15. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [46843/25]
TDs / Shay Brennan
Shay Brennan
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
310
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
12,504
words spoken in the chamber
Across 80 contributions
429
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
117
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 310 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 80 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 4 | 6 |
| March 2025 | 27 | 4 |
| April 2025 | 25 | 2 |
| May 2025 | 5 | 5 |
| June 2025 | 2 | 2 |
| July 2025 | 9 | 7 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 9 | 1 |
| October 2025 | 7 | 8 |
| November 2025 | 17 | 2 |
| December 2025 | 25 | 4 |
| January 2026 | 14 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 22 | 7 |
| March 2026 | 13 | 2 |
| April 2026 | 21 | 14 |
| May 2026 | 26 | 4 |
| June 2026 | 20 | 8 |
| July 2026 | 22 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 23 | 1 |
| October 2026 | 19 | 2 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 72 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 Dublin Rathdown 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in Russian drone incursions into airspace of several EU member states. These were accompanied by threats to energy and transport infrastructure. Both the European Parliament and the Council have called for a stronger, more co-ordinated EU response including potential joint air defence measures, tougher sanctions and new protocols to address aerial and hybrid threats. Could th…
105. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will revise the vacant homes grant scheme to make it more accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53575/25]
9. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on plans for a properly resourced office of veterans' affairs. [48992/25]
I note June is a non-VAT-due month yet receipts so far have been relatively robust, with cumulative VAT up by €0.6 billion at €11.6 billion, albeit reportedly about €100 million below profile. Will the Minister comment on the significance of these figures?
While the increase of €0.6 billion in cumulative VAT receipts is encouraging, there are signals of underlying volatility. VAT is approximately €100 million behind profile, as I stated. Although modest in percentage terms, that may indicate emerging trends. Will the Minister elaborate on what the Department interprets as the trend in VAT collection so far this year? Specifically, does the Minister anticipate receipts …
In light of the urgent issues in housing supply, IBEC recently proposed that the Government address apartment construction viability directly by reducing VAT on new-build apartments by 5% and discontinuing development levies on such projects. Its analysis suggests these actions would reduce direct State-imposed costs at a cost of about €86 million, which is less than the shortfall between VAT receipts and the departm…
Could the Minister confirm the number of taxpayer units that have made claims for the rent tax credit since its introduction in December 2022? With budget 2025 further increasing the credit to €1,000 for individuals and €2,000 for jointly assessed couples, will the Minister comment on the scale of uptake and effectiveness of this credit in supporting private renters and make a statement on how it fits within the Gove…
We are all acutely aware of the persistent challenges facing renters. The rent tax credit introduced in budget 2023 at €500 has been a tangible intervention for people grappling with higher rental costs. This credit was subsequently increased to €750 and reached €1,000 for individuals and €2,000 for couples in budget 2025. Since its inception three years ago, it has offered meaningful assistance to many, easing press…
The Minister will probably appreciate that most of the questions he is asked between now and October will be to seek his plans for the upcoming budget. Could he provide an update in the meantime on the overall awareness and uptake of the rent tax credit since its launch? My understanding is that the Department of Finance estimates that around 400,000 renters are eligible to claim this relief. In its initial year, som…
With the rapid advancement of commercial drone technology, Ireland is witnessing increasing interest from companies seeking to launch drone delivery services. I note in particular a proposed operation in Dundrum which has generated significant public attention and raised questions about the adequacy of our current regulatory framework. Given concerns around safety, privacy, noise and the integration of drones into th…
I wish to discuss the significant burden that Revenue's enhanced reporting requirements for employee benefits are placing on small- and medium-sized enterprises across Ireland. While the aim may be transparency, the reality is that SMEs must now report even the smallest non-cash benefits, sometimes just €10 in value, to Revenue on or before the day that they are provided. As the Tánaiste knows, SMEs comprise more tha…
I am grateful for the opportunity to address the House on the Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2025. As a representative of Dublin Rathdown, I am acutely aware of the importance of the local property tax, both as a source of funding for our local authority and as a topic of real concern for homeowners and communities across the country. I wish to set out clearly why this Bill is not …
I raise the critical issue of whether we are getting value for money from our infrastructural investment. As public representatives, we have a responsibility to ensure that every euro of taxpayers' money is spent wisely and delivers tangible, lasting benefits for communities. Over the past decade, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of capital investment in public infrastructure - roads, public transport, schools,…
I appreciate that response and the steps being taken to improve oversight and delivery. However, I wish to press further on the strategic approach to investment timing. Given the urgent needs in transport, energy, water and public services, and considering Ireland's relatively strong fiscal position, are we missing an opportunity by not front-loading our infrastructural investment, even if this means prudent borrowin…
17. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22996/25]
As the European Union continues its negotiations with the US on trade matters, there are ongoing discussions on the development of a retaliatory tariffs list.
The final version of this list could potentially include measures affecting the aviation sector. Ireland is uniquely exposed in this regard as we have the largest aircraft leasing industry in the world, supporting almost 9,000 high quality skilled jobs and con…
As the Taoiseach is aware, the free primary schoolbooks scheme has been a welcome support for families and schools across the country. However, schools experiencing significant increases in enrolment often find the current per capita funding model based on the previous year’s enrolment figures does not fully meet their needs, particularly when new pupils join after the funding has been allocated. On top of this, scho…
23. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will meet next. [9483/25]
Given the Luas Green Line between St. Stephen's Green and Sandyford was originally designed to allow for a future upgrade to metro standard, and with MetroLink tunnelling provisions already in place to Charlemont, can the Taoiseach confirm if and when it is planned to proceed with the full metro upgrades southwards to Sandyford, considering its long-term necessity for capacity demands and, in particular, the signific…
2. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will meet next. [9482/25]
Ireland has one of the best offshore wind resources in Europe, yet progress in developing the sector has been slow due to regulatory hurdles, infrastructural challenges and delays in project approvals. Given the urgent need to decarbonise our energy system and meet our 2030 climate targets, what specific actions is the Government taking to streamline the planning process, attract investment and ensure that Ireland be…
20. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [11136/25]
During recent European Council meetings, I understand Ireland has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine's bid for fast-tracked EU membership. Could the Taoiseach elaborate on the specific role Ireland has played in these discussions? Has he proposed any concrete measures or timelines to facilitate Ukraine's integration into the EU, especially given the challenges of aligning with EU standards while the country is still a…
10. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of small and medium enterprises, SMEs, that have successfully applied for and received funding through the digital transition fund since its inception; the total amount disbursed to date; the steps his Department is taking to raise awareness about these digital support programmes among SMEs, particularly those that may be less …