Dublin North-West — week of Mon, 28 Apr — Watch Them Work

What your Dublin North-West TDs did this week

Mon, 28 Apr – 4 May 2025 · 3 TDs · 6 bills voted on · 27 questions · 5 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-04-30 · 2 votes · Govt (Justice)

A bill to provide that defamation actions in the High Court shall not be tried with a jury

full description

A bill to provide that defamation actions in the High Court shall not be tried with a jury; to give effect to Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic lawsuits against public participation’) in so far as it relates to defamation proceedings; for those and other purposes to amend the Defamation Act 2009; and to provide for related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 64–86

Voted for 1 Dessie Ellis

Voted against 1 Paul McAuliffe

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

The motion · motion passed 86–64

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 1 Dessie Ellis

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

Unnecessary Hip Surgeries at Children's Health Ireland

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 1 Dessie Ellis

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

Special Education

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 1 Dessie Ellis

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Orders of Reference and Establishment of Committees

2025-04-30 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–86

Voted for 1 Dessie Ellis

Voted against 1 Paul McAuliffe

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

The motion · motion passed 103–49

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 1 Dessie Ellis

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 87–66

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 1 Dessie Ellis

Did not vote 1 Rory Hearne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-29 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–70

Voted for 1 Paul McAuliffe

Voted against 2 Dessie Ellis · Rory Hearne

Dessie Ellis — Sinn Féin 8 votes · 1 question · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 1 total

Health 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number waiting for a BreastCheck through the HSE’s national screening service for each CHO; the average wait time for BreastCheck for each CHO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20808/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Neurological Alliance of Ireland Health
- Support for the Delivery of the Commitment within the Programme for Government to rollout the remaining community Neuro-Rehabilitation teams

Paul McAuliffe — Fianna Fáil 8 votes · 17 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 17 total

Education 3 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education when the budgetary cap will be removed for SNA reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19058/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the budget allocations for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19059/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on school transportation for a person (details supplied). [22008/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce a new computer aided call taking and dispatch system called NMAC; the consultation that took place on the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18823/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.149 of 9 April 2025, the timeline for addressing the outstanding issues highlighted in the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21985/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of the social welfare entitlements of a person (details supplied) will take place. [19512/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection his progress to date in the planned modifications or changes to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes to qualify for a State pension, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [21725/25]
Children 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the assessment of need for a person (details supplied). [19269/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a home (details supplied) is not included in the redress scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21189/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she will consider individuals with a permanent stoma for the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20759/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the core funding provided by the HSE to each CHO for low vision aids or aids and appliances, and whether any changes are planned to the funding provided. [21981/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to promote the participation of Irish SMEs in EU important projects of common European interest; whether a new outreach strategy is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21736/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the measures his Department is taking to position Ireland as a leader in artificial intelligence, AI, as committed to in the programme for Government; if this includes targeted supports for SMEs with adopting AI tools, and whether a specific funding stream is being considered to support AI deployment and skills training. [21737/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide for a breakdown of the number of schools in Carlow that applied for funding under the safe routes to school scheme; the number that have been successful; and the number of those schools that have outstanding work yet to be completed. [19012/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams available to social enterprises to increase and promote fitness and physical activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passports can be expedited for persons (details supplied). [21772/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for expanded access to Irish sign language education in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21996/25]

New lobbying 3 returns

Kieran Smyth Environment
- During this period I approached Councillor Keith Connolly and Deputy Paul McAuliffe concerning the difficulties arising from the NTA and Dublin Bus not properly designating Bus Stop 4680 as a set down stop only and asked them to raise this issue with the NTA.
Indeed Employment
- Presentation to members of the Oireachtas and political staffers on Indeed’s proprietary data-driven insights regarding the Irish labour market.
Neurological Alliance of Ireland Health
- Support for the Delivery of the Commitment within the Programme for Government to rollout the remaining community Neuro-Rehabilitation teams

Rory Hearne — Social Democrats 1 vote · 9 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 9 total

Children 4 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for health the current number of vacancies in CDNT teams nationally, by CHO, and by occupation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19045/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the context of plans to lower the cost of childcare to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government, if she will outline what supports are available in the short term to childcare service users who face fee hikes due to their crèche having withdrawn from the core funding scheme. [18517/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for health the current number of vacancies in CDNT teams nationally, by CHO, and by occupation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19045/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current rate of retention of healthcare workers on CDNT teams nationally, by CHO, and by occupation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19046/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [17124/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the amount of funding allocated local authorities to support the Social Housing Secondhand Acquisitions Programme in 2024 and 2025, by local authority; the proportion of the funding that is already committed in the 2025 allocation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to a disability allowance claim (details supplied); if he will investigate the length of time it is taking for a decision to be made on the claim; when the social welfare inspector received the claim for the purpose of a means report to be conducted; the timeframe for a decision to be made on the claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18532/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child with additional needs in Dublin 9 (details supplied); if she will respond to the details of the case; the immediate supports that can be made available to the child’s family in respect of access to appropriate educational supports; the extent to which her Department has been engaging with the different stakeholders involved in this case and the outcome of these engagements to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21786/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Health the policy for listing party 1 and party 2 on marriage certificate documentation; if this policy differs between same sex and heterosexual couples; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21849/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Neurological Alliance of Ireland Health
- Support for the Delivery of the Commitment within the Programme for Government to rollout the remaining community Neuro-Rehabilitation teams