I thank our staff John Campbell, Marc Nolan and Emmett Corcoran for putting this Private Members' business motion together for us, in the Dail today. Simply put, this motion is to strengthen whistleblower protections. It is about enforcement and accountability in public administration. The treatment of whistleblowers in this country has been an absolute disgrace. This motion is about trying to change that. Whistleblo…
TDs / Michael Collins
Michael Collins
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
326
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
214,846
words spoken in the chamber
Across 610 contributions
370
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
93
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 326 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 610 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| January 2025 | 7 | 5 |
| February 2025 | 16 | 31 |
| March 2025 | 9 | 37 |
| April 2025 | 3 | 28 |
| May 2025 | 27 | 36 |
| June 2025 | 6 | 29 |
| July 2025 | 12 | 25 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 18 | 23 |
| October 2025 | 10 | 28 |
| November 2025 | 5 | 44 |
| December 2025 | 18 | 33 |
| January 2026 | 35 | 54 |
| February 2026 | 25 | 37 |
| March 2026 | 2 | 33 |
| April 2026 | 76 | 54 |
| May 2026 | 29 | 29 |
| June 2026 | 12 | 31 |
| July 2026 | 3 | 15 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 2 |
| September 2026 | 3 | 14 |
| October 2026 | 10 | 21 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 264 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 Cork South-West 29 November 2024 to now
- party Independent Ireland 29 November 2024 to now
Strangely, I was talking there to Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, who said that the agriculture committee is meeting below and he would like to be up here speaking today, and it was committee members who approved of this funding in the first place last week. It is unfortunate there is a clash. It should not have happened. I apologise for Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice not being here but I will speak on his behalf and speak i…
The Deputy had her time to speak; this is my time.
They should get into the car and go down to visit one of these farms. They need not bother pre-empting the visit because those running the farms are quite proud to have them come to see the way these dogs, these greyhounds, are being looked after and to see the way these beautiful horses are being looked after. They should be proud of the Irish people and proud of w…
And invite the Deputies to my right too.
Independent Ireland will support this common-sense motion but I really do not understand why the same proposal has been brought before the Dáil on so many occasions. Why can we not just rubber-stamp it once and move on? Businesses in this country need this common-sense provision at this time. The legislation we are discussing was introduced as a temporary measure but outdoor dining has become a vital part of our hosp…
I have four minutes.
I have Deputy Richard O'Donoghue's two minutes as well because he is missing. He is not able to attend. I also have my own two minutes, which gives me four.
Okay. Maybe I have taken too much time.
I apologise.
I have said enough. I am talking all my life.
We are being asked to opt into three EU programmes: the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund; the Internal Security Fund; and the justice programme. Combined, these would unlock over €100 million for Ireland between now and 2035. On paper, that sounds positive - funding for asylum supports, Garda ICT upgrades and justice co-operation - but let us talk about reality. In west Cork, we have no CCTV in many towns and b…
In the past number of weeks at the Business Committee, I have sought to raise the issues of Uisce Éireann, which is getting a budget of €12.2 billion from the State and is not accountable for much of that money that has been spent, and Mercosur. The IFA and the Irish Farmers' Journal did an investigation last week that showed that basically rotten meat - contaminated meat - from South America could end up on Irish ta…
I welcome the decision to cut the VAT on apartments from 13.5% to 9%. It is a practical step and one that will help reduce costs and encourage the construction of homes we so desperately need. Let us be clear: cutting VAT alone will not solve this crisis. I hear speaker after speaker condemning the landlord. Lord God almighty, where do they think we are going to get houses from? It does not appear like that. They are…
Today we are once again discussing the legacy of the Moriarty tribunal, a process that began in 1997 and officially concluded in 2011, yet continues to cost the taxpayer millions. The latest revelation is an additional €3.5 million payment to settle outstanding legal costs. This comes on top of over €71 million already spent with previous settlements, such as €5.8 million earlier this year. This is not just about his…
This Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill may sound technical but its impact is very real. From April onwards, the stamp duty levy on advanced health insurance plans will rise by €48, bringing it to €517 per adult. For families, this will mean an extra €128 a year on top of already soaring premiums, which now average nearly €1,900. These increases will hit households hard at a time when every euro counts. While the levy…
Last week in the Dáil, I spoke of how two of my constituents were refused an exchange of their Belgian driving licences and will have to get provisional licences and retake the test. As they live in rural west Cork, they are essentially going into Covid lockdown for five months, unable even to get to the shops for a bottle of milk. This is the case the length and breadth of this island for many people. It is demeanin…
I thank the Tánaiste very much for his reply. I ask the Government to get rid of the ten-year limit on Irish licences for returning emigrants.
These are people who passed a test in Ireland, held an Irish licence and currently have a valid driving licence. To now deny them a licence is arbitrary, unjust and indefensible. This is a slap in the face to Irish citizens returning home. This is not how we should be treatin…
Hauliers face repeated toll hikes, with the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel driving up costs. Some operators pay up to €20,000 per month in tolls, forcing many out of business. The Irish Road Haulage Association has warned this threatens Ireland's supply chain, which relies on road haulage for 98% of goods. The current toll system wastes €27 million in fuel and emits 45,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The haulage industry is …
Our health system has failed some of the most vulnerable children in the State. In 2017, a clear promise was made that no child would wait more than four months for spinal surgery. That promise was broken, with devastating consequences. Right now, 139 children are actively waiting for spinal surgery this year. Four hundred and forty-six surgeries were completed, yet 462 new patients joined the list. We now know that …
I do not agree with the change to the Order of Business today. An agreement was made last Thursday, as always. Leaders' Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation deal with important issues, such as housing and so many matters of deep concern, and they need to be discussed today. Of course, there is also moving the writ for Galway West and now for Dublin Central. We cannot continue here week in, week out withou…
On behalf of Independent Ireland I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Paschal Donohoe on his appointment to the World Bank. This is an extraordinary achievement. I wish him and his family the very best, and the same to the Minister, Deputy McEntee; the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughton and Higgins; and the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I congratulate them on their elevation to new offices.
Whil…
I want to address Ireland's position under the EU migration and asylum pact. I have a clear question: can Ireland apply for an exemption? Under the pact, every EU member state must contribute to a solidarity mechanism to assist countries under migratory pressure. This means relocating asylum seekers, paying €20,000 per person not relocated, or providing operational support. There is no blanket opt-out but countries f…
I welcome the farming organisations who are represented in the Gallery today. It is the third time they have been here in the Dáil during the past week fighting for the survival of their members. I thank Sinn Féin for this motion on the Mercosur trade agreement, an issue that goes to the heart of Ireland's rural economy, our food standards and our environmental commitments. This deal as it stands poses a serious thre…
We would like statements in the House regarding the moving of the writ for the Galway West by-election. It is a hugely important issue for the constituency. I also ask for statements in relation to Uisce Éireann. There are serious problems in respect of public representatives getting straight answers from Uisce Éireann about serious issues, whether in their constituencies or nationally.
I raised this issue on behalf of the people of Clonakilty and Dunmanway almost four months ago in the Dáil with the Minister for justice and I have had no proper answer back. Basically, the issue is that CCTV in both these towns was switched off in early July. As the Taoiseach knows, CCTV is vital in tackling crime. The Department of justice says it is not an issue for it and Cork County Council is saying it is not a…