Galway West — week of Mon, 14 Oct — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 14 Oct – 20 Oct 2024 · 6 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 61 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Social Welfare Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages

2024-10-16 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 48–74

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 49–74

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

VAT Rate for Hospitality Sector

2024-10-16 · 3 votes

A sub-amendment · motion failed 54–73

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 73–52

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 73–52

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Finance Bill 2024

2024-10-16 · 1 vote · Govt (Finance)

A bill to provide for the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration and regulation of taxation, of stamp duties and of duties relating to excise and otherwise to make further pr…

full description

A bill to provide for the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration and regulation of taxation, of stamp duties and of duties relating to excise and otherwise to make further provision in connection with finance; to make provision for supports to employers and certain businesses and for that purpose to amend the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 and Part 7 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020; and to provide for related matters.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion passed 74–49

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 4 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2024-10-15 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 70–50

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · Noel Grealish · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 6 votes · 15 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 15 total

Housing 4 questions
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the tender process for the provision of an update to the 2014 guidance to manage risk to marine mammals from man-made sound sources in Irish waters; the timeframe for completion of this work; if this is being expedited to reflect the increase in noise generating activities associated with offshore renewables; how and when public consultation will take place within this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41009/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how applications for derogation licences are assessed; what provision is made for public consultation and participation in the process; how the public is notified on the award of derogation licences; the body of oversight that processes and reviews derogation applications and will do so going forward; the body for any enforcement measures regarding a breach of derogation licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41011/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Government body in charge of receiving and reviewing marine mammal observer (MMO) reports and ensuring that MMO reports are filed and reviewed in a timely manner and that any issues are acted upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41012/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department last filed the most recent two-year derogation licence reports to the European Commission under article 54A(6) of the Habitats and Bird Directives, and having been filed, to share if they were fully compliant with the specifications of regulation 54A(7); if not, what non-compliances were present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41013/24]
Defence 4 questions
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions he has taken on foot of the revelations of a media outlet (details supplied) in relation to the illegal transportation of weapons through Irish airspace; the capacity of the Defence Forces to ensure that aircraft do not transit Ireland without the permission or knowledge of the State; the analysis undertaken to establish whether any such munitions were involved with the loss of life in Palestine and or Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41695/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the tribunal of inquiry into certain matters relating to the complaints process in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41697/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the peacekeeping Defence Forces members on duty in Lebanon in light of the deteriorating situation between Israel and Lebanon and more widely in the region; the plans in place to ensure the safety of Irish troops deployed with UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41694/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the ways in which Ireland has co-operated and collaborated with NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; the details of the intelligence sharing, training and upskilling; the details of Ireland’s new agreement with NATO, the Individual Tailored Partnership Programme 2024-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41707/24]
Transport 3 questions
- 2024-10-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport his plans to commence random inspections of civil aircraft to establish if they contain munitions of war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41702/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 9 September 2024, the steps he is taking on foot of reports that aircraft carrying munitions of war operated in sovereign Irish airspace without exemptions, given that the air transportation of munitions of war across State airspace without an exemption is an indictable offence; the number, carriers or operators, origin, destination and volume of munitions on such flights identified to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41699/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 23 July 2024, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, and the status of the roll out of park and ride for the west and east side of Galway city which are being undertaken as part of the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41700/24]
Environment 2 questions
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the consequences of non-compliances with conditions of foreshore licences; how adherence to conditions is monitored and enforced; to provide details of the number of non-compliances, with regard to foreshore licences for offshore wind development survey work, notified in recent years; to detail any actual investigations of or penalties applied to breach of foreshore licence requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41010/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 23 July 2024, if the final plan has now been submitted to his Department; the steps he is taking on foot of that plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42150/24]
Justice 1 question
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of funding allocated to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in budget 2025. [41477/24]
Children 1 question
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the Child Law Reporting Project; the annual cost of the project; to confirm that the necessary resources will remain in place to support this essential project into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/24]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 7 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 15 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 15 total

Environment 7 questions
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will revoke the pike conservation by-law (No. 809) and the coarse fish conservation by-law (No. 806) from 2006, considering that a 2011 social science case study (details supplied) stated that the two by-laws were formulated on the basis of perceived threats to fish stocks, false facts and latent racism driven by an intense ethnocentrism from pike-coarse angling lobbyists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41131/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there have been any personnel changes to the position of principal officer within the inland fisheries division of his Department this calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41132/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no appropriate assessment screening was conducted for the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers), Bye-law No. C.S. 336, 2024, that covered multiple special areas of conservation, considering his statement of 27 July 2021 vis-à-vis the EU legal requirement to assess potential impacts of proposed fisheries by-laws on the conservation objectives of special area of conservation waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41133/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how long more Inland Fisheries Ireland, which operates under his aegis, will be led by a carousel of deputy CEOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41134/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the review has been completed by his officials into the continued application in SAC waters of the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 (2006) and the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 (2006); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41135/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is national policy to conserve invasive escaped farmed salmon in special area of conservation waters that are only open to catch-and-release angling and closed fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41136/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if high-speed broadband will be provided at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42134/24]
Transport 3 questions
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the current cost of installing a new bus shelter at a bus stop that previously did not have one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42178/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on plans to improve rail transportation services in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42226/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he is committed to making public transport in rural areas accessible to passengers with mobility issues; the improvements he is making in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42227/24]
Education 2 questions
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41432/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if a child with scoliosis (details supplied) will be offered school transport. [42310/24]
Housing 1 question
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is possible to combine all three schemes, that is, the HTB scheme, the first home scheme and council mortgage, when purchasing a home, in relation to the requirement for the HTB mortgage minimum to be 70% of the value of the house; if the council mortgage is not sufficient to meet this minimum, if the first home scheme can be used to bridge the gap, thereby allowing a person to meet the 70% threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40993/24]
Justice 1 question
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41204/24]
Health 1 question
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of any funding for those working and living in Gaeltacht areas wishing to study the certificate in nurse and midwife prescribing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41202/24]

New lobbying 1 return

Cormac McKay Transport
- Appointment prematurely and unwise agreement of withdraw of clause

Noel Grealish — Independent 1 vote · 17 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 17 total

Health 10 questions
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed list of the diabetes care technologies that enable remote monitoring and early intervention to patients; the estimated annual cost of deploying these technologies to patients across the healthcare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41088/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to outline, in light of current budget constraints, the steps being taken to remote monitor patients to keep them out of GP surgeries and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes; his plans to balance these technological interventions with the need to manage healthcare expenditure efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41089/24]
- 2024-10-15 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the specific measures he proposes to drive efficiencies in the expenditure on diabetes care; and to outline any cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of diabetes management within the health service. [41090/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for inpatient appointments; the number waiting for outpatient appointments, for more than a year at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital respectively, by length of time waiting and by speciality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42164/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the longest waiting times for people currently waiting for inpatient appointments and for outpatient appointments, at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital respectively, by speciality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42165/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times for people waiting for inpatient appointments and for outpatient appointments, at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital respectively, by speciality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42166/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting a year or more for inpatient appointments and for outpatient appointments, at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital respectively, by speciality, and by yearly segments 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 years and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries cancelled at Galway University Hospital and, separately, at Portiuncula Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42168/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for inpatient appointments and the number waiting for outpatient appointments at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital respectively, by length of time waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42679/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for inpatient appointments and outpatient appointments respectively at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital who are under 18 or over 18 years-of-age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42680/24]
Environment 5 questions
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his officials in the Inland Fisheries Division issue Section 14 authorisations under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 for stocking/restocking of fish in Special Areas of Conservation without appropriate assessment screenings being completed, as required under S.I. No. 477/2011 - European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42184/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications since the Pike Conservation Bye-Law No. 809 (2006) was signed into law, legitimate pike culling by the Western Regional Fisheries Board, Inland Fisheries Ireland and riparian anglers has continued unabated around Lough Corrib SAC, if he wants to further vindicate this hypocritical policy of simultaneously conserving and culling the same invasive species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42185/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline, given that the proposed Western Lakes Management Plan for the rehabilitation of Lough Corrib SAC as a salmonid fishery has been in the pipeline for over two years with no sign of it being finalised, the reason there is so much inertia and procrastination regarding this prescient plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42186/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a fisheries matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42187/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason why the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland established by himself in November 2020 has reached an impasse, and the raison d’être for its establishment considering the existence of the National Inland Fisheries Forum under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42188/24]
Housing 2 questions
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a fisheries matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42189/24]
- 2024-10-17 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42190/24]

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.