My News
Personalise your news feed by choosing your favourite topics of interest
#Leaders' Questions
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 26 November, 2019
'Failing Ireland's children': Hospitals postpone surgeries due to virus, flu and vomiting bug outbreaks
Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin hit out against the Taoiseach today stating that waiting lists for children are “quite shocking”.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 7 November, 2019
Government was only told of RTÉ cuts plan this morning - Simon Coveney
Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary told the Tánaiste that “Good media is dying on the vine while you whistle by the graveyard”.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 22 October, 2019
TDs must be in designated seats for Dáil votes to take place for time being, Ceann Comhairle says
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl addressed the Dáil on the matter before Leaders’ Questions today.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 1 October, 2019
Taoiseach says it would have been a sign of 'bad faith' had Johnson not distanced himself from Brexit non-papers
The Taoiseach’s comments come after reports that the UK’s proposal to replace the backstop is a series of customs posts.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 18 September, 2019
Public Services Card no longer needed to apply for a passport
The Taoiseach says the Data Commissioner has declined to meet with Minister Doherty.
# leaders-questions - Sunday 28 July, 2019
Eamon Ryan interview: 'Sometimes Leo's inner neo-liberal comes out'
The Green Party leader spoke to TheJournal.ie while on a clean up in Donnybrook.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 20 June, 2019
Tánaiste says stricter online safety rules are needed: 'The days of self-regulation are over'
Calls for an online safety Oireachtas committee were heard in the Dáil today.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 18 June, 2019
Mary Lou McDonald asks Michael Noonan to clarify if he described Majella Moynihan case as 'internal garda matter'
Noonan was minister for justice during the period Majella Moynihan faced censure.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 27 February, 2019
Taoiseach says final tender for broadband plan is 'many multiples' of the original estimated cost
The Taoiseach said he will make a decision on the final bidder before Easter.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 26 February, 2019
Dáil hears calls for research to be carried out into familicide in Ireland
There were also calls for the HSE and Tusla to be included in the new garda review of murders in the home.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 19 February, 2019
Pregnant woman with '15% chance of delivery' given list of UK hospitals to get abortion, Dáil hears
Ruth Coppinger TD told the Dáil she had been contacted by a woman who shared her story.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 12 February, 2019
'One or two' contractors Varadkar would not like to see get a public State contract again
Work is underway to ensure the public procurement process is more robust, particularly for large-scale projects.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 23 January, 2019
Some smear tests to be repeated due to backlog resulting in samples expiring
Simon Harris had been warned on numerous occasions that his announcement of free repeat smear tests was “dangerous” .
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 15 January, 2019
Nurses' strike, hospital costs and housing: Leo questioned about the big problems facing him in 2019
Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty said the staff of Irish hospitals have acted with responsibility and in a mature manner and stated that the government has decided to “disengage”.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 18 December, 2018
'It doesn't take very long for your balaclava to slip': Ructions in Dáil as Taoiseach and Doherty discuss Roscommon eviction
Leo Varadkar claimed that “when it comes to law and order” and the Sinn Féin party, “It doesn’t take very long for your balaclava to slip.”
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 20 November, 2018
'Elaborate system for workers to vouch for modest expenses': Mary Lou and Leo clash over Revenue changes
The changes will kick in in January 2020.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 13 November, 2018
Black lace thong held up in the Dáil as TD raises controversial rape trial comments
TD Ruth Coppinger said it was time for ‘rape myths’ to be dispelled with in court cases,
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 6 November, 2018
Nurses and doctors should not be on Christmas holidays in the first weeks of January - Taoiseach
The Taoiseach says hospitals effectively close down over the Christmas period and that needs to end.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 18 October, 2018
'Unacceptable': Minister told Illness Benefit delays means some people have no money to buy food
Howlin said calls to the Social Protection helpline have been going unanswered.
'Not good enough': Tánaiste apologises to women for 18-week delay for their smear test results
Due to the upsurge in the number of women presenting for their smear test, there is now a backlog of 60,000.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 11 October, 2018
Taoiseach 'satisfied' with Denis Naughten's account of dinner with Broadband Plan bidder - for now
Naughten has been under pressure after it emerged he attended a dinner with David McCourt in July.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 4 October, 2018
Simon Coveney says the government's 'hugely ambitious' social housing programme is working
Coveney was standing in for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who is in Brussels to meet the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 2 October, 2018
Taoiseach on DUP leader's belief the Good Friday Agreement can be changed: 'It is not up for negotiation'
She also said that fears about how Brexit will affect Ireland was turning people off the idea.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 18 September, 2018
Taoiseach slaps down proposal to ban people taking photos of gardaí on duty
Leo Varadkar said he wanted to give assurances today that such a measure is not being considered by government.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 12 June, 2018
'Revenue are counting the chip bags coming out of chip shops' - Taoiseach defends use of PIs to investigate consultants
The hiring of private investigators by government departments was reported upon in last weekend’s Sunday Business Post.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 29 May, 2018
Abortion legislation expected to be law by January 2019
The first Dáil sitting since the country voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment takes place this afternoon.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 10 May, 2018
'It seared the soul of our country': Emotional scenes as Emma Mhic Mhathúna's interview raised in the Dáil
“It is a stain on all our doors, it is a stain on all of us,” Labour’s Alan Kelly told his Dáil colleagues today.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 3 May, 2018
'Make them go minister - or else you go' - Calls for heads to roll in CervicalCheck scandal
The issue dominated large chunks of Leaders’ Questions today.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 2 May, 2018
Leo Varadkar confirms redress scheme for women affected by the smear test controversy
The Taoiseach said the government still do not know all the facts surrounding the CervicalCheck scandal.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 26 April, 2018
'We can't just presume they have': Doctors instructed to tell women if they have received false smear test results
The case of Vicky Phelan, a terminally ill woman who yesterday came to a €2.5 million settlement with the HSE, has caused significant concern.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 6 March, 2018
Leo admits 'mistakes were made' and 'controls were too loose' with his communications unit
Varadkar came under fire during Leaders’ Questions when opposition parties called for the unit to be disbanded.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 6 December, 2017
'The agreement stands': Leo says DUP does not represent everyone in Northern Ireland
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says it’s now up the UK to come back to them.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 5 December, 2017
As it happened: Leo fields questions about what went wrong in Brexit deal omnishambles
A deal was done yesterday, until it wasn’t.
# leaders-questions - Thursday 30 November, 2017
Liveblog: Leo Varadkar announces new Tánaiste and slightly reshuffles his Cabinet
A new Tánaiste, Business and Culture minister have been announced in the Dáil.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 29 November, 2017
Taoiseach says there's no need for Ireland to use Brexit veto
Ireland was pulled back from the brink of an election yesterday but it was business as usual in the Dáil today.
Varadkar tells Dáil that cost of garda overtime will be covered by next year's budget
Gardaí in Dublin had been told that “under no circumstances” is overtime to be incurred.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 22 November, 2017
'She may not have thrown McCabe to the wolves but she allowed them free rein'
Frances Fitzgerald is under pressure today over questions about a ‘forgotten email’.
# leaders-questions - Wednesday 15 November, 2017
Minister: 'I will not have my good name and reputation traduced by deputy Alan Kelly'
There was a heated exchange in the Dáil today where Charlie Flanagan told TD Alan Kelly to desist from engaging in a smear campaign.
Gerry Adams: 'Instead of being a Taoiseach for the elites, can't you become a Taoiseach for the homeless?'
The Taoiseach was grilled about the homelessness and housing crisis during Leaders’ Questions today.
# leaders-questions - Tuesday 14 November, 2017
As it happened: Leo says he wants a new Garda Commissioner in place 'sooner rather than later'
Housing, Maurice McCabe and a new Garda Commissioner were all discussed during Leaders’ Questions.
Your say
View more polls
Poll: Is it fair to ask politicians about their own personal drug use?
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin went head-to-head in the first live televised election debate last night where a range of issues from healthcare to housing were discussed.
One moment that set people talking was towards the end of the debate when presenter Pat Kenny asked each of the candidates if they have ever used illegal drugs.
While Martin instantly replied that he has never taken illegal drugs, Varadkar said he already answered this question in an interview several years ago. After he was pressed for an answer from Kenny and Martin, Varadkar admitted he had used illegal drugs but said it was “obviously a long time ago.”
Speaking on the Tonight Show after the debate, Fr Peter McVerry dismissed it as a pointless question, adding that only people buying drugs regularly should have to account for their moral decision.
It is clear that a wider debate is to be had around personal drug use and how much of this should be shared by those running for elected office.
So today we’re asking you: Is it fair to ask politicians about their own personal drug use?
Poll Results:
Yes (7422)
No (5164)
I'm not sure (593)
Share your story: voices@thejournal.ie
Lise Hand: Will they? Won't they? Shades of Love Island as big parties can't avoid recoupling talk
By Lise Hand - @liseinthecity
Opinion: Young people don't vote? You may be right, but we might surprise you
By Adam Hallissey and Ben Quigley - @progressbrief
Most Popular
Most viewed articles in the past 24 hours
Most Commented
Most commented articles in the past 3 days
Download our app
