Tipperary North — week of Mon, 28 Apr — Watch Them Work

What your Tipperary North TDs did this week

Mon, 28 Apr – 4 May 2025 · 3 TDs · 6 bills voted on · 71 questions · 4 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 against 2 Michael Lowry · Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 1 Alan Kelly

The motion · motion passed 86–64

Voted for 2 Michael Lowry · Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 1 Alan Kelly

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 Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 2 Alan Kelly · Michael Lowry

Special Education

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 1 Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 2 Alan Kelly · Michael Lowry

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 against 1 Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 2 Alan Kelly · Michael Lowry

The motion · motion passed 103–49

Voted for 1 Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 2 Alan Kelly · Michael Lowry

Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 87–66

Voted for 1 Ryan O'Meara

Did not vote 2 Alan Kelly · Michael Lowry

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-29 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 2 Michael Lowry · Ryan O'Meara

Voted against 1 Alan Kelly

Alan Kelly — Labour Party 1 vote · 48 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 48 total

Justice 15 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if publicans are permitted to serve adults alcohol-free branded beer where they intend the beer to be for consumption by children who are accompanying the adults in the publicans’ licensed premises during normal regulated licensing hours; and if so, whether he will consider a change in the law to ensure that this is no longer permitted and gives clarity to licensed premises on the matter. [18653/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of the total number of Gardaí serving, by rank in each county based on location as of 7 April 205, in tabular form. [18660/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the briefing paper given to Minister Humphreys when she temporarily became Minister for Justice in March 2021. [18739/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the briefing paper given to Minister Harris when he temporarily became Minister for Justice in December 2022. [18740/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he can guarantee that no journalists or Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas are in any way being targeted by or have ever been targeted by the use of modern spying technology or communications interception technology by any arm of the State. [18799/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice when he last discussed the use of modern spying technology or communications interception technology and how it is being used in the State with the Garda Commissioner. [18800/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of protected disclosures made internally in An Garda Síochána since the commencement of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; and of that number, how many were upheld in favour of the confidential reporter in terms of the alleged wrongdoing being disclosed, by year, in tabular form. [18801/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have been granted Irish citizenship in each of the years since 2020 who have previously been subject to a deportation order, that was revoked or not executed, in tabular form. [18807/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 if he would consider putting forward a person (details supplied) for citizenship of the State in recognition of his contribution to the Irish peace process. [20523/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if funding is available in 2025 to purchase replacement Garda prisoner transport vehicles. [21443/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 375 of 20 March 2025, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda Commissioner to answer this parliamentary question. [21444/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice for a complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme by Garda district within Dublin region for the past three years, in tabular form. [21445/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent by An Garda Síochána on purchasing new Garda CCTV cameras in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21446/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he will allocate the necessary funding for anti-stab vests to be issued to each frontline prison officers. [21447/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of bench warrants currently outstanding in each Garda division as of 25 April 2025; the number older than 6 months, older than 12 months, and the longest outstanding issue date; the total number of outstanding bench warrants that predate 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21626/25]
Health 6 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been provided to an organisation (details supplied) by her Department for each of the years 2016 to 2025, in tabular form. [18634/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of bodies that have been unclaimed in mortuaries nationwide since 1 January 2023; and the length of time each body has been left unclaimed for. [18806/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ophthalmic surgeons based at University Hospital Limerick in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21452/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to roll out dialectical behaviour therapy in Tipperary. [21453/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE physiotherapists by grade working in Nenagh General Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21454/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric cardiologist registrars based at Cork University Hospital in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21455/25]
Children 5 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants housed respectively in each local election area and by each local election area as of 8 April 2025, in tabular form. [18794/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting for an assessment of needs more than 3,6,9,12,15,18,21 and 24 months, by county, in tabular form. [19625/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if buildings being used for IPAS have to meet up-to-date fire and building regulations before they are occupied. [21061/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite hours provided to disabled adults within Tipperary in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21440/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychiatrists based in north Tipperary children's disability network team in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21441/25]
Education 4 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if she plans to withdraw public funding from fee paying schools. [18657/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education when the new special school in Nenagh will open and there the location of the school will be. [19624/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if progress has been made on providing a new secondary school for a school (details supplied). [19626/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the amount of funding that has been provided to schools within Tipperary under the emergency works scheme in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21458/25]
Foreign 3 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the last time he spoke with all Irish ambassadors, in tabular form. [19628/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the last time his secretary general spoke with all Irish ambassadors, in tabular form. [19629/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update of the work of the Irish Embassy based in Rabat, Morocco. [21439/25]
Tourism 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he plans to bring in any extra revenue generating measures to support public serving broadcasting. [18656/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he plans to meet with the regional radio stations of Ireland. [19627/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to regulate the employment terms and conditions of workers who work in the equine industry. [18658/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the capital budget that has been spent in the first four months of 2025; if he will provide same figures for the corresponding period in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [21460/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the number of WTE ship surveyors employed by his Department in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21450/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the level of capital investment undertaken at each coast guard station nationwide in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21451/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current projects under the remit of his Department that received EU funding in 2024 and to date in 2025; and the percentage of the funding that was actually funded by the EU in each of those projects, in tabular form. [21456/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff, by grade based in Department's central debt recovery unit as of 23 April 2025, in tabular form. [21457/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the guidance provided to officeholders, officials or special advisers in his Department on the use of messaging applications (details supplied) as a means of communication; if business in his Department is carried out on such encrypted applications; if records must be maintained for public scrutiny and if specific rules exist over the use of disappearing messages; and if security advice has been provided to him regarding these applications on account of his office or the Secretary General of his Department on the use of such apps and the conduct of Government business on these apps; and if specific guidance has been provided to members of the Government by his Department on the use of these apps, whether on private phones or publicly provided mobile phones. [18633/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific actions that have been taken over the past five years to protect undersea cables in the Irish seas from attack by negative actors or countries; and if he will provide list of those actions. [18659/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department holds any contract with a company (details supplied), in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025; if so, the nature of services this company provided to the Department in the years in question, in tabular form. [21448/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the percentage of the capital budget of the OPW that has been spent in the first four months of 2025; If he will provide the same figures for the corresponding period in the years of 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [21461/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE senior mapping managers and superintendent of mappings that are employed by his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21442/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of the capital budget allocation for his Department that was spent in the first four months of 2025; If he will provide the same figures for the corresponding period in the years of 2024 and 2023, in tabular form. [21462/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of LEADER funding that has been allocated to rural tourism in 2024. [21459/25]

New lobbying 1 return

European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland CLG Justice and Equality
- Concern over the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Michael Lowry — Independent 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Ryan O'Meara — Fianna Fáil 8 votes · 23 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 23 total

Justice 5 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the traffic policing unit/traffic corp posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; [18591/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the defence unit posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18592/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the firearms training unit posts in Templemore Garda College, the number of filled posts; the number of vacant posts; if there are any vacant posts; if so, when these will be filled and how they will be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of posts; if so, when they will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18593/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice the total number of vacant teaching and specialist unit posts in Templemore Garda College; to provide a breakdown of the number of vacancies by area/unit, the month and year each aforementioned vacancy arose, whether there is an active panel by which each and any such vacancy could be filled, the establishment and expiry date for said panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18594/25]
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 27 March 2025, with regard to the four vacancies in the driving training school in Garda College Templemore, the length of time each of these posts has been vacant; when these posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21497/25]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the establishment of local deer management units, as per the Deer Management Strategy Group recommendations; the locations of each of these units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20040/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of TB reactors in the periods 1 January 2024 to 1 April 2024 and 1 January 2025 to 1 April 2025; to provide a breakdown of same, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20484/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animals deemed to be TB reactors as a result of the skin test and the number deemed to be TB reactors as a result of the blood test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20485/25]
Health 3 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.781 of 1 April 2025, the reason a child (details supplied) was not eligible for any support through the community ophthalmic services scheme despite the child receiving their prescription from the ophthalmologist and being under the age of 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18755/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on the rollout of National Perinatal Genomics Service; the new public services that will be introduced and made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19783/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the referral pathways available to a person in CHO3 seeking perinatal genetics and genomics services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19784/25]
Finance 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to make any changes to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, to expand eligibility and modernise the scheme; if the eligibility criteria for the fuel grant would be reviewed and amended to reflect the increased uptake of electric cars in recent years, and the charging costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20206/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to work with the Department of Finance to make any changes to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, to expand eligibility and modernise the scheme; if the eligibility criteria for the fuel grant would be reviewed and amended to reflect the increased uptake of electric cars in recent years, and the charging costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20207/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans to re-open the increased cost of business and Power Up grant to businesses that did not apply or that were previously unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the criteria for the power up scheme given that some applicants were excluded on minor technicalities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21569/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the provisions of S.I. No. 75/2022 – Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022, which allow for the change of use of certain vacant properties to residential use without the need for planning permission, beyond the current expiry date of 31 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20705/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when funding will be allocated to local authorities for the housing grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21205/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development following on from the recent Community Centre Investment Fund funding announcement, the reason a group (details supplied) were unsuccessful in their application; if there is an appeal process available to unsuccessful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20208/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development following on from the recent Community Centre Investment Fund funding announcement, the reason a group (details supplied) were unsuccessful in their application; if there is an appeal process available to unsuccessful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [14723/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot (CPS-P) 2023-2025 will be continued into the next academic year; when the schools included in the current scheme will be notified as to its future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19578/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending SUSI student contribution fees to undergraduate students studying abroad in the UK/EU; if further consideration could be given in this regard to the fact that many of these students wish to return to Ireland and enter employment upon completion of their studies abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18595/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-30 Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the application process will open, via TUSLA, for the provision of the previously announced five new family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21387/25]

New lobbying 3 returns

County Tipperary Chambers of Commerce Local Government
- Revised National Development Plan (NDP) 2040.
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