Cork South-Central — week of Mon, 15 Dec — Watch Them Work

What your Cork South-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 15 Dec – 21 Dec 2025 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 53 questions · 4 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Health (Waiting Lists) Bill 2024

2025-12-17 · 1 vote · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend and extend the Health Act 2004 and for that purpose to provide for the conferral of additional functions on the Minister for Health in relation to setting of pri…

full description

A bill to amend and extend the Health Act 2004 and for that purpose to provide for the conferral of additional functions on the Minister for Health in relation to setting of priorities and performance targets by that Minister in relation to maximum waiting times for health and personal social services; to amend the National Treatment Purchase Fund Board (Establishment) Order 2004 to provide for additional reporting, revised corporate governance and accountability arrangements; and to provide for related matters.

The motion · motion failed 66–80

Voted for 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Voted against 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Restoration to Order Paper (Resumed)

2025-12-17 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 71–73

Voted for 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Voted against 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025

2025-12-17 · 1 vote · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban the hunting of a fox or foxes

full description

A bill to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban the hunting of a fox or foxes; and to provide for related matters.

The motion · motion failed 24–124

Voted for 1 Pádraig Rice

Voted against 3 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 15 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 15 total

Defence 12 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the capacity of the Defence Forces and security forces generally to respond to drone incursions in Irish aerospace and to respond to reported suspicious drone activity near Dublin Airport during the visit of President Zelenskyy. [72050/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence further to recent Dáil debates, her views on past health and safety measures in the Air Corps; the actions she intends to take to support former aircraft maintenance and ancillary personnel; whether she intends to ensure their medical needs are met; and the other supports that can be offered to the category as a whole. [72051/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the capacity in the Naval Service, in terms of personnel, specialist personnel and fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72052/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the matter of entry-level cadet pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72046/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the progress her Department has made regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [72045/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline her proposals to remove the Triple Lock neutrality protection; when she intends to bring forward a Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72048/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the issue of pension entitlements for personnel who joined the Defence Forces after 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72047/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on her preparations for the security dimensions of the EU presidency. [72049/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the issue of chaplains who are without representation despite working for and being paid by the Department of Defence. [72053/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the shortfall in critical staffing levels in the Defence Forces poses a national security risk; the steps being taken to resolve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72054/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the procurement process for the military primary radar system; if rollout of the system will commence in 2026 and full operational status achieved by 2028; if there has been any change in the total cost of approximately €300 million for the programme; if the current training courses for such operations in the Defence Forces are compatible with the new system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72055/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the number of personnel required to meet Level of Ambition 2; the current number of personnel; and her target for recruitment each year under this Government. [72056/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the delivery of a new building for a school (details supplied). [71848/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on her Department's position in relation to the detention of a person (details supplied); the concerns raised in the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention report in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72749/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will report on the NTMA’s investments in a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68543/25]

New lobbying 1 return

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Agriculture
- Asked TD’s to support a bill proposed by Deputy Ruth Coppinger, PBP, to ban fox hunting in Ireland

Jerry Buttimer — Fine Gael 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Micheál Martin — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

GIY Ireland Education and Training
- Lobbying around a pre-budget submission by GIY for support for a national rollout of GROW a School education programme
Athlone Chamber of Commerce and Industry Development and Zoning
- Support for Athlone 2040 project

Pádraig Rice — Social Democrats 3 votes · 27 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 27 total

Health 21 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the plans for the Elm Park Green campus, Dublin 4, purchased by the HSE in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71543/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71953/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will respond to an issue identified with an application process (details supplied); if she will investigate the matters raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71954/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 22 October 2025, to provide an update on the number of full-time agency posts converted to HSE posts (details supplied) in 2024 and to date in 2025, by staff category, in tabular form. [71955/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to ensure that a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement is urgently implemented for staff employed by an organisation (details supplied); the engagements she has had with unions, the HSE and Caredoc to resolve this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73110/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to the interim care options being examined for trans healthcare, which she referenced during a recent debate (details supplied); if consultation with the trans community will be carried out ahead of any options being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73111/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the interim care options being examined for trans healthcare, a proposal is being considered (details supplied); if so, to provide further details in respect of this proposal; if this would include youth services; if agreement from the trans community will be sought prior to progressing this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73112/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme have been advised on a matter by the PCRS (details supplied); if so, the legal basis on which this is done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73113/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 26 November 2025, the reason all areas within the National Ambulance Service are not offering overtime to a staff group to achieve minimal numbers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73114/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if private ambulance companies are being tasked to emergency calls by National Emergency Operations Centre; if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73115/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to establishing a timeline for the roll-out of oral immunotherapy services for the treatment of children living with allergies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73116/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress of the initial participants in Cork University Hospital’s food oral immunotherapy programme; whether a timeline has been developed in respect of the development of new supra-regional specialty allergy clinics in Limerick and Clonmel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73117/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to address the issue of access to oral immunotherapy for children with nut allergies; for an update in respect of the HSE senior leadership team’s decision on the medicine in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73118/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with a delegation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73120/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to a person’s new role within the HSE (details supplied); if they retain the salary from their previous role; to provide details of the renumeration attached to their new role; to provide a description of their new role and her responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73486/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the annual cost to the State of reimbursement for monitored dosing systems, or blister packs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73487/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 458 of 6 November 2025, the status of the estimated 390 posts required to achieve baseline implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix; the number still outstanding; the timeline for completion of recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73488/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2883 of 29 July 2025, if she stands by her statement that alcohol health information labelling will be implemented in 2028; how this tallies with recent reports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73489/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a new model of care for trans healthcare; the timeline for same; the consultation and collaboration taking place with the trans community and relevant stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73491/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her views on the closure of the national gender service’s waiting list to new clients from 1 March 2026; the engagements she has had with the national gender service and the HSE in respect of this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73492/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to list all legislative changes recommended by the future of healthcare committee in the 2027 Sláintecare report; the status of each; the progress made to date on each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73524/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72403/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to elaborate on his comments to the European Council on Agriculture and Fisheries (details supplied) that Ireland will cancel legislative public health policy, namely alcohol health information labelling; when this decision was agreed, and by whom; the reason he made these comments and not the Minister for Health; his views on whether he has overreached in making announcements in relation to Department-of-Health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73490/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 4 of December 2025, his views on further matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72404/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the proposed building works at a school (details supplied); if she is aware of the length of the delays associated with the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72405/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the grants or supports available for community centre roof replacements and repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71956/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if TUSLA intends on maintaining its services at Liberty Street House, Liberty Street, Cork city; whether she is aware of any upcoming changes to its service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73119/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Polio Survivors Ireland Health
- Wrote to the Chair of the Health Committee to highlight issues regarding Primary Care staffing and HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy

Séamus McGrath — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Finance 5 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to review the qualifying criteria for the help to buy scheme, particularly the property price ceiling. [73040/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding stamp duty for first time buyers with respect to both new and second hand residential properties; and if he will consider abolishing stamp duty for first time buyers. [69529/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to consider raising the property price ceiling of €500,000 for the help-to-buy scheme. [69528/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to support revising upwards the maximum property value to qualify for the help to buy scheme. [65409/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to support revising upwards the maximum property value to qualify for the help to buy scheme. [65409/25]
Defence 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the number of naval vessels in the ownership of the Naval Service; and the number currently in active operation/deployment. [71894/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Naval Service personnel at year end in 2023 and 2024, and the current position; and her plans to step up recruitment in the coming period, specifically referring to recruitment targets. [71893/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available in relation to funding school transport for children in transition year attending a football academy programme in Cork (details supplied). [71776/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on a new building for a second level CETB Gaelcholáiste in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71814/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will meet next. [64216/25]
Climate 1 question
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to reform the home energy grants. [73000/25]