The crux of the issue is not where the game should be played but who is participating in the fixture. As we debate this tonight, the people of Gaza endure starvation, bombardment, displacement and unimaginable human suffering. Does the Government's conscience allow it to continue with and encourage business as usual? I know that mine does not. I have stood proud and true to the courage of my own convictions on this i…
TDs / Joanna Byrne
Joanna Byrne
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
473
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
55,881
words spoken in the chamber
Across 208 contributions
404
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
107
topics asked about
Across 15 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 473 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 208 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| January 2025 | 4 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 29 | 25 |
| March 2025 | 38 | 14 |
| April 2025 | 29 | 11 |
| May 2025 | 20 | 10 |
| June 2025 | 11 | 10 |
| July 2025 | 34 | 6 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 12 | 5 |
| October 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| November 2025 | 25 | 4 |
| December 2025 | 2 | 4 |
| January 2026 | 43 | 15 |
| February 2026 | 36 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 23 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 17 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 32 | 13 |
| June 2026 | 42 | 22 |
| July 2026 | 18 | 3 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 40 | 5 |
| October 2026 | 12 | 22 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 121 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
Hear, hear.
I thank the Minister of State for being with us and for her presentation. I welcome the progression of the Bill, though many of the items in it could and should have been implemented a long time ago, had Government not voted down many of the same proposals when they were made by Sinn Féin. This includes bringing RTÉ under the aegis of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Sinn Féin also proposed a significant number o…
I move:
That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport entitled "Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 17th September, 2025.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss in the Dáil the report on pre-legislative scrutiny of …
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being here this evening, for his contribution and for his acknowledgement of the work of the committee over an extensive period in recent months. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for acknowledging that work.
Given the controversies around RTÉ and the fact that it is back in the headlines this week, I very much welcome the decision that it will finally co…
Another week and another Private Members' Bill to try to address the real issue that is adversely affecting the Irish people, and yet another seemingly disinterested and dismissive amendment from this do-nothing Government. What is beyond laughable is that it will ignore this issue and continue to inflict the highest energy bills in Europe on the Irish people. Then, come election time, the Government will suddenly be…
1. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport given the significant deficiencies in Ireland’s swimming pool infrastructure and the pressing need for urgent investment and strategic planning to ensure every Irish person has access to swimming facilities, to outline in detail the way in which he intends to action this; the timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matt…
Considering the significant deficiencies in Ireland's swimming pool infrastructure and the need for urgent investment, can the Minister of State make a statement outlining how we intend to action this, and provide some indicative timelines for same?
Ireland has only public pool per 81,000 people. That is a significant deficit compared with other nations like Scotland, which has one per 14,000 people. The Government, like previous Governments, has acknowledged the problem but there is no viable plan to resolve it. The Minister of State has accepted the Swim Ireland report, a pool within reach. That remains a distant reality amid critical swimming infrastructure g…
An adequate number of swimming pools for modern Ireland will not be delivered by the already oversubscribed large-scale sport infrastructure fund or the community sports facilities fund. The local authority swimming pool programme was to provide capital grant aid to local authorities for new, refurbished and upgraded swimming pools and never really did. Now the shift for future funding has moved to the LSSIF. If this…
40. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in light of his Department aiming to open the new round of the CSFF in the first half of 2026, when the new guidelines will be published in advance to include updated eligibility and likely assessment criteria in this next round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32741/26]
The Minister might get a sense of déjà vu because I spoke on this matter during Questions on Policy or Promised Legislation last May. For those who need these vital services in Louth, it is Groundhog Day. I raise the need for additional funding and resources for the three housing adaptation grant schemes in Louth. On 1 May, just over a third of the way through the year, Louth County Council had to close its applicati…
Just over a year ago, I had the privilege of hosting Dignity4Patients in Leinster House where five courageous survivors of convicted sexual abuser, Michael Shine, shared their testimonies with TDs, Senators and political staff. Survivors Larry, Cianan, Gerard, Peter and Ian spoke with one voice on behalf of the hundreds of known victims who had come forward. Their message was clear: truth matters and transparency mat…
Right through last year and continuing up to this week, I met principals of DEIS schools in Drogheda on various issues. Even back then, before the announcement of the DEIS plus scheme, it was very disheartening for schools to tell me they were very worried about being forgotten once more and as it turns out, they were right.
DEIS schools in Drogheda provide an incredibly supportive environment for local children to …
The Minister of State is paying lip service to the dedication of the staff carrying the can for inadequate Government investment in areas ravaged on the basis of the criteria he listed, namely lone parenthood, unemployment and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation and international protection accommodation. We have Mosney seven minutes down the road and we have the D Hotel, the only large hotel in t…
I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that the municipal district area that includes the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban shall be known in the Irish language as Ceantar Bardasach Chathair Dhroichead Átha and in the English language as the Municipal District of Drogheda City, and for that purpose to amend the Local Government Act 2001; to provide that specified towns whic…
I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
I never imagined that I, as a first-time TD, would still need to speak about workers’ rights, rates of pay and fairness in employment. The phrase, “a decent day’s pay for an honest day’s work”, should have been long retired before 2026. This debate, which should not even be a debate, has been around since before I was born and before my parents and grandparents were born. The points being raised here are the same poi…
It has not.
I sincerely welcome these statements on football as an opportunity to talk about the sport I have always, and will always, love. Some of my fondest memories are of growing up in the terraces among the fans, come hail, rain or shine, supporting our home team of Drogheda United through the good times and the bad. If the emotion and love of football supporters - League of Ireland supporters, crucially - have for their t…
How much noise needs to be made before the Government snaps out of its slumber and legislates for all of the people affected by the huge fuel price increases? It has selective hearing, sight and amnesia. It has selectively chosen who is to receive the most minimal cuts to fuel costs in some sectors while the general public and those in many industries who have to be on the road daily are forgotten.
Was the Minister …
Hear hear.
I would like the Government to urgently address a serious situation facing a primary school in my constituency that has the potential to impact hundreds of children and families. Despite providing the first breakfast club of its kind in the State, St. Paul's National School is hugely concerned that because it does not fit the new model for school meals, it is at risk of losing this vital service. Its funding is in li…
As we have just had Daffodil Day, I feel we must mention the Irish Cancer Society here. Every one of us knows somebody who has battled cancer, and with one in two people in Ireland affected, this cause sadly touches us all. The Irish Cancer Society provides significant support for cancer patients and their families in County Louth, with services witnessing higher demand throughout 2025. With only 5% of annual funds n…
We in Sinn Féin see no reason to oppose this Bill. We look forward to its progression to Committee Stage. It would address many of the issues this party has raised over the years regarding media ownership and independence. We may seek to submit amendments on matters on which we believe the Bill is not strong enough, but I am sure engagement on that would be welcomed.
The parent legislation of the Bill we are discuss…