# Oireachtas

Last month

December 2022

# EU

Ursula von der Leyen thanks Irish people for their support in welcoming Ukrainian refugees

Von der Leyen will also address a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

14.8k

Updated Dec 1st 2022, 1:13 PM

Last year

2022

# Marc MacSharry

Complaint made against Marc MacSharry over 'verbal attack' on Leas Cheann Comhairle

MacSharry accused Catherine Connolly of ‘discrimination’ by consistently putting him at the bottom of the speaking order.

19.6k

Nov 10th 2022, 6:36 PM

# stepping down

Paul Reid finishes last day as CEO of the HSE

Reid said he was ‘feeling emotionally drained saying goodbye to staff’.

24.7k

Sep 30th 2022, 7:42 PM

# Dáil

Investigation: TDs who own rental property but haven't declared rental income

One TD registered 18 properties and no rental income.

TDs are required to declare any additional incomes above €2,600.

Six TDs did not mention any rental income, despite their declaration of ownership of rental properties.

A seventh said he had declared rental income correctly but this was not reflected.

86.8k

Sep 14th 2022, 12:01 AM

# vaping

Oireachtas Health Committee seek age restrictions on e-cigarettes and ban on flavourings

The committee asked the Minister for Health to look at other countries where ages for vaping and smoking are 21.

9.2k

Jul 18th 2022, 12:09 PM

# Oireachtas

Coveney tells committee that new Defence Forces funding will be 'about people'

“I don’t believe that it’s possible to deliver something more ambitious,” Coveney said this evening.

9.0k

Jul 12th 2022, 5:38 PM

# Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine's Zelenskyy will address both houses of the Oireachtas in early April

Ukraine’s charismatic leader accepted an invitation to address the Dáil and the Seanad.

18.9k

Mar 23rd 2022, 8:20 PM

# stardust inquest

Stardust campaigners call for jurors to be paid using portion of €8 million budget

The bill was brought forward by Sinn Féin senator Lynn Boylan and will be introduced in the Seanad tomorrow.

16.0k

Updated Feb 22nd 2022, 7:00 PM

# remote voting

'You could do it overnight': Referendum on letting TDs vote remotely described as 'unnecessary'

A bill seeking to amend the Constitution by allowing remote voting to take place is going before the Dáil today.

12.6k

Feb 12th 2022, 8:00 AM

# Emergency

'Immediate steps' should be taken to protect Ireland's hedgerows, committee to hear

The Agriculture Committee will hear from participants on hedgerows and the draft CAP Strategic Plan.

18.0k

Feb 9th 2022, 6:00 AM

# Oireachtas

'There isn't any time to lose': Committee chair defends ambition of proposed carbon budgets

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said the proposed budgets “can be strengthened” but TD Brian Leddin said more ambition is not “realistic”.

8.7k

Feb 7th 2022, 6:32 PM

# champagne gate

Oireachtas committee set to quiz Coveney on champagne celebration

The Foreign Affairs Minister will face questions from an Oireachtas committee next week on a June 2020 champagne celebration in his department.

6.7k

Feb 4th 2022, 1:37 PM

# Leinster House

Marc MacSharry compares Ireland to 'Marxist Republic' after claiming Oireachtas staffer opened his post

The saga began when MacSharry tried to circulate a report on the impact of Covid-19 on mental health last July.

50.1k

Feb 3rd 2022, 2:55 PM

# Oireachtas

Criticism of British Ambassador's refusal to appear before Good Friday Agreement committee

Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín said the decision to refuse the invitation was “a disgrace”.

29.0k

Feb 1st 2022, 10:00 PM

# Emissions

Oireachtas climate committee votes in favour of approving proposed carbon budgets

The proposed budgets setting out limits on greenhouse gas emissions still need the green-light from government.

7.2k

Feb 1st 2022, 4:37 PM

# department officials

Coveney to be asked to appear before committee over department lockdown gathering

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has ordered an investigation into a gathering of his officials in June 2020.

14.8k

Jan 18th 2022, 4:20 PM

# Season's Greetings

Five TDs spent almost €4,000 between them printing Christmas material using Oireachtas facility

51 different TDs and senators used the Oireachtas printer in the run up to Christmas.

51 different TDs and senators used the printer in the run up to Christmas.

Figures released under Freedom of Information show that the total cost of Oireachtas printing before Christmas was €6,428.96.

58.1k

Jan 11th 2022, 12:05 AM

All time

# Rent cap

Oireachtas passes legislation to cap rent increases at 2% per year

The legislation aims to cap rent in line inflation or 2% per annum, whichever is lower.

12.9k

Dec 9th 2021, 3:37 PM

# Séan Ó Fearghaíl

The Dáil's Ceann Comhairle has tested positive for Covid-19

Seán Ó Fearghaíl will work from home and his Dáil duties will be carried out by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

26.4k

Nov 22nd 2021, 3:12 PM

# antigen tests

Parties to pay for politicians' antigen tests while Oireachtas staff to get tests for free

The Oireachtas says antigen tests will not be free to TDs and Senators.

15.6k

Nov 18th 2021, 1:16 PM

# Report

No evidence doping rules in Irish horseracing lower than international standards

The finding was made in a report by the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee.

2.3k

Nov 9th 2021, 7:56 PM

# Sorry

'It wasn’t a job offer': Coveney says Zappone should have been told role wasn't a 'done deal'

The minister said his mistakes in recent weeks had contributed to what has become a political embarrassment.

Coveney acknowledges "making mistakes in recent weeks" and that this has created "a political embarrassment for the Government"

In hindsight , Coveney says it would have been helpful for him to respond to Zappone's text to tell her that it was not a job offer, but rather a concept.

The minister called Zappone on Sunday to tell her their text messages were being released

47.0k

148

Updated Sep 7th 2021, 1:00 PM

# Zapponegate

Coveney received a text but not a 'formal invitation' to Zappone event at Merrion Hotel

The minister is facing scrutiny from an Oireachtas committee over Katherine Zappone’s appointment as a UN envoy.

35.7k

Updated Aug 31st 2021, 6:07 PM

# Legislation

Taoiseach says Covid has 'exacerbated' volume of legislation, as politicians discuss President's letter

Michael D Higgins says he received nine Bills in one day.

15.7k

Jul 30th 2021, 3:00 PM

# Assisted Dying

Establishment of Special Committee to examine Dying with Dignity Bill recommended

The Justice Committee said today that the proposed legislation has “serious technical issues”.

8.4k

Jul 21st 2021, 6:30 PM

# Oireachtas Committee

'You feel you're not welcome in Ireland': TDs told of anti-Traveller 'hate speech' during Covid-19

Representatives of Pavee Point appeared before the Oireachtas today.

16.5k

Jul 13th 2021, 4:36 PM

Johnny Ward: Racing chiefs saddle up to face Oireachtas quizzing

Jim Bolger’s recent comments have prompted lots of questions.

2.4k

Jul 7th 2021, 4:01 PM

# Children

‘I am not a vector’: Oireachtas committee hears from children affected by the pandemic

The Children’s Committee heard from a group of young people on their experiences since March 2020.

15.2k

Jun 22nd 2021, 7:30 PM

# Air Travel

Aer Lingus losing €1 million a day because of Covid-19 and travel restrictions, says airline's chief executive

The airline’s CEO and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer appeared before a committee this morning.

26.5k

Updated Jun 22nd 2021, 12:14 PM

# Public Opinion

Ireland's Covid measures consistently less restrictive than majority wanted – ESRI

‘Overwhelming majority’ have supported public health measures and would have preferred them to be more restrictive.

14.5k

Jun 22nd 2021, 11:29 AM

Voices

Kathleen Funchion: 'I fear the Mother and Baby Home developments have only compounded an existing and deep hurt'

Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, describes her shock over recent issues with the Mother and Baby Home Commission.

7.5k

Jun 3rd 2021, 6:35 PM

# Oireachtas

National Cyber Security Centre director salary should be up to €290,000, Committee hears

Four leading cyber security experts spoke to the Oireachtas Committee on Communications today.

34.7k

Updated May 25th 2021, 11:32 AM

# Ransomware

Officials from National Cyber Security Centre to address 'urgent' meeting of TDs and Senators over HSE hack

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks meets this morning.

11.5k

May 18th 2021, 6:30 AM

# easing restrictions

Another 'outdoor summer': Here's when to expect this week's Covid re-opening decisions

There could be more easing in terms of households meeting outdoors and in sports.

As well as the schedule for May the Taoiseach is expected to give some indications of the plan for June this week.

The main announcements are expected on Thursday night, with NPHET set to convene on Wednesday.

It comes amid the easing of some restrictions on sports today and the reopening of outdoor attractions like zoos.

72.1k

Apr 26th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Summertime

Minister 'optimistic' fans will be able to attend test sporting events during the summer

Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers says Ireland can learn from what other countries are doing.

11.3k

Apr 20th 2021, 4:47 PM

# Social Media

Facebook 'concerned' over plans to regulate online political advertising in Ireland

An Oireachtas committee will hear submissions from Facebook and Twitter today on the proposed Electoral Reform Bill.

13.2k

Mar 30th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Good Friday Agreement

When should the UK call a border poll in Ireland? Calls for clarity on this 'quite remarkable' question

The decision to hold a referendum is ultimately one to be taken by the UK’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

29.6k

115

Feb 16th 2021, 1:32 PM

# Frontline

Frontline healthcare workers should get pandemic compensation, INMO to tell Oireachtas committee

An Oireachtas committee will meet with healthcare representative organisations later this morning.

27.7k

Feb 9th 2021, 6:45 AM

# oireachtas costs

Special advisers to Government ministers' earn over €4.5 million in salaries

The advisers’ pay ranges from €67,659 to €180,276, with 18 of them earning more than €100,000.

35.3k

Jan 15th 2021, 7:34 PM

# on the house

TDs and Senators rack up over €2,000 in arrears at Dáil bar and restaurant

Figures obtained by TheJournal.ie show how much was owed by Dáil staff last month.

70.9k

Dec 25th 2020, 9:00 PM