Deputy Brendan Smith: The geoblocking of RTÉ and TG4 programmes in Northern Ireland where many television and mobile app viewers cannot access RTÉ coverage of Irish sporting events must be stopped.  The unavailability of RTÉ programming, including the broadcasting of GAA and other sporting fixtures, is the cause of much annoyance and frustration for many people throughout Northern Ireland.  Last Saturday evening and Sunday, I had calls from people North of the Border who could not get coverage of the Division Two National Football League Final between Monaghan and Roscommon.  This is totally unacceptable.

In 2010, the then-Minister for communications, Eamon Ryan, signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, on digital television with the British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.  It was clearly stated at that time that the MOU provided for the widespread availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland and BBC services in our State.  The MOU underpinned the key role played by public service broadcasting throughout our island.  The BBC now proposes to block its audio streaming service to listeners outside the UK, which, if implemented, would be a huge loss for audiences in our State.  Turning off BBC Sounds in Ireland is not acceptable.  Many of us living in south Ulster will no longer be able to listen to BBC Radio Ulster in our own province. 

Some of us, over many years, have advocated for closer and more intense co-operation on a North-South basis in all facets of daily life.  These broadcasting decisions fly in the face of such positive developments.  The blocking of RTÉ in Northern Ireland and the BBC in our State has to be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement, and particularly in breach of the memorandum of understanding of 2010.

The Tánaiste: I thank the Deputy for the ongoing work he has done to promote closer relations and engagement throughout this island.  Of course, he is right.  The Good Friday Agreement committed to facilitating a number of initiatives, including the widespread availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland.  I will certainly raise that issue, the issue of BBC Radio Ulster and all the other issues the Deputy has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when we next meet.

With regard to the sports events the Deputy referenced, it is my understanding that TG4 had the right to broadcast that event on an all-island basis.  As such, viewers in Northern Ireland may access these events on a free-to-air basis on the Freeview platform, which carries TG4.  My understanding is, without sounding like some sort of technical person, that there is an issue when a viewer in Northern Ireland attempts to view an event on the TG4 online player.  On a technical level, this is because there is no separate IP address protocol for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and, therefore, the device assumes that the viewer is outside of Ireland.  We need to work our way forward on this.  I am assured that TG4 circulates this message on its Spórt TG4 website and social platforms.

On the broader issue the Deputy has raised, let me raise it with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I will then come back to him.  I accept the seriousness of this issue for people on both sides of the Border. 

Local Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has secured a key commitment from Tánaiste to raise the issue of RTÉ and TG4 geo-blocking in Northern Ireland directly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Deputy Smith brought the matter to the Dáil following widespread frustration from viewers north of the border who were unable to access live coverage of major GAA fixtures, including the recent Division Two National Football League Final between Monaghan and Roscommon.

“It’s unacceptable that people in Northern Ireland are blocked from watching Gaelic games and cultural programming from RTÉ and TG4,” said Deputy Smith. “These broadcasts are central to our shared heritage and identity. Whether you’re a lifelong GAA supporter or a new fan, you should be able to watch these matches no matter where you live on this island.”

The Tánaiste acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and confirmed he will raise it at the next meeting with the Secretary of State, highlighting that The Good Friday Agreement committed to facilitating a number of initiatives, including the widespread availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland.

Deputy Smith also raised concerns about plans to restrict access to BBC audio streaming services in Ireland, calling such moves a step backwards for North-South cooperation.

“These broadcasting barriers fly in the face of the of the Good Friday Agreement and particularly in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding of 2010 on digital television signed by the Minister for Communications and the British Secretary of State for Culture, Meida and Sport.  Geo-blocking jeopardises efforts to strengthen cross-border ties,” he said.

The Tánaiste agreed, noting technical challenges around IP protocols and online streaming, but pledged to pursue a solution and report back to Deputy Smith.

Concluding, Deputy Brendan Smith stated, “I will continue to liaise with my Fianna Fáil and Government colleagues to ensure this vital issue is resolved. Nobody should be restricted from watching our beautiful Gaelic games, particularly those living north of the border.”

I received confirmation today from Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, that a number of local groups are to benefit from support for their conservation work.

These projects promote environmental conservation run by, and for, our local communities. It is local community and voluntary groups that are most aware of the heritage of our native peatlands and their ecosystems. It is therefore fitting that they should be supported as the driving force in conservation efforts. This funding will empower local initiatives aiming to protect our natural heritage for future generations.

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed this year’s allocation of over €18.4 million for National Roads in Cavan and Monaghan.

An allocation of €9,409,633 has been approved for Cavan while €9,257,829 has been allocated for Monaghan, bringing the total for the two counties to €18,667,462.

The funding was announced today as part of a total of over €633 million allocated to National Roads nationwide. The allocations will be made to local authorities across the country through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Deputy Smith said: “The funding allocated is hugely important for National Roads in Cavan and Monaghan. It is part of the government’s investment in improving our national roads infrastructure. It will help ensure that our roads are safe, reliable and accessible for everyone who uses them.

“A top priority of Fianna Fáil in Government is continuing to invest in the maintenance and improvement of our road network to make it as safe as possible while improving regional connectivity and supporting regional economic development”, stated Brendan Smith.

I welcome funding of €32,500 for biodiversity and climate action projects to be undertaken by the Tidy Towns Associations in Bawnboy, Shercock, Monaghan Town, Castleblayney and Doohamlet.

St. Mogue’s College, Bawnboy will also receive grant aid of €5,000 for their sustainability and biodiversity project.

These schemes are administered by Community Foundation Ireland. I compliment the successful applicants and Tidy Towns Associations throughout Cavan/ Monaghan do excellent work in keeping areas clean and also protecting and enhancing the local environment .

It is extremely valuable that local organisations can get some support to develop plans unique to their own area based on local biodiversity

Local Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the rollout of over €275,000 in payments to 487 farmers across Cavan and Monaghan under the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme, marking a significant investment in the region’s farming sector.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, confirmed that payments for the first year of the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme have now begun to issue. Nationally, over €4.73 million is being distributed to more than 7,600 participating farmers.

Welcoming the announcement Deputy Smith stated, “This is a very positive development for local farmers who are proactively enhancing herd quality and animal welfare.

“The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme supports better breeding practices by encouraging the use of higher-quality beef sires within the dairy herd. It’s encouraging to see this targeted support reaching those who are making improvements on the ground.”

The initiative, which forms part of the CAP Strategic Plan, provides financial backing for calves born between January and December 2024 that meet specific welfare and breeding standards. Each eligible farmer can receive €20 per calf, up to a maximum of 50 calves.

Deputy Smith concluded, “This scheme not only offer additional financial support to farmers but plays a key role in improving the integration of dairy and beef sectors. I’m glad to see hundreds of farmers across Cavan and Monaghan benefiting from this important funding.

“I will continue to highlight the issues our farmers face, and the support they need from government and also at European Union level.”

Farmers who took part in the 2024 scheme will be automatically enrolled for the next year, while new applications will be accepted when the scheme reopens in April 2025.

Payments are expected to appear in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days. For any queries regarding payments, farmers can contact the Department of Agriculture’s Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or email dairybeef@agriculture.gov.ie.

I welcome confirmation today by the Minister for Special Education Michael Moynihan TD that the National Council for Special Education has sanctioned a number of additional Special Classes in Cavan Monaghan for the coming school year 2025/2026.

Additional Special Classes have been approved for:

·       St Michael’s National School, Clifferna

·       Ballynarry National School, Ballyheelan

·       St Joseph’s National School, Kingscourt

·       Carrickmacross BNS (2 classes)

·       St Louis Secondary School, Carrickmacross (1.5 classes)

Recently Minister Moynihan also issued approval in respect of the establishment of Special Classes at 8 other schools in Cavan/Monaghan.

A new Special School was sanctioned last October to open in County Monaghan for the school year 2025/26.  I welcome these new Classes and, of course, more provision needs to be made for children with additional needs.  I will continue to highlight the need for additional special education places for children in Cavan/Monaghan and also the provision in a timely manner of adequate therapy services.  At present the delay in children accessing therapy services is totally unacceptable

Beannachtaí na Féile oraibh go léir ag an deireadh seachtaine seo! Is deis iontach í chun do chúpla focal a rá agus an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. Beatha teanga í a labhairt. Bain sult as na himeachtaí go léir anseo sa bhaile agus timpeall an domhain.

I welcome the funding announcement by my colleague, Dara Calleary, TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development of improvement and refurbishment works on Community Centres.

This is welcome funding supporting local voluntary groups to carry out renovations, improve accessibility and also undertake energy upgrades. Community Centres are a pivotal resource in local communities and are extensively used by many groups within local parishes. 

These Centres are particularly important as an amenity for recreational and social activity and often times facilitate statutory organisations providing services at local level.  There is substantial upkeep costs on an ongoing basis for these amenities and it is important that some government assistance is available to help with upgrading and enhancement works.

I compliment all the groups who submitted successful applications and I commend the many individuals in every community who work hard to ensure that there are good facilities at a local level to facilitate community engagement for all age groups. These Centres need to be sustainable and have modern facilities and this fund will be extremely important in enabling such work to be undertaken by hardworking Committees.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, our focus must remain on those women suffering in global conflicts. We recognize the challenges faced by women in conflict zones and humanitarian crises worldwide. In Ukraine, Gaza, and other conflict zones, women and girls are disproportionately affected by displacement, lack of access to essential services, and threats to their safety.

The international community must continue working together to support those in need, strengthen protections, and ensure that women’s voices are included everywhere in peace-building and recovery efforts. Addressing these issues requires sustained global co- operation, leadership, and commitment.