My speech in the Dáil on the Sinn Féin bill on Tips and Gratuities. If our bill becomes law then it would make it illegal for an employer to withhold, deduct, or demand the return of a tip from an employee without a lawful excuse.
It would also require businesses to display their tipping policy on a menu or in a similarly prominent manner.

None of these payments should be used to make up the national minimum wage or should be kept by the employer to cover breakages, or the cost of those who have done a runner or as additional profit for the employer or owner of the restaurant, bar and so on.

Speaking in the Dáil on the Private Members motion on Drugs Task Forces.

In my speech I highlighted issues around the lack of proper funding and provision of resources to Drug task forces and those involved in Drug Projects.  Funding was cut from 2008 to 2014 and has been frozen since 2014.  I also spoke about the intimidation of families over drug debts and my concerns about grooming children to act as drug couriers.

I also paid tribute in my speech to a great anti-drug and community activist John ‘Whacker’ Humphries who passed recently.   ‘Whacker’ Humphries and those who worked in the anti-drug movement showed great courage and were an inspiration to their local communities.

On the Anniversary of the Stardust Tragedy myself and Sinn Féin TD’s Sean Crowe and Denise Mitchell spoke in the Dáil about the urgent need for a new inquest into the tragedy and justice for the families who have been waiting all these years for the truth of what happened that night. A vigil was being held at the gates of the Dáil at the same time by families and friends of the victims in remembrance of all those who died on that tragic night.

I raised yet again in the Dáil with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice the concerns of local people in my constituency over the illegal use of Quads and Scramblers.
The Minister for Justice in his answer has stated that a committee he set up to look at the issue has made some recommendations.
I have now put in Parliamentary Questions to ask what does recommendations are.

I took Taoiseach’s Questions yesterday. I put three questions to the Taoiseach firstly on the North East Inner City Initiative, then on the discriminatory practices against returning emigrants such as exhorbitant car insurance quotes and finally on Brexit. I would like to include the Taoiseach response and I would have if he had said anything of substance or interest…….

I spoke in support of Nurses and Midwives in the Dáil today. Our nurses and midwives do an incredible job. They deserve a living wage not a struggling one.

Labour’s private member’s bill wants a fair start for every child….pity they didn’t give a generation of children a fair start when they were in government.
I reminded them last night that they brought in some of the most vicious cuts against the young, single mothers, the elderly and the most vulnerable.
They think we have all forgotten their shameful record in government. They got a surprise last night when I reminded them of it.
Of course Fianna Fáil sat meekly by and said nothing. But then they have nothing to shout about either.

I asked the Minister for Finance if the scandalous overspend on the Children’s Hospital will impact on the building of the new Primary Care Centre in Finglas.

Attending the Oireachtas Housing Committee discussing affordable housing with invited experts.

Juvenile crime and Anti-social activity can be a source of great annoyance, stress, disruption and harm to communities. It impacts greatly on families and the elderly and holds our communities to virtual ransom. The Mininster for Justice and the Garda Comissioner need to take action on both the system and human failures that are responsible for this latest scandal.