Cork TD find themselves with lots to say on floor of the Dáil
WHEN it comes to the jibber jabber, politicians are not shying away from the floor in the Dail.
The analysis of Oireachtas speeches taken from Kildarestreet.com shows that the average number of contributions for a TD is 85.
In the Cork North West constituency, FF Aindrias Moynihan has made 58 contributions while his namesake, Michael Moynihan has furnished 56, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed has made 41.
Heckling and shouting are not recorded in the speaking count, but if a TD interrupts another to make a point in the Dail, then that is counted in the number of times they have spoken in the chamber.
In Cork East, Kevin O’Keeffe (FF) has a tally of 59, while Pat Buckley (SF) has spoken 46 times and Minister David Stanton (FG) has made 73 contributions and Labour’s Sean Sherlock has made 89 contributions.
In Cork North Central, Billy Kelleher (FF) went into the treble digits and has made 100 contributions, while Dara Murphy (FG) has made 21 contributions and Jonathan O’Brien (SF) has made 87 Oireachtas speeches.
Meanwhile in Cork South Central, Donnchadh O’Laoghaire (SF) has made 78 speeches, while FF’s Michael McGrath has made 107 contributions, but the topper is FF leader, Micheal Martin at 221.
In Cork South West, Jim Daly (FG) has made 85 contributions, while FF Margaret Murphy O’Mahony has made 50 and Michael Collins (Ind) has made 75 contributions.
However, the gong for the most contributions of all is Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath who has contributed to many debates this year, clocking up 270 contributions to date – and the year is far from over.
Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny tops FG list for the most contributions in the Dail at 228, while Tanaiste and Minister for Jobs, Frances Fitzgerald spoke 152 times.