Dublin Fingal West — week of Mon, 17 Nov — Watch Them Work

What your Dublin Fingal West TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Nov – 23 Nov 2025 · 3 TDs · 5 bills voted on · 46 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-11-19 · 2 votes · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend the Arts Act 2003 to recognise the art of comedy

A sub-amendment · motion passed 69–83

Voted for 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Voted against 1 Grace Boland

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–70

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Cost of Motoring

2025-11-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 70–82

Voted for 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Voted against 1 Grace Boland

Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025

2025-11-19 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to amend the Constitution

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 86–65

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–67

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Nomination of Member of Government

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Grace Boland — Fine Gael 6 votes · 11 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 11 total

Health 5 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department and the HSE are taking to recruit for the number of vacancies across all primary care roles in Balbriggan and Swords, including speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64562/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department and the HSE are taking to address the long waiting lists for psychology appointments in primary care in the areas of Balbriggan and Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64561/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of psychology posts that have been approved nationally; the number currently vacant; the number of posts specifically allocated to Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64657/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the recruitment and appointment of psychologists to fill the approved but vacant posts, including those in Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64658/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the contingency plans in place should recruitment efforts for psychology posts continue to face delays or stall, particularly in areas such as Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64659/25]
Culture 4 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which the national broadband plan will address gaps in high-speed broadband connectivity in larger towns such as Balbriggan and Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64566/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeline for completing fibre broadband roll out in towns with partial coverage under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64565/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the expected timeline for the completion of full fibre broadband roll out in Skerries and surrounding areas in Dublin Fingal; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of premises currently connected versus those still awaiting service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52394/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline the supports available to remote workers and small businesses in towns like Skerries who are still experiencing poor broadband connectivity; whether interim solutions are being considered while full fibre roll out is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52395/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined international best practice in public transport app design; if lessons from other jurisdictions are being considered in the digital strategy for TFI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63379/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider consolidating Transport for Ireland’s multiple public transport apps into a single, user-friendly platform to improve accessibility and convenience for commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63378/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Childminding Ireland Children and Youth Affairs
- Calling for an independent review of the working of the new childminding system.

Louise O'Reilly — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 5 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 5 total

Climate 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the facilities that are in place for persons to ensure that they are getting the best value or are on the best plan for their energy usage; if he understands that people are paying more for their energy bills when discounts may be available, but they are not informed of them; if he has plans to improve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64259/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when people in Skerries will be able to access a scheme for remediation and compensation for homes built with defective blocks; if he is aware that they have been waiting a considerable number of years for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64255/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he can provide details of his Department’s involvement in the Letterkenny gift card scheme; if he can also provide details of similar schemes including, any cross-Border initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64256/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of an ongoing industrial relations dispute in a State agency (details supplied); if she is aware that while this dispute remains unresolved, the State agency in question has put out tender for a contract to commission a report into said industrial dispute; if she has any plans to intervene; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64260/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he can provide details of the regulations governing Gael Coláistí, specifically, the procedures for making a complaint in the situation where parents are unhappy about the treatment of their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64257/25]

Robert O'Donoghue — Labour Party 6 votes · 30 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 30 total

Justice 14 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the rise in racially motivated attacks in recent months; if he is concerned by reports that racism and racially motivated incidents are becoming increasingly aggressive; the specific measures being taken to address this growing problem, particularly in the Fingal west area where this Deputies office has received an increasing number of reports and emails on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62844/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure interpreters engaged by the Courts Service meet minimum professional standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63745/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if disciplinary, audit or quality assurance procedures exist for interpreters who provide services in criminal trials and, if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63748/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are plans to introduce State-accredited training and certification for legal interpreters in Ireland, similar to other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63749/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to establish a central register of qualified legal interpreters and translators, as envisaged under Directive 2010/64/EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63750/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is any requirement at present for interpreters working in court rooms to pass language competency or legal terminology examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63751/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the quality assurance processes that currently exist to assess interpreters’ performance in courtrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63752/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current rates of pay for court interpreters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63763/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has received submissions from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pay and training for court interpreters; the action he has taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63764/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which Directive 2010/64/EU is currently implemented in practice to ensure the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63766/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that Ireland is compliant with its obligations under EU Directive 2010/64/EU, given the absence of a State register and formal testing for interpreters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63767/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps his Department is taking to ensure every defendant in Ireland can effectively exercise their right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights when interpretation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63768/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions which will be taken to restore public confidence in the integrity of criminal proceedings following revelations about interpreter standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63769/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will publish data on the number of cases in which interpretation was used in the courts since 2020, by language, jurisdiction, and interpreter accreditation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63772/25]
Agriculture 8 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the findings of the recent research published in the Journal of Dairy Science (August 2025), which shows that prolonged periods without feed cause dehydration, hypoglycaemia, low energy, muscle fatigue, and other stress responses in unweaned calves, and that enhanced pre-transport feeding cannot fully prevent such harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63369/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken by his Department to ensure that unweaned calves receive adequate feeding, hydration, and rest during transport, particularly on long journeys within and outside of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63370/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is considering providing additional supports or infrastructure to ensure proper feeding, watering, and rest facilities for unweaned calves during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63371/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which compliance with existing EU and national feeding and welfare requirements for unweaned animals in transport is monitored and enforced; the number of inspections carried out and enforcement actions taken in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63372/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether Ireland plans to support or advocate for stronger protections for unweaned animals during transport in upcoming EU negotiations on the revision of animal welfare and transport regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63373/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the live export of Irish animals to countries outside the European Union, given the serious welfare concerns regarding the transport and slaughter of animals in destination countries where no enforceable animal welfare framework exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63374/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that there have been only four live export shipments to non-EU countries this year, involving approximately 9,000 cattle out of a total of 325,000 exported, and given that cattle prices are currently high, his views that the limited economic benefit of these exports justifies the serious welfare risks animals face during transport and slaughter outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63375/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider phasing out live exports of animals to non-EU countries and instead support the development of domestic or EU-based processing and slaughter capacity to reduce animal transport distances and improve welfare outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63376/25]
Health 3 questions
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the long waiting times for publicly funded speech and language therapy, what supports or funding are available for families to access private therapy when a child has been diagnosed as needing said therapy but may wait up to two years for public services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64080/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason the special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers affected by long-Covid is due to end on 31 December without a suitable replacement; if she acknowledges that directing workers who are on phased or part-time return-to-work programmes into the standard sick leave scheme will require them to go fully out sick in order to receive income, despite clinical guidance that phased return is the safest and most appropriate option; the measures that will be put in place to prevent affected workers from being pushed into financial distress and from losing progress made in rehabilitation; and if she will urgently revise the policy to ensure continuity of care for staff and patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64331/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the increasing number of older people presenting with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, if it is mandatory for all hospital staff , including those working in emergency departments, to receive dementia-specific training; the HSE or hospital protocols for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s who present with delirium and are left sitting on a chair in an emergency department for extended periods, including up to 24-hours; the measures which are in place to ensure that persons with dementia receive appropriate, safe, and dignified care when attending emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64690/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the ongoing blockages of bus lanes and bus stops that are creating serious safety risks and operational challenges for the Broadstone Garage bus fleet; if his Department will urgently intervene to ensure that 24-hour bus lane restrictions are enforced and that bus stops remain accessible for safe passenger boarding and disembarkation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62986/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any plans to conduct a review of app-based taxi fare models and their compliance with Irish taxi regulations; if he is aware of any plans to ensure transparency and parity in fare structures between licensed taxi operators and app-based platforms; if there are any Departmental plans to develop a publicly managed NTA taxi-hailing app; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63994/25]
Culture 2 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will ensure that his Department works closely with Coimisiún na Meán, An Garda Síochána, and education partners to strengthen prevention and protect victims, in order that our online spaces reflect the values of safety, respect, and democracy we expect offline (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64060/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in light of other countries introducing restrictions on social media for under 16s or requiring parental consent, if his Department is considering similar measures in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64061/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding or supports available to enable a resource centre (details supplied) to secure a permanent building; if she will consider prioritising funding for centres that currently operate in temporary or rented premises to improve stability and service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64111/25]