I, too, acknowledge James MacGuill’s contribution to the courts in Louth, Dublin and across the country. As Deputy Ó Murchú said, he was a giant in more ways than one. When he took on a case, there is no doubt that it was very much the client at the centre of everything. He was always a defender when it came to constitutional matters and to the client’s rights and access to justice. In that context, talking about the…
TDs / Paula Butterly
Paula Butterly
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
387
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
30,519
words spoken in the chamber
Across 113 contributions. Plus 54 contributions from the chair, not counted
389
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
176
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 387 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 113 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| March 2025 | 15 | 6 |
| April 2025 | 12 | 3 |
| May 2025 | 11 | 5 |
| June 2025 | 9 | 4 |
| July 2025 | 16 | 3 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| October 2025 | 9 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 33 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 23 | 8 |
| January 2026 | 13 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 11 |
| March 2026 | 40 | 6 |
| April 2026 | 29 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 47 | 14 |
| June 2026 | 26 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 19 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 23 | 11 |
| October 2026 | 9 | 3 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 82 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 Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
At the heart of this story is a man who was in the fullness of his life, a wife, Sheila, who had a wonderful husband by her side and sons, Austin, Kieran and Oliver, who had a wonderful father who was part of the community. All too tragically, undeservedly and unjustifiably, he was struck down in the prime of his life. While we are all here to acknowledge the failings of the State and the investigations, we should ne…
Before I begin, I too offer my sympathies to the Doyle family. The loss of a child is always devastating.
I welcome the Bill. Safety on our tracks and level crossings is always paramount. I will focus my contribution on two points, which concern the safety on our trains and platforms. The first is about overcrowding. We are fortunate in County Louth as we have seen an increase in services between Dublin and Belfast.…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic. Listening to some of the debate, there seems to be a muddying of the waters as to what we are proposing in relation to citizenship and then the discussion in regards to migration. Ireland has always been a welcoming nation. However, over the last couple of years, we have realised that we need to have a firm and fair system to deal with the challenges coming down the l…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill as it goes to the very heart of our democracy. It concerns freedom of expression, the right of citizens to speak out on matters of public interest and the ability of journalists, campaigners, whistleblowers and community activists to hold those with deep pockets to account without fear of being dragged into costly and intimidating legal proceedings.
We all recognise th…
I want to raise concerns regarding the future of the WALK PEER programme and the potential loss of vital transition supports when current funding comes to an end in December 2026. The programme supports young people with intellectual disabilities and autism as they move from school into further education, training and employment, helping them to achieve greater independence and better life opportunities.
The program…
I thank the Minister of State. In that reply, there seems to be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and some hope that funding will be found. We have young people who are halfway through a programme that could suddenly come to an end in December. At the very least, they must be allowed to participate until June in order to finish that course.
The Minister of State mentioned that special schools would come under …
5. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes he proposes to introduce to support women of older generations who are not eligible for a contributory State pension despite having made PRSI contributions through employment during their working lives but who do not have a sufficient contribution record to qualify for a pension at pensionable age; whether he is considering any further meas…
There is still a significant amount of women of older generations who are not eligible for State contributory pensions despite having made PSRI contributions through employment during their working lives but who do not have a sufficient contribution record to qualify for a pension when they come of pensionable age. Is the Minister considering any further measures to recognise these periods spent outside of the workfo…
I acknowledge the measures that have been introduced over recent years, including the homemakers scheme, home caring periods and long-term carer's contributions. They are positive developments and help to ensure that caring work receives greater recognition within the pension scheme. However, some women from older generations are not benefiting fully from these reforms because they had already reached the pension age…
I thank the Minister for offering to look at this in more detail, including specific cases. These women, for decades, did everything that society asked them to do. They worked, stayed at home and took care of their children and other family members. It is really important because it is that cohort of older women, who in many cases could be our own mothers, who do not have their own financial independence. It is maybe…
They did not quite get through to the final. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon's Mayo beat them.
It was a wonderful achievement.
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Garda Síochána Bill, which represents an important step in ensuring that our policing laws are fit for purpose in a modern Ireland. The Bill seeks to provide a clear framework for Garda stop-and-search powers, the execution of search warrants, the handling of electronic evidence and the rights of persons in custody.
As a TD for County Louth, I hear every day from constituent…
17. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the introduction of a national programme for post-primary schools aimed at educating students about domestic violence and gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52669/26]
I thank the Minister for the updates. It is important to note that there is going to be more extensive engagement with students. I recently met a group of students from County Louth. We had a lively, truthful and open conversation, particularly with the boys who are attending all-boys schools. They were honest about the fact that they are very much in the dark about what consent means and how they are supposed to beh…
I, too, welcome the scoping exercise in relation to the allegations of sexual abuse made against Michael Shine. Like the Tánaiste, I was struck by the words of the victims and survivors in noting that finally, they had been heard. I was also struck by their saying that finally, they had been believed.
Imagine, after 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years, coming out with words like "I now finally have been believed". That is q…
92. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting elective surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, broken down by specialty and waiting time bands; the measures being taken to reduce these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52249/26]
I thank the Minister for that information and join her in congratulating the Lourdes hospital for getting on top of the issue of waiting lists and for the good work all the staff are doing, led by the new general manager. It goes to show that when there is good management, will and the ability to reduce waiting lists, we can make progress. As the Minister pointed out, they are doing nearly 20% more elective surgeries…
Our Lady of Lourdes serves about 360,000 people in its catchment area at the moment and I believe that is growing rapidly. Going back to the idea that it is effectively a model 4 hospital while being classed as model 3, there is a case for looking at and expanding the services in Our Lady of Lourdes and making it a model 4 hospital. Looking at a map of where model 4 hospitals are in the country, we have them in Dubli…
In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
147. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the national tourism food strategy, in regard to timelines and funding which will enhance the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45619/26]
Will the Minister provide an update on the national tourism strategy, particularly with regard to the timelines and funding that will be required to enhance our food tourism sector?
It is great that 34% of tourism funding is directed towards food and drink, but that also highlights the scope we have to develop it even further. As a result, I welcome this strategy. However, a strategy is only as good as its implementation. As the Minister saw last Monday when he came to launch the Louth tourism strategy, we in County Louth have so much to offer. People can have oysters in Carlingford. They can go…
The Minister is exactly right. We have food and drink of the highest quality produced at a local level by great producers in County Louth. The core element to producing this food and drink is our farmers. Our farmers are struggling at the moment, particularly those in the tillage sector. I call on the Minister to co-ordinate and co-operate with the Minister for agriculture to ensure that from beginning to end, the ch…