March 2026 | 36 | 45 |
| April 2026 | 48 | 55 |
| May 2026 | 62 | 53 |
| June 2026 | 67 | 31 |
| July 2026 | 58 | 36 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 33 | 22 |
| October 2026 | 28 | 28 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 581 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 Louth 29 November 2024 to now
- party Sinn Féin 29 November 2024 to now
I ask the Minister to outline all the engagements between his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen's University Belfast. We were all happy to see this recent partnership, which will result in greater provision of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and the creation of an innovation hub, all of which is very positive. I commend Diarmuid O'Callaghan and his team on their work. We need to ensure this partnership is fa…
We are all very supportive of this proposal, and why would we not be? Obviously, I want to see Dundalk university college, but the cross-Border aspects are fabulous, as is the research and innovation centre the Minister referred to. This is a world-class institute and a world-class university coming together to produce something better. We will be able to build on the great work done by the regional development centr…
I agree with the Minister. It is about making sure that happens, with the heads of agreement and then beyond that. Subject to all the caveats associated with setting deadlines, Dundalk university college could be up and running in 2026, possibly in September. As I said, it will be signed, sealed and delivered in respect of the relationship. We all welcome the fact that the college will be autonomous, rather than bein…
254. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress of the review of personal assistance services funded from the fund for students with disabilities across tertiary education settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67773/25]
The Minister met personal assistants from the likes of Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education and Cavan Institute who do huge work in relation to those with disabilities. Fórsa has a pay claim in with the WRC at the moment. Some issues were resolved but I think the biggest issue was the fact that there was the expectation of a review. We know there was going to be a…
It is a vital piece of work. It will commence in 2026. I ask the Minister to give me a rough outline as to what he thinks this deadline is. I do not think anybody here would dispute that there has been a need to do this for a long time in relation to further and higher education and to find out how we best suit those with disabilities and ensure we can keep them within the educational process.
I am obviously disappo…
I ask the Minister to expand on that and this review in relation to PA services. I think the biggest issue, as I said previously, was that the position was that the role of the PAs in supporting disabled students was to be considered as part of an interdepartmental review and no progress could be made until the review had concluded. They were unable to state with any certainty when the review would commence and finis…
I understand that.
I was.
2. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the national security strategy. [65331/25]
We need some sort of detail and we need to know there is a plan to address cybersecurity and hybrid warfare. The HSE attack brought to light what was probably happening to a lot of businesses which did not provide information. There has been increased funding for the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, but we need to get down to brass tacks. There have been drone attacks over the past while and we need to make sure…
13. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [65332/25]
We have all seen a huge amount of flood damage and the danger of nature. While a huge amount of work has been done by local authorities and emergency services, this brings to light the need to deal expeditiously with CFRAM protections that are necessary throughout Louth. With regard to the south part of the Dundalk and Blackrock project, the promise is quarter 2 of 2027 for planning application submission. There have…
It is CFRAM. There are five particular projects throughout Louth, in Drogheda, Carlingford, Greenore, Baltray and Ardee. The lack of wastewater capacity is also causing issues.
In the review-----
The Minister spent considerable time going through the framework, whether that is the Digital Services Act, the guidelines or the powers of Coimisiún na Meán. I have spoken on this issue previously in committee, where I spoke to Coimisiún na Meán and An Coimisiún Toghcháin about their engagement with the big social media companies. It sometimes seems like a five-a-side team going up against Bayern Munich. I am not en…
Unfortunately, there will probably be a fair amount of repetition from all of us. The Minister could go back through the record and find these particular issues being brought up multiple times.
At this stage, it is a request from us that this particular issue be dealt with. We all want a thriving film industry. We see the benefits of the supports under section 481 but it is a huge amount of taxpayers' money that is …
The Minister spoke about the industrial relations infrastructure but that has failed to deal with this matter to date. We have had numerous cases over and back. Like everyone else, I can accept that one aspect relates to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, section 481 relates to the Minister for Finance, and another issue relates to the Minister for Enterprise, Culture and Employment; however, we just…
I have awaited this moment for at least 30 seconds.
We cannot take away from the importance of the issue we are discussing. As regards the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, we have no issue with good economic trade agreements and free trade agreements that work for all the people. I do not think many will complain about that fact. On the EU and Canada, I do not think anything is stopping us from accepting …
That is the message. The Government must stop breaking the law. It is a terrible indictment of this State and the entire system that we are reliant on 15-year-old Cara Darmody to hold this State's feet to the flames. I have often said there is always an element of failure when people have to come to politicians in order to vindicate their rights but in this case we have a young advocate who has been given no choice b…
Hear, hear.
Anois, bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh chuig Ceist Uimh. 4 in ainm an Teachta Roderic O’Gorman. Tá an Teachta Boyd-Barrett á glacadh.
We all love the idea of a thriving Irish film industry, whether we look at it, historically, through the likes of "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father" right through to "Kneecap" and "An Cailín Ciúin", a lot in between and many smaller enterprises. We all should take great pride in this. We are only too delighted if section 481 is used as a means of enhancing the film industry and ensuring that we continue w…
Indeed, there would. "Yippee KiYay", and all of that. That is the reality. I am not trying to make light of it. That was not going to happen in these sets of circumstances but it has happened to loads of people who work in the Irish film industry and that is not okay.
This is not some industry that is operating away on its own independently. This is an industry that is rightly supported by the State. We need to find…