Peter Burke
Longford-Westmeath · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this important matter. I cannot imagine the trauma many families are going through right now as a result of the conclusion of An Coimisiún Pleanála on this file. This was a dark time in our past.”
“I thank Deputy Nash for his question on this very important issue. I will say clearly and unambiguously that I share his concerns in relation to ensuring that no product produced in Ireland ends up in the Russian military complex. We are very firm in that belief.”
“I have heard suggestions in some outlets that the Irish Government was in that company's corner at key European forums. That is not true. The European Commission has brought forward 20 sanctions packages and Ireland has supported them all 100%. It is very important to put that on the record.”
“I thank Deputy Wall for his very important intervention. I heard part of the interview this morning, which was exceptional and very courageous, showing leadership in an area which affects so many people in our society. I know the Minister for Health is supportive of the Deputy's initiative and remains so.”
“We have enacted the Family Courts Bill, establishing a dedicated family court to look at very sensitive items for victims. We have introduced an offence for non-fatal strangulation, reflecting the seriousness of the abuse and the stress and harm it causes.”
“I thank Deputy Murphy for being proactive and bringing forward a solution to try to operationalise a group of the Oireachtas and showing leadership to do that for Tipperary. I will absolutely bring that to the attention of the Minister for justice, particularly considering the cross-party aspect.”
The complete record
Every one of 870 lines we hold for Peter Burke, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 18.
“We were firm in joining the ICJ case, standing up in the highest international forums - the UN and others - and, critically, in calling for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and calling for sanctions in that regard. We were firm in all those measures, standing up for the vulnerable citizens in Palestine.”
“There has been no review. There has been no change in policy. Our regime is robust and strong. In no circumstances is it contributing in any way to genocide in Gaza. We have a very clear protocol, as established under the EU framework on the export of dual-use items. Applications have reduced and changed from year to year. That is the reality here. It is not the case that our policy has changed or something happened to cause us to review our policy. We have a clear framework in line with European Union and international obligations. Ireland has been firm in its support of the people of Gaza. We are firm in calling out genocide and recognising the State of Palestine. We were firm in supporting UNRWA at a difficult time.”
“As I said, that is grounded in humanitarian law, ensuring there are no unintended consequences from the exports. That has been critical to our approach in the Department. We always stand by that firm application process.”
“First, I robustly refute that Ireland, in any circumstances, is supporting genocide in Gaza. This country has been a firm supporter of international law. We have worked with the people of Gaza and Palestine to ensure we recognise the State of Palestine. We supported UNRWA at a very difficult time when Commissioner Várhelyi tried to take a unilateral decision. We were the first to support it. We joined the ICJ case and provided a significant amount of humanitarian aid. In relation to export controls, with regard o every single item that is exported, there has to be proof what the end user is and, essentially, where the product will end up. The Department independently licenses those products in line with EU legislation and the framework established by the EU.”
“Ireland’s export control decisions are guided by the EU common position and its criteria, which include respect for human rights, international obligations, regional stability and risk of diversion to another end use or end user. The risk profile of an application is impacted by current geopolitical factors, the end user, the items in question and their ability to be misused. This risk profile can change on a case-by-case basis. If an application is deemed high risk and the exporter is unable to provide strong assurances to mitigate the risks identified, the application will be denied. As each application is treated on a case-by-case basis, the available verifiable information at the time and associated risk assessments can change from application to application.”
“The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and national regulations and Ireland's international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user and the intended end use.”
“My Department's responsibilities centre on the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. Controls and export of dual-use items are administered by my Department in accordance with EU Regulation No. 2021/821 of the European Parliament and the Council, setting up a Union regime for export controls, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to end users in Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software. They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of the fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.”
“I will revert to the Minister in relation to the Deputy's query. Crucially, we have seen through negotiations over the past number of weeks the very significant budget that the Department of education has right now to support families across our country and to ensure that children get the education they need and deserve. I will raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to him directly.”
“I cannot imagine the trauma that Paudie and his family are going through. It is a very distressing case that the Deputy has outlined, particularly on a number of fronts. I will raise it with the Minister for Health. I do not have the knowledge of the individual case to give a substantive response, but I will raise it as a priority with the Minister. I hope things get better and that approval does come.”
“I am not aware of the debate. I am not a witness to have heard what was said where and when between the two individuals the Deputy referred to. I cannot be because I was not there. He is asking me an absolutely impossible question.”
“I thank the Deputy for his important question. I know the Minister for justice is linked in with the Garda Commissioner in this area because adequate cover for An Garda Síochána to do the enforcement work that is necessary in this area to fulfil the requirement to ensure communities are safe has been raised. I will bring it to his attention that the Deputy raised it. I know the Minister is working on a solution with the Garda Commissioner for An Garda Síochána.”
“I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important issue. I know he is a strong supporter of healthcare, particularly through his work on the health committee, to ensure that people of all ages get the adequate care they deserve. I will raise the concerns he has with the Minister for Health. Hopefully, we will have a capital programme. The Deputy quite rightly pointed out the saving that we have embarked upon in the acute hospital setting through capital infrastructure to support people like that. I will absolutely raise it with the Minister for Health. I know he is very much engaged with her on those key issues that affect people in their daily lives.”
“I am happy to raise it with the Department of agriculture and the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to get a response for the Deputy. I am not fully appraised of the situation and, therefore, I do not want to put anything on the record that I may not be fully aware of. If it was suckler cows, I might have been able to come back to the Deputy directly. When it comes to poultry, I cannot do so, unfortunately.”
“I absolutely know the value of our Local Link services. I see it clearly in my constituency in bringing people of all ages to their destination, be it for education, appointments or just to bring people into their local town to do their grocery shopping. I will raise the issue of the 199 service with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and ask him to get a response from the NTA. In good faith, I hope the service goes ahead because Local Link is an absolute gem to rural communities. It is important we prioritise its increased proliferation right across the country.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising an important point around the support for people with muscular dystrophy. It is a very debilitating condition. Obviously, from the interest and number of people who turned up to the audiovisual room, the will to support can be seen. I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. A significant amount of resources went into the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, and the drugs approval process in the context of budget 2026. New people were hired to get through the process quicker. I will raise the Deputy’s concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to the Deputy directly.”
“I will forward the query to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, but I am not aware that we underfunded any local authority. We give local authorities funding, particularly for roads, but they have to, essentially, prioritise their budget on where the acute need is. It is important that Dublin City Council has a budget to repair roads. To have it committed this early is pretty alarming. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and forward the Deputy’s concerns in that regard.”
“The Deputy has raised an important area. I will have to revert to the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, to get a timeline because it is not under my jurisdiction. It has progressed through the Houses significantly. We will find out where it is at for the Deputy.”
“We will do anything we can with the local authority and the Department of Transport but we have to work together. That is the key message I have.”
“I acknowledge the Deputy and the work we are trying to do on this significant asset. As he knows, we had a meeting with the key players who have the decision on this - the Department of Transport, Galway County Council and my Department through Fáilte Ireland. At that juncture, I advised them that our capital expenditure schemes would open from September of this year but I need a proposal that I can work with. I cannot fund through Fáilte Ireland the full capital and acquisition costs to bring this up to a level that would be amenable for visitors. I need to work with other parties to do that. If I get a proposal through Fáilte Ireland, I will be happy to work to bring it to fruition. The issue has been raised by a lot of people. Senator P. J. Murphy has been very much the forefront on it as well.”
“Westport House is another key area that we can support through Government intervention. I look forward to working with the Deputy to ensure that Westport and, indeed, Mayo benefit from our tourism strategy.”
“I thank the Deputy for her very important question on tourism. Since December, we have had a new plan, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which seeks to increase employment to 250,000 from 228,000, bring our domestic revenue up to €5.8 billion annually and bring our overseas revenue up to €9 billion, which will be significant growth for the tourism sector. Mayo will be front and centre to that development. I look forward to working with the Deputy on a number of capital projects we have in gestation to ensure that we are supporting the key infrastructure there. Westport has a huge ability to attract visitors. I was with the Deputy visiting a number of the organisations and people who work to support Westport as a town. I know the great work she does in supporting them through Government policy.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue for his area. I will raise it with the Minister in question. I do not have the knowledge of the specific issue in question but will raise it with the Minister and get her to revert to him directly.”
“-----ensuring that we have a very strong robust network throughout Europe to deal collectively what immigration. One thing I will not do is lean into people's fears like the Deputy is. I will not validate prejudice like he tried to do.”
“We have had a very strong response to immigration with the asylum and migration pact, which this House has adjudicated on and voted on, and which the Council of State has also adjudicated on. We are now very clear in terms of processing applications quickly in a 12-week period-----”
“The Deputy has a significant concern in relation to his constituent who is absolutely waiting too long. I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health. However, we have done a huge amount in relation to primary care improvements and reducing waiting lists. We have had an intervention specifically to reduce waiting lists. I will raise this specific issue which the Minister for Health and bring it to her attention.”
“I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. I will raise the matter with the Ministers for education and children. As a Government, we really need to ensure that children get access to early intervention. I know the July provision has been a huge success but we have to do better. I will take the Deputy’s contribution and bring it to the attention of both Ministers.”
“We had a €320 million package in budget 2026, specifically to address child poverty. That is the policy the Government has embarked upon. We have a child poverty unit to try to ensure children get access to care and the therapies they need, as well as being supported in their family unit to ensure, in every way possible, that we are reducing child poverty. I have no doubt this is something that drives everyone in this House every single day.”
“No one in this House, in any political party or none, wants to see any child in poverty or deems it acceptable, might I add, that any child would be in poverty. That is why we are doing everything we can as a Government to ensure we are assisting. Let me demonstrate some of the facts. First, regarding the target, in figures produced by the CSO, we have reduced child poverty from 8.5% in 2024 to 7.8%. That is too slow, but it is progress. Our child poverty unit is doing a huge amount of work. In budget 2026, we increased the under 12s child support payment by 16% and the over 12s payment by 25%. We increased the income disregard for one-parent families and increased the fuel allowance. We provided hot school meals and free school books to support families who are under pressure.”
“I do not want to make any promises because it is very early days yet. This has only happened in the past ten days. We want to see the events crystalise. I will do all I can, working with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. I want to see festivals take place in the communities that derive so much from them.”
“I thank Deputy Doherty for this important question. It is an area on which I can empathise. Many community groups have given so much of their time to bring in festivals that contribute to the local economy. I spoke with Barry O'Neill about the Rory Gallagher festival earlier this week and the concerns he has, some of which the Deputy outlined. I have to be careful about what I can do as regards contacting the parent company. When an entity goes into liquidation, the rules are very clear and prescriptive in legislation. Obviously, there has also been a High Court challenge taken. As I said to Deputy O'Flynn, when that takes place and crystalises, I will look at what I can do in the years proceeding. Some of these festivals will be key to local areas going ahead in the next few years.”
“I will raise this issue with the Minister of Health. As the Deputy pointed out, she is committed and has been meeting families on this. In budgets between 2021 and 2025, an additional €158 million was made available for new drugs and of the 263 new drugs, 72 were new drugs that were licensed in that regard. We also have the rare diseases strategy from 2025 to 2030, which the Government is working on to ensure we breathe life into its recommendations to support the families the Deputy referenced. That is what the Government is achieving. I will work with the Minister for Health and raise the concerns the Deputy has brought to the House this afternoon.”
“It is critical we get access to those drugs for our population, particularly the cohort the Deputy mentioned. There is a mechanism for approval of rare drugs and resources have increased significantly to the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, to ensure we get better at approving these key medicines that are so important for society, children and families. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there is family who are very much suffering because of that. I know Senator Maria Byrne and my Fine Gael colleagues do a huge amount of work with the rare diseases group here in the Oireachtas, and they are very interested in progressing it. I look forward to working with the Deputy in this regard. I will relay the issues he raised to the Minister for Health.”
“I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his important question. We have about 300,000 people in Ireland who are living with rare diseases - about one in seven of the population - which is very significant. We have made commitments in the programme for Government and we are working with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, whom I know is very committed in this area. One of the critical areas we are working on is access to new medicines. That is why, later this year, we will bring forward a life science strategy which, in partnership with the Department of Health and my Department, will work to ensure access to rare medicines and incentivise innovation. We have many life science companies in operation in Ireland, employing over 100,000 people, which are advancing the most clinically innovative drugs.”
“I will revert to the House on this matter. This year, we are under significant pressure in terms of our budgetary perspective. However, we may be able, over the coming years, to look at what is needed to keep running these established festivals and how we can support them. I can commit to having a look at that in the next couple of years to see what my Department can do, together with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who has a lot of responsibility in this area. I appreciate that many genuinely voluntary organisations are working so hard and driving so much economic activity at the heart of their communities. Those involved are exactly the types of people the Government wants to support.”
“The Corporate Enforcement Authority is there. If there are any allegations, we can investigate them. However, I must be careful in terms of the High Court case that is currently under way.”
“That will bring a huge amount of economic activity to many rural parts of our country. I absolutely am not in any way unsympathetic to the issues the Deputy has raised. I work with community groups. I am at the coalface in a rural town where exactly that activity is happening. I know how much of their time volunteers give to run festivals, particularly ones like the Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon, Cowboys and Heroes in County Leitrim and Rockathon at Fairyhouse, that have a very significant reputation. They are all important events that contribute very substantially to their localities. I will revert to the Deputy in the first instance in terms of regulatory gaps that may exist in relation to clients' funds. I need to go through that properly in the Department to see exactly what we can do in terms of supports.”
“As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there may be a gap in the regulatory environment. We will look at that because we want to ensure maximum protections are afforded to client moneys being held by any organisation. In the context of a liquidation process, the rules are very clear in terms of the action a liquidator will take in regard to preferential creditors and how that process is worked through. As I said, a court action is going on in the background. I have asked my Department to investigate what we can do and what supports we can provide in this regard. However, I do not want to make false promises. We have committed a very significant budget over the next three years for festival events through Fáilte Ireland, which is supporting many festivals up and down the country.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am aware of the many community groups up and down the country that give so much to organising festivals that benefit the wider community and attract significant numbers of visitors to rural areas. A number of Members put queries to me on this issue during the week. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, has been doing a lot of work with a number of festivals in his area. Deputy O'Flynn has outlined how much out of pocket some of the festivals are and the exposure faced by community groups. I understand there is an intervention in the High Court in relation to this issue. Therefore, I must be careful in what I say. The first point I will make is that protections are very clearly set out for a lot of areas where client money is held. This particular area does concern me.”
“The Government is very committed to Sláintecare and, critically, that all children are treated equally in our society. That is espoused in the Proclamation. It is something that we have strongly in our hearts as Irish people. We are doing everything we can to ensure there is equality of treatment for all our children.”
“First of all, I reiterate I have not seen the report. I do not know when it will be completed. I do not know what version the Deputy has that has been leaked. I do not know whether the Minister has received it yet. The Minister for Health commissioned this report and asked for an investigation into the practices at CHI to ensure there was equity of treatment of patients. The Minister asked for this and the Deputy is quoting the results of it. I do not know whether the Minister has seen that report and what actions she will take on foot of it but I am confident she will take action. The Minister demonstrated that quite clearly over the past number of days when she assured the protection of the public-only consultant contract. The Minister has got results. That is why I am clear in my view.”
“The Minister has demonstrated that with the increase in budget the Health Service Executive has received over the past number of years, which now is at record levels, with the support we have in preventative medicine, which is key, and with the support for our children. No one wants to stand over any child in this State having to wait for urgent healthcare. That is not acceptable in any society and I say that as a father, understanding the needs and the genuine concerns families have right across our society.”
“For example, in the Mater hospital, an additional 180 CT scans monthly and 84 MRI scans have taken place because of the public-only consultant contract. We see in other hospitals that many of the theatres are now operating at weekends. We get additional days out of consultants and, critically, the key decision-makers are in the room when patients have to be triaged and clinical decisions have to be made. Those senior consultants who are employed by the State on a public-only contract are available to make those decisions in support of patients, which is critical. Sláintecare has had its challenges but the Government is very committed to deliver it. It has never been so committed as under the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.”
“As of the end of May 2026, 3,416 consultants have signed up to the public-only consultant contract. Out of 2,196 consultants, that represents almost 70% of all consultants working in Ireland. As a result of that, we have to ensure that work is public only. The Minister is committed to doing that, in line with the terms as set out by Sláintecare which is very important. One of the critical things we can do with the public-only consultant contract is that, clinically, we can manage consultant availability with public demand. That will be very important as we see the challenges our health service faces in the years ahead. It should be pointed out also that huge advances have taken place in a lot of hospitals across the country because of these changes.”
“I thank Deputy Murphy for his question. I am a firm believer in Sláintecare. It is one time when the Oireachtas came together and charted how health policy evolves irrespective of the change of Governments that we have within the country. First of all, the Deputy is quoting from a leaked report, which I have not seen and have no knowledge of. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, commissioned a report - ordered the HSE to do so - into Children's Health Ireland because of significant concerns that she had. I would acknowledge the exceptional work the Minister has carried out over the past two weeks to protect the integrity of the State and to ensure patients get equality of care right across our economy. The great work that has been carried out with the public-only consultant contract should be pointed out.”
“A large proportion of the alumina is imported back into the European Union from smelters in Russia. We have to assess all that and ensure that the information we have is correct. I have put on the record very clearly, as a proud European, that we stand by Ukraine. We will not tolerate, in any shape or form, if exports from Ireland are advancing the cause of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and damaging their citizens.”
“Yes, we have spoken to the Ukrainian Government and we have asked it for the evidence it possesses regarding the allegation that is before us. It is currently engaging with the Department in relation to that. That is why I said our investigation is very wide-ranging. It is a genuine investigation to get the evidence. I am working with the Swedish authorities on evidence that has come forward as well. We need to go through the process to prove the allegation the Deputy puts forward. I put on the record to be helpful that incorrect data was given to the Central Statistics Office about the exports of alumina to the EU and to Russia. About 45% of it goes to Russia and about 55% goes to the EU. I have to stress test the notes that are given to me. The independent investigation will do that.”
“I have put an independent process in place to ensure that we get to the bottom of the facts of exactly where this alumina is ending up. We have to achieve that through the investigation. In a European context, alumina is not a dual-use product and has not been designated as such. There are many products like that across the economy. We have to be clear. We must get the evidence and then take action if it is proven that the supply chain is not concealed and that it is going to aid and assist the Russian military complex.”
“I will. I said that we are carrying out an investigation to get the evidence. As a Minister, I cannot make a decision without impartial evidence before me. We are working with the European Commission, which is the competent authority in this regard, to essentially recommend sanctions to the Department of enterprise and the Government. We are the enforcement authority. We carry out the execution of the sanction but the policy piece is the remit of the Commission, which we feed into. We will be working to ascertain the truth here. We are taking a pan-European approach with other European authorities, which is critical. I will be very clear that the Irish Government would not tolerate any exports that were feeding the Russian military complex. We have supported Ukraine. We have a very strong track record of doing that.”
“It is relied upon for so many parts by every economy, including Europe, for medical devices, the automotive industry, electric vehicles and the food sector.”
“We have been very much to the fore as a country in supporting Ukraine, be it with the very significant €90 billion support loan we were part of underwriting in a European context, supporting Ukraine with non-lethal aid, giving it spare parts for its grid, welcoming so many Ukrainians here to Ireland and also providing more than 14,000 school places to support them at that very difficult time in their history. That is why I am very clear in the first instance that we must have a robust investigation here. We are working very closely with the European Commission. Aughinish Alumina was established in Ireland around 1986. It is the largest supplier of alumina in Europe. There are a few important facts to set out in the first instance to understand the trajectory. First, alumina is a critical raw material.”