Catherine Callaghan

I think I am safe in saying I am the only Member of the Dáil who has completed a tour of duty with UNIFIL. I concur with the Tánaiste's statement of support for the 300-plus men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who are currently in Camp Shamrock and other areas of southern Lebanon, which is an area with which I am very familiar. The Tánaiste will appreciate why matters relating to peace in the Mid…

I would like to ensure that the essential need for humanitarian aid to flow to citizens of Gaza is also met, with all the hostages to be released. I concur with what the Tánaiste said about strengthening our support for Lebanon and its new government, particularly with our Irish soldiers who, as he noted, are serving over there, and about keeping the men and women who are proudly serving our count…

I would like to add to the great points that Deputy Currie made. If you look up online the difficulties that children with dyslexia face, you will often find something like the following statement: Dyslexia causes difficulties with reading accuracy and fluency, spelling, writing, working at speed, holding information in mind while working on it, and processing verbal information. It can impact ma…

To follow on from what I was saying, we only need to look at the transformative educational experience that children with autism are experiencing in Ireland due to the introduction of many more special educational classrooms. Reading classes in a mainstream setting would allow these targeted supports that I have mentioned to be delivered to children with dyslexia. It would also allow them to stay…

Ní Gaeilgeoir mise. Táim beagnach neirbhíseach a bheith i mo sheasamh san áit speisialta nuair nach bhfuil Gaeilge perfect agam ach creidim gur fíor an seanfhocal "is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste". Tá a lán daoine sa bhaile cosúil liomsa. Ba mhaith liom labhairt go minic ach tá eagla orm go ndéanfaidh mé botún. Níl mé líofa ach tá mo thriúr páistí líofa. In fact, thiomáin mé 120 km san i…

In advance of the new school year starting in September, many parents of sixth class pupils are faced with the dilemma of how they will get their child to their new secondary school when there is no school bus route available to them. I am particularly concerned about students in Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal, who have all made representations to me in recent weeks. I welcome the measure in the p…

Tá mé chomh bródúil a bheith anseo i mo Theachta Dála ar son mhuintir Cheatharlach agus Chill Chainnigh. As this is my maiden speech in this historic Chamber, I sincerely thank the people of Carlow and Kilkenny who put their trust in me to represent them in the Thirty-fourth Dáil. I remember my late parents, Jo Jo and Kathy Roberts; my uncle, Martin; agus múinteoir den scoth, Eamon Whelan, who all…