Ruairí Ó Murchú
Louth · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It was hardly a shock to me and many others that he decided that the simplicity that was asked for by Sinn Féin last week, such that we would consider preparations for Irish unity, was not acceptable. Most people would see this as a possibility, even those who do not necessarily like the idea.”
“I welcome that. I have spoken previously to the Minister about the necessity of providing Mr. Delaney's report on the incident to Natasha and the wider family.”
“We will all be very interested to see what the new circular is. The Minister of State said it will be announced in September. A needs-based system is what we need. I would like to think the young boy I talked about would be able to avail of this. I will use him as an example. The correct assessments were carried out.”
“We just need to make sure that the circular is fit for purpose and that the young primary school child to whom I refer will be given the supports he requires. I will just finish reading from the communication to which I referred earlier.”
“We need to ensure that the engagement with Lebanon is ongoing. Are we happy with the interaction with the UN? There had been some issues relating to the coroner's court. Everyone needs to do everything that can be done to ensure truth and justice for the family of Private Seán Rooney.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for all the flexibility she allows in this Chamber, and hopefully that will continue as we speak. I welcome an awful lot of what Deputy Devlin said.”
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“With disabilities we can sometimes over-concentrate on children because of the huge failures there are. We have to recognise that it impacts more widely. We are looking for a framework that will provide for people from cradle to grave. The reality is that we need to see the action plan. The Cabinet subcommittee on disability and the disability unit in the Taoiseach's office are fine, as is the strategy. It will be about the action plans and how the Government is held to account and how it holds itself to account. I think the Minister would accept that there have been failures, particularly from the point of view of parents. Talking about children, there have been huge issues in recent times and this comes across the Minister's desk.”
“In fairness, I do not think anybody will have any major issue when they read the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. There is nothing wrong with the names and there is nothing wrong with the pillars. Like the Minister, anyone who has spoken to disability groups, or those who have had to deal with the realities of disabilities, will speak about all those particular issues that impact. We are talking about the cost of disability, the inability to get social care and healthcare, the added cost related to that and, obviously, transport. We all know it is an absolute disaster in relation to school. Even where circumstances and situations are dealt with, at this moment in time, that causes a huge level of stress for families.”
“-----so if there is a need for resources, they could be put in early before things become disastrous or tragic. In some cases, it is all about child protection. We need absolute supports and protection of the child.”
“I have spoken here many times previously of the failure to intervene early with families and those who need support. What was brought up at the children's committee was the idea of specialist public health nurses, which was contained within the early years policy framework but was not followed up. The idea is that there would be an initial positive engagement with families involving screening-----”
“I also add my voice to the two cases that have been spoken: Kyran Durnin and Daniel Aruebose. The only good news is that at least Daniel's body was found. We are talking about an absolutely tragic set of circumstances and families who had engaged with Tusla. I have no doubt we all know and are aware of the issues. We know that we need to make sure that, first of all, we have the correct frameworks and protocols for child protection, and that they are then adhered to. There is no doubt we need reviews in these two cases. First and foremost, anyone with information should go to the Garda, but we also need reviews to be carried out, and not behind closed doors. We must ensure that learnings are learnt and less of this can happen in the future, because it is disastrous.”
“John of God approved housing body not being able to draw down the money it could previously. While there have been solutions to some of the issues, we need that dealt with. When are we to see the rural one-off housing review report, which last summer was with the Attorney General, because we know the issues that exist in rural areas in relation to people not being able to get planning permission for necessary housing?”
“We really have to give consideration to housing adaptation grants and to look at them properly. We know they have been reviewed. Both the thresholds and the amounts paid have been increased but this does not cover the cost of building. I am talking in particular about those who fall into disability, whether down to old age, accidents, or children coming of age and needing a greater level of supports. We have all had these sorts of issues and occasionally got them across the line, but every year we have a case where the local authority runs out of funding. It stops taking applications and we all try to make representations on behalf of those worst cases. We need to get a system that works. We still need to update the situation in relation to CAS funding as regards disabilities. I have spoken to the Taoiseach previously about St.”
“At this stage, it is not just off the backs of their neighbours. It is chasing after grandparents for drug bet money. We accept there is a need for streamlining this. There is support for this but we need a wider discussion on dealing with drug crime and its impact on communities.”
“In some cases, we are dealing with the outworkings of poverty. Deputy Ward spoke of the Bill I was lucky enough to co-sponsor with him, the Proceeds of Crime (Investment in Disadvantaged Communities) (Amendment) Bill. That was us stating, as I think we would all agree, that we needed money to be taken from these people who have their heel on the neck of many in our communities and returned to organisations. There will never be enough money in that. We need to resource everything, including the supports required, addiction services and, beyond that, adequate policing to deal with the bad examples. We can walk into many estates and point out houses of people who, for a considerable period of time, have been making money off the backs of their neighbours, and none of it is good enough.”
“Its headline read "Available, affordable, potent: Ireland is being hit by a 'perfect storm' of cocaine". We all understand cocaine permeates every socioeconomic group but we also know the real harm and drug debt intimidation it brings. An awful lot of it is focused in working-class areas and in those areas that are impacted the most. We need a real conversation on dealing with this level of crime. We need family supports and diversion pieces. Youth diversion projects like Greentown or the Escapeline operation in England help children who are being groomed or used by criminal entities to be removed from that environment. We need the likes of specialist health nurses who will engage with families. I believe that is planned but we need to see it happen. We need to give supports to families and wider communities that require it.”
“We all understand what is going on today, whether we are talking about the genocide in Israel or the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It cannot be okay that certain people can get away scot-free in relation to that. No different from the street dealer or the person who moves the funny money about, we need to ensure there is a sanction. We all accept that the war on drugs has been lost, in the traditional sense in which it was understood. We need to have a trauma-informed and health-led policy and to ensure we look after those who are suffering from addiction. We need to do everything we can to divert young people who may fall into criminality and deal with disadvantaged communities which feel this most. What did the Irish Examiner say this week?”
“Tá muid sásta déileáil leis seo inniu. Without a doubt, we are all very happy to be dealing with this legislation. On some level, I agree with whoever said earlier that we need this to happen as quickly as possible. It should have happened earlier. We all know why the Criminal Assets Bureau was set up. We have all seen what it has done at State level and locally. There is nobody who does not like to see crime is made to pay, whether that is through the courts or through the civil courts, as the Minister said, and that there is a financial sanction for crime. As I speak about sanctions, I agree that we need legislation and a conversation on dealing with organisations, individuals and persons associated with States or companies that may be profiting from or involved in humans rights abuses.”
“If we do not have capacity delivered at the south end of Dundalk, we could be looking at flooding no matter what we do as regard the CRFAM works. As has been brought up with the Minister, Deputy Browne, by members of Deputy Chambers' own party, there is a particular issue in the sense that many planning permissions now are looking to put in interim water treatment schemes on the basis that Uisce Éireann does not have the capacity to deal with wastewater. I am talking about the likes of Haggardstown. It is obviously causing issues for a number of residents and constituents.”
“I hope the interaction that we have is in relation to delivery. Some of the projects I spoke about earlier have been timelined. It is a matter of ensuring that those timelines are at least met. They are timelines that have been set further back than we would have anticipated or wanted. There are particular issues. I welcome the Minister's statement that there is need for a greater level of funding. We are not in the place we would like to be as regards infrastructure. Looking to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, the wastewater system where I live is not up to scratch and could lead to flooding. Never mind getting catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM. We have a huge amount of people who are impacted even when we have heavy rains.”
“In my supplementary question, I will deal with wastewater and whatever else. There is a wider issue here. When we talk about housing, we know that planning permissions and so on are impacted by a clean water supply and our ability to deal with wastewater, and none of it is up to scratch at present.”
“I suppose we need to see that review as soon as possible. Has the Minister any information on the timeline for the sectoral allocations? Some of what I am talking about, particularly in the case of Dundalk, falls into the bracket of projects that have been timelined. The three projects I mentioned - Cabinhill, Tallanstown and Greenmount - have had planning, plans and dates, yet their timelines have unfortunately all been put back. In the recent EPA report, we are told there are question marks about the robustness and resilience of the water supply, but also its quality. There are other issues I have raised even in the past while. We had issues in Ardee and Smarmore over the weekend and a particular issue that keeps happening in relation to Hackballscross and the water supply being picked out.”
“We all know the issues that are impacted by Uisce Éireann. It says that delivering infrastructure can take more money. In my own constituency, even in the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report, we have question marks in relation to everything from Cabinhill to Greenmount and Tallanstown. We need to see movement on all of this.”
“It was very similar to an awful lot that was said here. I am taken aback by the number of emails and contacts I have had from constituents about their personal plight since that debate. That is an issue we need to see delivery upon.”
“It is not just about the primary care centre; it is about those community pieces related to everything from mental health services right through. If I am talking about mental health services, I must mention we are still awaiting delivery on the ten-bed extension to the Drogheda department of psychiatry, DDOP, in Crosslanes. That would only provide Louth-Meath with, I think, 14.1 beds per 100,000, which is way below the State average, and the State average is not particularly good. I have spoken to the Minister before about the pieces of work that need to be delivered in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, regarding orthodontics. It is hard not to mention last night's debate on endometriosis. Recently, I and many others went to a meeting organised by Sinn Féin in my constituency and I was absolutely shocked.”
“That is even in regard to communications between GPs and the hospital and notes taken in the hospital, particularly in the emergency department. That does not make any sense whatsoever in 2025. We all know the dangers that occur when we do not have the best of information provided in the most easily accessible way. That leaves room for things to go absolutely wrong. We need to see we are resourcing hospital beds. We need to make sure we have the step-down facilities required. We know the huge issues in regard to care facilities and specialists to look after people so that they can get a package and free up the bed for other people. Similar to Deputy Mark Ward, we, in Dundalk, would like to see delivery on the primary care centre.”
“On some level, some of that seems to be wrapped up in regard to the national children's hospital. Too much has been said in regard to that in latter days. We need that delivered but we need to be able to deliver the idea of digitalisation. Many people have spoken to me about that and it is generally a problem they have when dealing with accident and emergency departments. I have spoken to many people recently who have been in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and have been dealing with staff who are doing a huge amount of work and are under severe pressure. It is down to the number of people and the number of cases - sometimes complex cases that should be elsewhere - that there is severe pressure there. They worry about individual cases where sometimes they are dealing with a system that is not computerised as it should be.”
“I do not think anyone has a particular issue with providing corporate governance arrangements and accountability for the HSE. Deputy Cullinane dealt with this from the point of view of the smoke and mirrors we are seeing here. We are not seeing any real change with any of this. It is all well and good to look like the State is getting tough with the HSE about budget failures and overruns, but the necessary reforms need to be ensured. We are talking about the multi-annual framework. We are dealing with the other inefficiencies within the system. I do not know how many times we have spoken about everything, including ensuring we have the best of primary care, we have those pieces of community care in place and we have the best fit-for-purpose IT systems. We keep talking about digitalisation.”
“There is an issue with SNA allocations and there are a number of other issues in ensuring we have appropriate places, but I ask that this particular issue be looked at and that there be an overall look at SNA allocations and appropriate places.”
“I want to take up the issue of a child who is registered blind and who is due to start at Rampark National School in north Louth in September. The child can navigate around quite well but he is sensitive to lighting levels and they greatly affect him. It has been stated that he needs an SNA from a health and safety perspective. The principal of the school says communication with the NCSE has been incredibly difficult and the school has been given a hard “No” and told there will be no additional support. The school has been told to use the allocation that it has. It has promised the parents it will do everything it possibly can, but this situation needs to be looked at.”
“Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh go Saincheist Tráthúil Uimh. 4. Tá an tAire Stáit, an Teachta O’Donnell, á glacadh. Fanfaidh muid bomaite amháin ar an Aire Stáit. Tá an cheist seo in ainm an Teachta Colm Burke.”
“Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the role of whistleblowers making protected disclosures on health matters. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss escalating child homelessness in Cork city. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss the provision of SNAs at Rampark National School, County Louth. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss recent announcements regarding trade tariffs between the EU and the United States of America. The matters raised by Deputies Ryan O'Meara, Danny Healy-Rae, Dessie Ellis, Colm Burke and Mattie McGrath have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the introduction of a national nursing home care policy. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick. Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss reciprocal driver licence arrangements and renewal options for Irish citizens living abroad. Deputy Aidan Farrelly - To discuss water infrastructure provision in Kildare. Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss increasing the first home scheme price ceiling in County Tipperary. Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the inclusion of commercial bus operators in the planned expansion of free travel to children under nine. Deputy Donna McGettigan - To discuss the plans to increase investment in Shannon international airport. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss issues of food security and production.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the long-awaited ban on pair trawling. Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss plans to assist vaginal mesh survivors. Deputy Dessie Ellis - To discuss the banning of surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds. Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the urgent need for updated wind energy development guidelines. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the levels of State support available to amateur drama and musical theatre. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss water and wastewater infrastructure in County Waterford. Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the implementation of the recommendations from the review of the school transport scheme.”
“The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Votes 16, 23 and 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”
“I get the arguments in relation to narrowness and whatever else but would it be fair to say the Minister accepts there is an issue, that anything should be done from a point of view of ensuring that the Central Bank and the State is not facilitating the sale of these Israeli war bonds and everything should be done at a European level and on a domestic level in relation to making sure that this does not continue, because it is a problem that the Irish people have? On another issue, the Minister obviously found out that the shareholding by ISIF indirectly was happening. I assume the Minister made a decision ensuring that this would not continue. Will the Minister give us the date on which those war bonds were sold, that is, the war bonds in which the investment was made by this State?”
“I think the Minister was quite clear in saying there were issues with regard to the Sinn Féin Bill. While I might contest that, I am asking whether, as a State, we have engaged with and looked at any means by which this State and the Central Bank of this State would not be facilitating these Israeli war or genocide bonds. I do not know what else you can call them. There is the wider issue regarding the fact that this State invested in these war bonds and, no matter what figure we are talking about, to a degree has profited. On what date were the Israeli war bonds in which ISIF and the NTMA had invested sold? When he became Minister for Finance, was the Minister aware that this State was involved in investing in these Israeli war bonds, which have been used to facilitate and fund a genocide?”
“I ask the Minister what engagement he has had, or what engagement his Department has had, with other Government Departments, agencies or legal advisers on the facilitation via the Central Bank of the sale of Israeli war bonds. We are talking about Israeli genocide bonds in real terms. We know there is a particular issue where this State has actually invested in and profited off this but we need to make sure that the State and the Central Bank find a way and means to not facilitate the sale of these bonds that are being used to facilitate war crimes.”
“I previously brought up an issue with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and, in fairness to her, there has been some decent engagement. It related to a man who, when he was eight, in 1970, in Dublin, suffered brutal physical and sexual abuse. It is only when you deal with this that you realise just how real and how terrible it all is. We need to deal with what has been an absolutely brutal legacy in this State. There are other issues - unfortunately, there always will be - but we need to deliver justice for people a lot quicker.”
“We know how long it took those women who suffered symphysiotomy to get an element of justice. I agree with many other Deputies that when we talk about mother and baby homes and all the rest of it, and when we talk about the number of religious orders and their history of abuse, there has been abject failure to hold them properly to account. I agree with what many others have said. It is not good enough. Legal technicalities are not good enough. We can see what the Christian Brothers and others have done to try to protect themselves when they failed miserably to protect children. There is no greater sin. We welcome that this is happening. As I say, it is not before time. We must ensure the commission deals with all the cases it should. We need to look at issues in respect of those who suffered physical abuse.”
“I do not think anyone is going to stand up and say they are not happy or relieved, if those are the right terms, at the establishment of the commission of investigation into the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. Sometimes when you say it quickly, you do not get the full ramifications of what we are talking about. We know there have been huge failures in relation to children, women and a whole cohort of people. We know the issues people have had in fighting the State and how the State has fought back when it should not have. We should have had accountability and transparency, and those needs should have been addressed. We acknowledge that even late, it is better that this finally happens. We know we still must deal with issues such as those who suffered the brutal abuse of Michael Shine.”
“I have raised disability housing previously and the issue that has arisen with capital assistance scheme, CAS, funding. This was raised with me by St. John of God in reference to its approved housing body's dealings with the county councils in both Louth and Meath regarding the purchase of properties necessary for those with disabilities. They have been told by the local authorities that funding can no longer be given because the money is in the same bracket as the tenant in situ scheme and all those other schemes. This is creating a real issue. I do not know what the future is for a number of people whose rental contracts are coming to an end as landlords sell their properties. There is no longer the facility to purchase either those properties or alternative properties. We need to find some solution.”
“We know the scenario regarding Trump and his tariffs and we have significant fears. While the markets do not necessarily believe him at this stage, Canada has been set aside as one of those places where we are looking at trade missions and at increasing trade, which is sound. What elements of CETA are not in place at the moment other than the ISDS? The big fear there is that corporations will be able to take action against this State as it tries to introduce progressive legislation.”
“If they are delivered later, there will be an issue with moving through, given the issue of violence by settlers. That is the reality these children are dealing with. This is something the Taoiseach or the Minister for justice can deliver on. I accept that other things take a lot more effort and take a long time. This could be absolutely beautiful but it could also be another failure with regard to the Palestinian people and these particular children.”
“There has been a lack of movement on the ongoing genocide by Israel in Gaza. We need to push Israel more and we need to see action finally happen. Something we could do here today would be to "let them play". Everyone has heard those words in the context of GAA Palestine and the idea I think everyone is taken with of 47 children from the West Bank coming here, from the desperate lives they have due to the ongoing situation there, and being allowed to play hurling. Earlier, the Taoiseach said there was no appeal lodged. I spoke earlier to Stephen Redmond of GAA Palestine. An appeal was lodged with the Department of justice at 1.15 p.m. GAA Palestine is saying that if those visas could be printed and in Tel Aviv for 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock tomorrow, it will be possible to deliver.”
“There is a huge issue regarding data. It is critical we have all the data possible so we know where we are at and can be provided. In my constituency, like many others, I welcome the huge work done by Women's Aid in Dundalk, the Rape Crisis Centre North East, Dundalk counselling service, the Garda and local authorities but the tools needed are not necessarily available. Tusla officials were before the children's committee. It will not be a major shock that they said, "Wider societal issues such as global movement, poverty, homelessness, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, drugs, criminality and exploitation, and social media continue to significantly impact the demand for our services." It is impacting families across the board. The tools and services must be provided but they are not available.”
“It is utterly unacceptable. We hope some of those figures are because people feel freer to come forward but there are still issues. We know the logjams for those seeking protection orders of all kinds, even down to the set-up in Garda stations, which are not necessarily suitable for somebody making a disclosure. I welcome the specialist teams like that in Castlebellingham and others throughout the State. They are absolutely necessary. Wraparounds supports need to put in place around people, women in particular, who find themselves in really desperate circumstances. We all know the horror stories of the violence and we have also seen the absolute tragedies where women have lost their lives. We need to ensure we give the protections and mitigate as much as possible to ensure we do not allow this to happen.”
“Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic but there is a point in saying, as Deputy Catherine Connolly did, it is unacceptable criminality that has to be called out in every way it can. There is a requirement on all of us to do it. The nicest way I can put it is unfortunate pieces online - we know the characters I am talking about - cannot be given the sort of space they have at the moment to poison young men's minds in particular. None of this is acceptable, particularly in this State, when there were 45,765 disclosures of domestic abuse to Women's Aid helplines in 2024. The Dublin Rape Crisis helpline had 22,700 contacts in 2024. The Garda recorded 49,230 domestic abuse incidents in 2024. That is up from 35,668 in 2020. The Garda recorded 65,225 domestic abuse calls in 2024, up from 44,782 in 2020.”
“Has the Government looked at a means of avoiding our situation whereby we are facilitating the sale of war bonds? I do not need a conversation on the legislation and the arguments we have about that but there has to be a means by which we would remove any possibility of complicity in the brutal ongoing genocide.”
“We all know what we want to see with the EU-Israel association agreement. We know the pieces we want to see here and I see there are questions tabled about the occupied territories Bill. I would like to think we are moving closer to delivering on services. I think everybody who is in this room would also like to think that there will be follow-through by the Tánaiste's Department and the Department of justice on delivering on the GAA Palestine visit. Many people have contacted all of us about that. The EU-Israel association agreement will at least be the first move by the European Union on rightful sanctions against Israel. On that basis, would I be right in believing that that would give the Central Bank the powers to not facilitate the sale of war bonds?”
“While people can sign up to be reminded when their passport goes out of action, I spoke to the Tánaiste previously about finding a way to make that streamlined in order that there is an automatic email in the same way as there is when it comes to motor tax and whatever else.”
“No one in this Chamber is going to give out about increased capacity for our passport services. In every constituency office at this point, there is no shortage of calls from people trying to make it on holiday who are absolutely afraid they will not get their passport in time. Obviously, we need to make sure people check their dates and do whatever is needed. We have spoken about this previously. There is an issue when it comes to streamlining, however. We know the issues that keep occurring around forms and the areas where mistakes are routinely made. They are made by a significant number of people. We need to look at the means by which that happens. At times, when a mistake happens, the clock is almost put back to zero. That is an issue.”
“Clarity needs to be brought, alongside the money. We must find out how this happened and ensure it does not happen again.”
“It would be hard to say I am still not apprehensive about this. We will need some detail on how these postponements will happen. I agree with the Minister that pressure has to be put on in relation to the fact the apprenticeships must not be cancelled. We need to find the money and make sure everything is not held up. I agree with the work being done on the funding implications through to December. When does the Minister expect to have that? If we could at some point, if not today, get the overall figure and the breakdown for individual ETBs, that would be useful. Will this have an impact? The adult educators will be out here tomorrow and they are talking about tutors who have been told they have less work or will not have work across ten ETBs. We know the issues with LTIs so we are very worried across the further education piece.”
“Can we get a figure for how big a hole we are talking about? I have heard it is between €40 million and €50 million and I have heard in relation to Louth and Meath ETB that it is between €8 million and €11 million-plus. It is necessary that the Minister engage with SOLAS. Like Deputy O'Sullivan, I think at some point we will need to know how this came about. The Minister only discussed this a month ago. Many of us heard this only in the recent past. It is a question of how this was missed and of ensuring protocols exist such that a situation like this cannot arise. It is a necessity that the Minister have that conversation with the Minister for public expenditure and secure the funding. Our fear is that, while we might not have cancelled apprenticeships, we are having postponements and a slow-up in the system, and that is not acceptable.”
“I ask for an update on the progress made on the funding issue at SOLAS and the ETBs and the impact this is having on apprenticeships, the community sector and adult education within further education. Will the Minister provide some detail? We have all heard of a hole in the budget of between €40 million and €50 million but some clarity on that would be appreciated.”