Good afternoon.

Muiris O’Cearbhaill here bringing you through the events of Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil over the next hour during a jam-packed political-news day.

Four questions will be posed to the Taoiseach this afternoon, one from Sinn Féin, the second from the Labour Party, the third from People Before Profit-Solidarity and the last from the Regional Group.

TDs have taken their seats and the Dáil is now in session.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald highlights the issue that 11,000 children with disabilities waiting for an assessment of needs. She accuses the Government of failing to progress that waiting list.

She points to figures from Harris’ period as Minister for Health, where 4,000 children were waiting their assessment. McDonald highlights how it is a legal right of these children to receive the assessment.

She says children needs the assessment of need for school places, health and social care services and for their parents to receive of support from the State.

She highlights the case of one young boy, Jayden, who is still waiting for an assessment and has not been given a school place as a result.

McDonald calls on the Taoiseach to progress the waiting list, hire the relevant staff and to set a deadline.

Responding, Taoiseach Simon Harris says he is aware of the issue and that Government has taken a “number of steps” to help tackle the issue.

He says in recent weeks, Government has launched the autism innovation strategy, restoration of in-school therapy supports in special schools, and provided additional funding for additional assessments of needs for families and children with special needs.

Harris highlights that Government has increased funding in Budget 2025 to over €3 billion for children with additional needs and to assist with progressing the services.

He said claims there was a 29% increase in the number of assessments of needs in the first half of this year, when compared to the same period last year, after an initiatives was launched to cut down waiting lists.

“Because that’s working, we’ve allocated a further €10 million in funding in our budget just a few weeks ago to continue this initiative and to grow it as well,” he said.

McDonald says that it is “not a tolerable situation” for children, her party and campaigners that the State have not fulfilled its legal obligation to provide assessments to children in six month or less.

She says that children and families who are waiting are “left in a state of limbo”.

McDonald demands that Harris commits to the six-month rule and address the waiting lists further. 

The Taoiseach says the “pathway” is currently in place to progress and improve the allocation of assessments.

He agrees that the system needs to be carried out alongside the ramping up of staff. He says he is happy to work with McDonald on the issue.

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik highlights the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon by the Israeli military and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

She cites recent reports from northern Gaza and northern Lebanon where specific civilian infrastructure was targeted by Israel.

Bacik references footage of a young boy who was burned alive after an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza while he was still on an IV drip.

She calls on Ireland to enact the Occupied Territories Bill - which would ban trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine - as a way Ireland can take a stance against the “genocide” by Israel in Gaza.

The Taoiseach thanks Bacik for bringing up the “most important” global issue.

Harris denounced the attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and the “vicious and despicable attacks” on refugee camps in Gaza. He says he will discuss this further with European leaders at a European Council meeting tomorrow.

He says Ireland must do all it can to continue its stance to show solidarity with Palestine. He updated the Dáil that Government leaders have been briefed on the Occupied Territories Bill.

Harris said State legal advice will be put to Cabinet next week on the Bill but cited that concerns are still outstanding for changes must be made to the current wording of the proposed law.

He says the Bill will be progressed by this Government. He adds: “Ireland will no longer wait on an EU consensus on this issue.”

Bacik says it was “positive” to hear the updates about the proposed law, but urges the Taoiseach to use his voice with the United States and the EU so that trade and the sale of arms between the trading blocs and Israel stops.

Harris says the legal advice will give better clarity as to how to better move forward and reiterates that Ireland will not wait on the EU to take action, if necessary. 

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett highlights the recent Israeli air strikes on hospitals and schools in Gaza. He references similar footage of innocent civilians being burned alive in the aftermath of the air strikes.

Boyd Barrett cites recent reporting about airlines flying over Irish airspace to Israel with munitions on board, which are later used during those same attacks on refugee camps, hospitals and schools.

He asks if Harris will take a stance and denounce the flights, stop the airlines from doing entering airspace and put an end to the US army using Shannon Airport. He says Ireland is complicit in the attacks.

Harris agrees about the appalling nature of the recent attacks in Gaza but accuses Boyd Barrett of being the only person in the Dáil who believes Ireland is not doing enough to stand in solidarity with Palestine.

PBP TD Paul Murphy interrupts and asks if Harris called for the United States to stop sending arms to Israel. Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl tells the Dáil to settle.

Harris claims the Government is doing everything it can to respond to the atrocities in the Middle East and Gaza.

Boyd Barrett says Ireland is “up to its neck” in complicity, he accuses Harris of not doing enough to hold up its obligations to international law and claims the Taoiseach and his Government has continually blocked the Occupied Territories Bill.

The Taoiseach denies the charges, and accuses Boyd Barrett of attempting to spark division on “every issue”. He vows that more will be done to seek legal guidance and make progress on the Occupied Territories Bill.

Independent TD, who is a member of the Regional Group, Michael Lowry says more needs to be done to develop Irish aviation policy.

He says the issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency as a change of Government, a new mandate in the European Commission and a new European Parliament will be in place by early next year.

Lowry says more needs to be done to improve funding and allocation to regional airports, particular Shannon Airport in Co Clare, as it is underused when compared the number of passengers it serves in the southern region.

He asks if more will be done to remove the passenger cap, currently in place in Dublin Airport, and if Shannon Airport can play a role in that process.

Harris claims more investment has been made available for Shannon Airport and the Government has allocated capital funding on a number of occasions. He agrees more can be done and to improve Irish aviation policy.

He said this funding, however, has helped passenger numbers grow and helped to improve facilities at Shannon.

The Taoiseach says the Government’s approach to the issue is to improve and increase the use of Shannon Airport by itself rather than use it as a secondary airport to serve as an overflow to Dublin.

Lowry thanks the Taoiseach for the update and asks that the Government commit improving its facilities. The Taoiseach says Junior Minister James Lawless will continue to keep in contact with Lowry.

Leaders’ Questions concludes and Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton moves to seek approval on the Order of Business for the week.

A number of opposition TDs take issue with the lack of debates on particular issues, such as funding and supports for people impacted by the mica crisis in the North West, and ask if more time can be made available.

The Taoiseach responds to each TDs’ concerns and assures them that they will receive time to express their views on the different pieces of legislation before the Dáil this week.

He does not say time for these debates will be allocated in the Dáil but suggests TDs use their time at committee meetings, during private members’ motions and during the “hours” of time allocated for other debates during the week.

That’s that for debates in the Dáil for the time being as – in approximately an hour’s time -  Sinn Féin will face questions on how it deals with child protection issues.

Mary Lou McDonald’s party is dealing with the continuing fallout from multiple controversies, as outlined above this live blog.

Last week, junior ministers Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Anne Rabbitte, of Fine Gael and of Fianna Fáil respectively, wrote to the Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghraíl requesting that he order Sinn Féin to explain its child protection processes.

The letter was penned after two Sinn Féin press officers resigned after the party launched an inquiry after it had emerged that they had written references for a former colleague, Michael McMonagle.

McMonagle admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, last month. He was suspended from his role at Sinn Féin following his arrest in August 2021.

Party leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill last week apologised for the incident but Government leaders have called on McDonald to outline what she knew about the incident, and when she knew it, to the Dáil.

Separately, it emerged on Saturday that another Sinn Féin member resigned in September 2023 after allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old.

The party said it had referred the incident to police and social services in Northern Ireland. Police did not launch an investigation into the incident.

In an unusual event, the Leader of the Opposition will make statements to the Dáil responding to both controversies.

Events like this normally take place when Ministers or Government TDs are involved in a scandal, and most times are called upon by the opposition.

However, the two junior ministers asked an Ceann Comhairle to use his authority to order that the Sinn Féin leader appear before the TDs in the Dáil.

Government figures, including the Taoiseach Simon Harris, have said the incidents raise questions about the party’s internal protection procedures.

Speaking this morning, Harris said that today’s opportunity allows the party to set the record straight.

“There’s an opportunity today to provide the information on what are extraordinarily serious and grave issues, and I hope deputy McDonald takes that opportunity,” he said.

Sinn Féin Matt Carthy, for the second week in a row, has asked why the Taoiseach has not met with families in Co Monaghan who are appealing for a special school.

Harris says he will meet with the families as Monaghan-native Minister Heather Humphreys, sitting next to him, stresses that a process must take place beforehand.

A short spat breaks out and Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl must intervene a number of times. The Taoiseach says he will be meeting with the families and the matter remains an important issue to the Government.

Citing reporting in The Journal by Paul O’Donoghue on Sunday, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik says it is still becoming more difficult to purchase a home and for young people to get on the property ladder.

She asks when the Government will outline its new housing target. The Taoiseach says work is underway and that the announcement will be in the coming weeks.

Harris says the Government wants to continue its momentum on improving housing figures.

Leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns, in light of a number of women being killed in Northern Ireland, asks if the Government will work with the Northern Ireland Executive to improve the safety of women and reduce violence against women.

Harris welcomes the idea and defends his Government’s record so far on the issue. He notes that believe Cairns shared a “good idea”.

Good afternoon. 

Jane Moore here. Thanks for staying with our coverage so far on this busy political news day.

I’ll be bringing you all the latest from Leinster House over the next few hours, as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald prepares to make statements to the Dáil in relation to how her party deals with child protection issues.

Those statements should begin in the next fifteen minutes. 

Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has confirmed that he is the party member who resigned after allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old.

Ó Donnghaile confirmed this in a statement to The Irish News. 

In December 2023, he announced he had resigned from the party for health reasons. 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is expected to address the matter in statements to the Dáil shortly. 

Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile reveals he is behind inappropriate text messages https://t.co/ADALKC0ih7

— The Irish News (@irish_news) October 15, 2024

In his statement to The Irish News today, Ó Donnghaile said that, in consultation with Sinn Féin, he accepted that his behaviour warranted stepping down from his Seanad role and as a party member.

“This would also give me the space to focus on improving my health and wellbeing, issues that I have been dealing with my doctor on since mid-2021.”

“I also accept that I have caused great embarrassment to myself, my family, friends and former colleagues – this was never my intention,” he said.

“Since resigning from political and public life almost a year ago and now as a private citizen, my main focus has been on improving my mental health and also supporting a relative through a challenging period of ill-health – this remains my priority and I ask that I and all those concerned are allowed to move on, with our privacy respected.”

The Journal‘s Political Editor Christina Finn has more on the matter here.

At the time of Ó Donnghaile’s resignation from the Seanad, Mary Lou McDonald said she wanted to wish him “the very best for the future”. 

“Niall has served in the Seanad for almost eight years giving voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas,” McDonald said at the time. 

“Niall served diligently during that period, and indeed prior during his time as a member of Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste.

“In particular, Niall made a valuable contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

“I hope that Niall can overcome the health challenges that he has had to deal with over the past number of months, and I wish him and his family the very best for the future,” her statement at the time concluded.

A short delay for the start of the debate on child protection, which the government members pushed for.

Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly told the Dáil they were awaiting the arrival of the minister to the House. Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman arrived shortly after and was joined by Justice Minister Helen McEntee. 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is expected to name the party member who resigned from Sinn Féin after allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old.

She is expected to still make such a statement, but ahead of today’s Dáil statements, former SF senator Niall Ó Donnghaile revealed that he is the party member at the centre of the controversy.

Statements on child protection are now being heard in the Dáil.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman begins by citing “the absolute central importance of child protection”.

He says it must be something which “every one of us is cognisant of and take with the utmost seriousness”.

“I think it’s simply too important to use as a political football,” O’Gorman says. 

Justice Minister Helen McEntee says sexual exploitation of children is “one of the most grotesque and serious crimes that exists” which causes “misery in the lives of children and families”.

McEntee says that everyone in the Dáil, “as public representatives, as legislators, as leaders in our communities and as leaders of political parties”, have a responsibility “to do everything in our power to protect children and to ensure that those who are responsible for this vile abuse are held accountable”. 

She says she believes the recent revelations in relation to the handling by Sinn Féin of “a very serious case” of child sexual abuse is a source “of great public concern”.

McEntee concludes by saying that a number of unanswered questions about the party’s handling of the matters remain, and she calls on party leader Mary Lou McDonald “to provide answers to this house and indeed to the people of Ireland”. 

Oireachtas Oireachtas

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is on her feet.

She begins by saying that she takes the issue of child protection “very seriously”.

“There is nothing more important to protecting the safety of children and responding effectively when they’re harmed,” she says. 

She says this is something she “passionately” believes “as a public representative, as the leader of a political party, but also as a mother who has raised two children of her own”.

“Let me also state clearly that I believe strongly in accountability, in people taking responsibility for their actions, and in there being real consequences for wrongdoing,” she says.

“Those of us in political and public life who work to bring about real, positive and lasting change for ordinary people have a special responsibility and indeed, an onus, to demonstrate those principles in action, to do our very best to ensure just outcomes and to correct in good faith any shortcomings. That is what the public expects of us.”

McDonald says that Sinn Féin’s approach is “guided by the welfare of children, governed by robust disciplinary procedures and ensuring that the rules of the party are applied by the book”.

“I welcome this opportunity to put on the record of the Dáil how my party has responded to very serious matters that have been the subject of public commentary, questioning and concern.”

McDonald is now addressing the Michael McMonagle case. She says he is guilty of vile and egregious offenses against children.

“His actions were despicable, disgusting and criminal. There is no crime more heinous than the abuse and sexual interference with a child,” she says.

She says McMonagle “will now face the full weight of the law, and his victims will see him punished for what he has done”.

“McMonagle was immediately suspended as a member of Sinn Féin and from his position as press office.”

McDonald says the party learned last month that two of McMonagle’s colleagues had provided employment references for him whilst he was suspended and under investigation.

“This represented gross misconduct on the part of Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley. They didn’t have the authority to give these references. They did not have the permission of the party to give these references, and had they sought that permission, permission would never have been given.

“I, for the life of me, can’t understand why anyone, any rational, decent person, would give a reference to somebody under investigation for such crimes. The providing of those references was unacceptable, reprehensible and, quite frankly, unforgivable.”

McDonald says the recent resignations from Sinn Féin of Patricia Ryan and Brian Stanley “are in no way related to matters of child protection”. 

She says Ryan’s resignation is related to the fact that a general election selection convention in the constituency was going to be contested.

She says the circumstances around Stanley’s resignation was “very, very serious” and followed a complaint that was made against him last year. 

She says the complaint against Stanley relates to an incident that took place in October 2023 and relates to his “personal behaviour”, which she says left the complainant “traumatised and distressed”. 

“In the course of the inquiry into the complaint against Deputy Stanley, he raised a counter allegation against the complainant and a very serious one,” McDonald says.

“The allegation caused deep concern, and Deputy Stanley was advised that he should go to the Gardaí. He chose not to.

She says the counter allegation also dates back to the incident of October 2023, “and from the time of that incident, until the complaint was made, almost a full year, Deputy Stanley has not brought his allegation to the attention of the Gardaí.”

McDonald moves on to Niall Ó Donnghaile, confirming that he is the party member who resigned after  sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old.

The Sinn Féin leader says that on 11 September 2023, a party councillor received a complaint that an inappropriate message had been sent by Ó Donnghaile to a 17-year-old male party member.

“The young man wanted this to stop, and he wanted no further contact to be made to him by Niall Ó Donnghaile,” she says.

On 12 September 2023, the chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin was informed of the complaint, and a formal procedure as part of the party’s inquiry began.

“At the time, we were informed of a second individual receiving inappropriate text messages from Niall Ó Donnghaile. This person was an adult. He was advised of his right to make a formal complaint, but he chose not to,” McDonald says.

On 13 September 2023, Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party “in line with our child protection guidelines, given that the complainant was under the age of 18″ and the matter was referred to the PSNI and social services in Northern Ireland to investigate.

McDonald says that on 27 September 2023, the PSNI informed the party that there was an agreed joint investigation between the PSNI and social services.

“No formal investigation followed. The PSNI also informed us that the young person was content with the actions taken by the party. There was no finding of illegality and no criminal charges were pursued.”

“However, Niall Ó Donnghaile’s actions were not acceptable.” she adds.

She says this was made clear to him at a meeting on 5 October last year involving the party chair, the chief whip and the chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin.

At that meeting, Ó Donnghaile stated that he would be resigning.

McDonald says Sinn Féin’s actions were guided by concern for the young person at the center of the incident and for accountability and consequences for the actions of Niall Ó Donnghaile, “and he faced those consequences”.

McDonald says Sinn Féin received legal advice against naming Niall Ó Donnghaile as there was no criminal charge brought against him.

“However, the question may be asked, and has been asked legitimately, as to why Sinn Féin didn’t inform the Oireachtas of the circumstances of Niall Ó Donnghaile’s resignation as a senator, and that’s a fair question, and let me answer it.”

She says that in summer 2021, Ó Donnghaile was on extended leave from his duties in the Seanad due to “very serious mental health issues”.

She says that following the complaint against Ó Donnghaile, the party were advised that he was “again suffering from a mental health crisis and was deemed medically unfit for work by his doctor”.

“We were very worried that publicly naming him would be dangerous to his health, and that is not to make an excuse for his behavior, but we had very serious concerns for his mental health and his safety, and I still hold some of those concerns to this very day.”

She says Niall Ó Donnghaile publicly resigned on 21 December last year.

“On that occasion, I wished him and his family well, I acknowledged his work in the past, and above all, I wished him well in dealing with his very, very significant health challenges,” McDonald says.

She says that Ó Donnghaile was held to account and the matter was referred to the PSNI for criminal investigation and the social services “as a direct result of the procedures of our party”. 

“This case has clearly impacted especially on the young person receiving these unwanted and inappropriate messages. Despite the position that Niall Ó Donnghaile held in the party, he’s been held to account, and the safety of that young person has been the foremost concern.”

“I accept that these matters have provoked genuine public concern, and it is absolutely fair that legitimate questions are put to the party on how we handle these issues, and I have endeavored today to bring clarity,” McDonald says. 

She says there must be accountability for wrongdoing and consequences for wrongdoing, adding that she makes ”no apologies” for applying Sinn Fein’s disciplinary procedures.

“The procedures are there for a purpose, and they apply to all members, whether a TD, senator, councillor or a grassroots member of the party. They are applied without fear or favour.”

She says that in each incident she mentioned in the Dáil, the party’s rule book has been applied and where appropriate, referrals made to an Garda Síochána, the PSNI and social services.

“That is the standard that we have implemented.”

“Political organisations are human organisations, and there is often no accounting for the actions and behavior of individuals. That’s true of life, and it’s true in politics,” the Sinn Féin leader says.

“I think everyone in this House agrees that child protection and matters of child safety are of the utmost importance.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil say they’re not looking to make a political football out of child safety. People will make up their own minds on the sincerity of those statements.

McDonald says political attacks “aren’t going to deliver progress, aren’t going to get us to where we need to be, won’t make one child safer and won’t help any of us to do better”.

She says she will work “with purpose” to ensure that child protection, safety and well being are a priority “not only for organisations, but society at large”.

“I will work tirelessly with anybody from any party or none who sincerely shares that aim.” 

Addressing the coalition parties now, McDonald says: “In Sinn Féin, on my watch, we won’t back down from dealing with the most difficult of circumstances and from ensuring accountability.

But we will call out political opponents attempting to exploit these issues for electoral advantage. Ladies and gentlemen, your cynicism is matched only by your hypocrisy, which is truly, truly breathtaking.

She says the political “cut and thrust” can be bruising and she accepts that that comes with the territory.

“But as we now get ready to go to the people, as we ask people for their votes and their trust, we should remember that there is a fundamental responsibility to the children and young people at the center of these matters, and that responsibility and that responsibility alone, should be the priority for all of us,” McDonald concludes. 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has released a statement on today’s revelations, slamming Sinn Féin over its handling of former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile and saying it raises “serious and fundamental questions” about the party.

Martin alleged that the party had “misled” the Oireachtas on the full reasons for Niall Ó Donnghaile’s Seanad resignation – claiming it was an attempt at a “very elaborate cover up”.

“For the first time, Sinn Fein has revealed Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party following “inappropriate” text messages to a teenager, which were referred to the PSNI,” the Fianna Fáil leader said.

“Yet when party leader Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute on the senator’s resignation last December, she spoke only of the health challenges he had faced.

“It appears the Oireachtas was misled on the full reasons for Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile’s resignation, following actions which the party itself described as ‘unacceptable’.”

Martin classed the party’s track record of “concealment and secrecy” as shocking.

“We have seen it before in the shameful treatment of Máiría Cahill, Paudie McGahon, the cover up over Liam Adams, and the handling of senior press officer Michael McMonagle,” he said.

“It is apparent when it comes to Sinn Fein, the party always comes first.”

Former Sinn Féin TD Violet-Anne Wynne, who left the party two years ago over a dispute in the local organisation, tells the Dáil that at issue are political parties that “have clearly forgotten their mandate”.

Instead, Wynne says politicians “have put themselves on pedestals” and are “fixated” on retaining the constituency seat for the party.

While not naming any party, she said this has resulted in some politicians have “lost themselves, and some have lost their souls” as sa result.

Appearing on RTÉ’s Six One, Mary Lou McDonald has defended her praise of former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile when he resigned last December.

Asked about her description of Ó Donnghaile as having served “diligently” during his political career and wishing him well, McDonald said:

“All of those things were true about him but it was also true that his behaviour in sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old were unacceptable. And we did all the things that were necessary to send that on to the relevant authorities and to hold him to account for it.

The Sinn Féin leader added: “And when I said I wished him well, especially in dealing with his health, I meant that. And to this day, I mean that. And I wish his family well.

“A person’s mental health particularly in extreme [circumstances] matters all of the time including when they’ve done something wrong.”

She said this included when a person has “behaved really, really badly”, adding that this applied to Ó Donnghaile.

She said the sanction against him – leaving the Seanad and losing his party membership – was really significant for Ó Donnghaile.

“To people outside of politics that might not sound like much but to him it was a lot. It’s what framed his life. And it was the right thing.”

McDonald further confirmed on RTÉ Six One that the party did not inform Ó Donnghaile’s GAA club about the allegations against him. 

She said the responsibility for this fell to the PSNI and to social services as part of their determinations on whether to pursue the matter.

“They also make assessment in terms of safeguarding and any onwards communication and referral – that wouldn’t be for a political party to do,” McDonald said.

She insisted that party’s child protection policies are robust and “applied without fear or favour” to all members.

Mary Lou McDonald was also questioned on whether it was right for Ó Donnghaile to stay on as Sinn Féin’s top senator while the party knew about the allegations concerning him.

RTÉ Six One presenter David McCullagh said there was a meeting on October 5 in which Niall Ó Donnghaile discussed the texts with party officials in Belfast.

“But he didn’t resign until the 21 December and in the intervening period he remained Sinn Féin’s leader in the Seanad,” McCullagh told McDonald.

In response, McDonald said that the former senator was on sick leave and certified unfit for work by his doctor.

She said this happened at at time when Ó Donnghaile “was in crisis and consequently he wasn’t in the Oireachtas” due to his extended sick leave.

With the Dáil discussion on child protection having ended, that’s all for this evening. We’ll have more on this story throughout the night on the site and during the week. Good night.