Ruairí Ó Murchú

Overall sentiment: 0.16
Back to Debate

I could not agree with the Minister more.

Sentiment score: -0.28

102. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will outline any engagement there has been between his Department, the Louth county board of the GAA and GAA headquarters about the funding of the new GAA stadium in Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22861/25]

Sentiment score: 0.16

This has been a really great time for Louth football. We had the Leinster final win by the under 20s against Meath, the minors won last night against Dublin and are now through to their Leinster final and, hopefully, an historic injustice will be righted on Sunday against Meath. I would say there is much support around the House on this. It is vital that the GAA stadium in Dundalk is delivered upon. While there has been good news from Croke Park, it is about ensuring the Government is playing its part in it.

Sentiment score: 0.56

The Minister of State might have an interest in a particular game at the weekend, I would imagine. We will all be glued on Saturday to the match between Armagh and Donegal. It should make for a very good weekend of football. I commend the work done by Louth GAA and the teams under Fergal Reel, Ger Brennan and Johnny Clerkin. I wish them the absolute best of luck and we all hope for a great game of football. From a Louth point of view, death or victory is what we require. We all welcome the engagement and the package agreed for the first phase of development of the Louth GAA stadium in Dundalk. It is €24 million. I am aware that Louth GAA is on the reserve list for the scheme and I would like to think that decent consideration would be given to this. Does the Minister of State have any further update on the timeline and how projects on the reserve list, such as Louth GAA, could get further? Even beyond that, what timeline are we looking at for the reopening of LSSIF into the future? The idea is to make sure that we are talking about projects that are ready for the road, that are fit to be built straightaway and that there are no delays with.

Sentiment score: 0.29

It is necessary that LSSIF funding would follow through for the stadium in Dundalk. My understanding was Louth GAA and Drogheda United were on that reserve list. The argument that was made was shovel-ready projects would get first dibs but given what is happening, particularly with Louth stadium, the first phase of which will be under way, we have to consider additional funding. We have to make sure that happens. I want to find out whether my understanding is the case. Are we talking about the LSSIF being opened more regularly, that is, on a two- or three-year basis, and that we know that is happening? We know the huge piece of work that needs to be done not only with Drogheda United but, hopefully, with an opening for Dundalk FC, which also needs to have huge works done at Oriel Park.

Sentiment score: 0.21

163. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's plans this year for funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/25]

Sentiment score: 0.08

Could the Tánaiste detail the plans this year as regards funding, resourcing, recruitment and retention at the Defence Forces? We all know that if we take this over a five-year period, we have had more losses than we have had recruitment. It is a huge issue. We are well away from reaching what is necessary for level of ambition 2. I think that at present we could be below the numbers required even for level of ambition 1. What is to be done?

Sentiment score: 0.07

I appreciate the answer, particularly the statement that we still have more to do. Obviously, we are starting from a point of view of legacy issues as regards pay and conditions. Has any detailed study been done of the reasons for the discharges? As much as there was an improvement last year, and we hope for a greater improvement as regards recruitment versus discharges this year, we have a significant journey still to go. Then it is a matter of, on the basis of where we are at the minute, through forecasting, when we think we will have the numbers within the Defence Forces that we require even in relation to LOA 2. The Tánaiste mentioned earlier the national security framework. How exactly will it operate in relation to the cybersecurity framework? When will we have some sort of detail as to how that will look? I am always curious as to how the National Cyber Security Centre fits in with the piece of work the Defence Forces have to do.

Sentiment score: 0.26

I would appreciate it if that information could be shared.

Sentiment score: 0.62

182. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on his meetings in Lebanon recently about a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/25]

Sentiment score: -0.16

My question is about Private Seán Rooney. The Tánaiste put in the public domain the fact that he was having engagements in Lebanon and that he was dissatisfied. The family and the rest of us all want to see justice. We have not seen that progress. I believe the Tánaiste and the Government are dissatisfied. How did the engagement go there? Has he any update on the post-incident internal inquiry? I think there is a bit of time still to run on that. I ask particularly about the engagement with the UN from the point of view of ensuring that the information would be provided as was required by the coroner. I think there was an initial discussion on a framework, but we also want that information to be supplied to the family. I believe the family are also looking to travel to Lebanon.

Sentiment score: 0.08

Will the information be supplied to the families?

Sentiment score: 0.00