Meath East — week of Mon, 28 Apr — Watch Them Work

What your Meath East TDs did this week

Mon, 28 Apr – 4 May 2025 · 4 TDs · 6 bills voted on · 38 questions · 9 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 Darren O'Rourke

Voted against 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

The motion · motion passed 86–64

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Unnecessary Hip Surgeries at Children's Health Ireland

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Special Education

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

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 Darren O'Rourke

Voted against 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

The motion · motion passed 103–49

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 87–66

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-29 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Darren O'Rourke — Sinn Féin 8 votes · 35 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 35 total

Education 10 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she intends to establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19218/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to roll out a survey to schools and school communities on the issue of divestment and school patronage; the details and the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19225/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on the EPSEN review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19377/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that the reporting mechanisms on the use of restraint within schools is human rights compliant, particularly in light of the lack of investigative powers of the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19378/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education whether or not there is currently a budgetary constraint or recruitment freeze affecting the allocation and deployment of SNAs for the 2024/2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21313/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to clarify the role and remit of special educational needs organisers in the allocation of SNA hours/posts to schools, particularly in relation to recommendations for reduced timetables in the absence of appropriate supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21314/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) to be completed. [21324/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) to be completed. [21325/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) to be completed. [21326/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) to be completed. [21327/25]
Health 8 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she plans to lift the recruitment embargo on physician associates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19566/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the details and timeline for the review of the role of physician associates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19567/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the projects in County Meath included in the HSE Capital Plan 2025; the funding allocated to each in this plan; the timeline for progress of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19631/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to outline the diagnosis and treatment pathway for patients suffering with Lyme disease; if there are plans to introduce extended antibiotic therapy as a matter of course or to make antibiotic assistive hypothermia therapy available here or through the treatment abroad or the cross-border directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20500/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant cardiologists based at St. James's Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21321/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of hip and knee replacement surgeries carried out at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21322/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neonatologists based at the Coombe Maternity Hospital in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21323/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the current audiology waiting lists for both adults and children in each CHO area, by age and length of time waiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21383/25]
Justice 3 questions
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the divisions currently without a crime prevention officer, in tabular form. [21329/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans attached to Garda dog unit as of 22 April 2025; and if he will provide same figures as of 1 April 2021, in tabular form. [21331/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda asset profilers attached to each Garda division as of 22 April 2025. [21332/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 1 April 2025, when Meath County Council will have the requisite resources and expertise to carry out its statutory planning functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19201/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 496 and 497 of 1 April, if he plans to publish an SAC management plan for the Boyne-Kells Blackwater SAC; if so, if concerned stakeholders will have the opportunity to make submissions on any such plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/25]
Defence 2 questions
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank currently in Defence Forces School of Music. [21333/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of lieutenant to captain that occurred in the Army in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21334/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of members of each of the registered trade unions in Ireland notified to his Department as being in benefit on 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19906/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question 674 of 1 April 2025, and with regards the 30.3% of AONs completed in 2024 that indicated ‘No Disability’ in accordance with the Disability Act, 2005, the percentage of those that were subsequently diagnosed with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20543/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of applications to CAO 2025 which are from students who will not sit the Leaving Certificate in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19368/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to invite his Dutch counterpart to Dublin for a bilateral meeting, [21319/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of WTE staff, by job title currently within air accident investigation unit of his Department; the number of vacant WTE staff, by job title currently within this unit; and when each of those vacancies be filled, in tabular form. [21320/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of vehicles seized by Revenue Commissioners under section 141 of the Finance Act 2001 in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21336/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of WTE qualified horticulturists, by grade employed by OPW as of 22 April 2025; and if he will provide same figures as of 31 December 2022, in tabular form. [21318/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the recruitment campaign for a new CEO for Failte Ireland will be advertised outside of State; if so, where; and if not, if this campaign will just be advertised within the State. [21335/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid by his Department to external HR specialists to carry out work on behalf of the Department in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21317/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the projects in County Meath that received funding under the CLAR Programme; and the amount of funding received for the years 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21328/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

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
CyberSafeIreland Children and Youth Affairs
- Children's online safety

Gillian Toole — Independent 8 votes · 3 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 3 total

Children 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific measures now being implemented to improve community consultation, communication and integration of those proven to need international protection from the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21025/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a youth Senator position will be established; if all committees of the 34th Dáil will be required to include 50% youth affairs in subject matter agenda and discussion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21026/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the recently-published National Counter Disinformation Strategy includes provisions to address the dissemination of misleading or inaccurate information by State agencies or State-owned companies; and if not, how the Government intends to ensure that organs of the State are held to the same standards of truth, transparency and accountability that the strategy seeks to promote in media, civil society, and online platforms. [21024/25]

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

Helen McEntee — Fine Gael 8 votes · 0 questions · 4 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 4 returns

National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education Education and Training
- Guidance Provision in post primary schools
Social Justice Ireland Public Expenditure and Reform
- Letter with a copy of Social Justice Matters 2025 sent with a request for a meeting.
Hibernia College Education and Training
- Congratulations on appointment and request for meeting
CyberSafeIreland Children and Youth Affairs
- Children's online safety

Thomas Byrne — Fianna Fáil 8 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Mars Foods Ireland Limited (t/a Mars Ireland) Trade
- An ask to explore a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and veterinary agreement between the UK and the EU, to ease trade flows and promote economic growth.