🎙️Valerie’s Law

Metrolink

Fianna Fáil – In Our Own Words In this episode Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien TD, Deputy Paul McAuliffe and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee discuss MetroLink,  the transformative public transport project set to connect Swords, Dublin Airport and Dublin City Centre. 🚇 MetroLink will be Ireland's first fully segregated metro system, improving connectivity, supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes, boosting economic competitiveness and creating lasting benefits for generations to come. It will be capable of carrying up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Metrolink is now moving forward decisively into procurement stage. The panel discusses the latest progress on the project, including major procurement milestones and the steps being taken to ensure MetroLink is delivered for the people of Dublin and Ireland. 🎧 Listen now to Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words.

The Campaign to Bring Givinostat to children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words Senator Teresa Costello sits down with Úna Ennis from Tallaght, whose 8 year-old son was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) to discuss their hard fought campaign for access to Givinostat. Senator Teresa Costello has said working with families impacted by a rare muscular disease has given her an insight into “real pain and suffering”. The Fianna Fáil Senator has been campaigning with families of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) to access the drug Givinostat, which slows the progression of the disease that gradually causes weakness and loss of muscle function. They are welcoming the recent decision by the HSE drugs group to recommend the approval of the drug for reimbursement and they want to keep the pressure on so that this happens soon. Úna has said said this has has changed the trajectory for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and urged the HSE to make the life-changing drug available as soon as possible. In this episode we hear about the fight for Givinostat, the stark reality of living with DMD and the hope that access to Givinostat will bring. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, advocacy and the determination of families who refused to give up.  Their message is simple: the treatment exists, and now it must be made available as quickly as possible to the children who need it. 🎧 Listen now to hear the story of Archie and his family and Senator Costello's determination to drive change for families living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Sepsis Awareness: Survivors, Families and the Fight for Better Support

On Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words this week Minister Niamh Smyth, TD for Cavan-Monaghan is shining a spotlight on sepsis awareness. Minister Smyth is joined by sepsis survivor Sophie Lanigan, her father Keith, and Cathriona Flanagan and Hannah Tormey from North East Sepsis Awareness, Minister Smyth hears first-hand accounts of the devastating impact sepsis can have on individuals and families. The discussion explores the realities of surviving sepsis, the challenges of recovery, the need for greater public awareness, and the campaign for formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome and structured follow-up care in Ireland. From Sophie's experience of losing her limbs to Hannah's account of her daughter's battle with sepsis during her Leaving Cert year, this episode highlights the importance of early detection, survivor support, and ensuring that no one faces recovery alone. A moving conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the urgent need for change. 🎧 Listen now on Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words.

Traveller Pride Week

To mark Traveller Pride Week, John Connolly TD and Senator Anne Rabbitte host a special episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, drawing on their work as members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community. Joined by Star Stokes of the Kilkenny Traveller Community Movement and John Collins of Exchange House Ireland and the National Traveller Men's Movement, they discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Traveller communities across Ireland, including health inequalities, mental health, education, discrimination and representation. Through honest conversations and lived experiences, Connolly and Rabbitte explore how policymakers can better listen to and work alongside Traveller communities to deliver meaningful change and improve outcomes for future generations.

🎙️Valerie’s Law

41-year-old mother of three, Valerie French, was brutally murdered by her husband, James Kilroy, at their family home in Westport, Co. Mayo, in 2019. Kilroy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024. Since Valerie’s murder, her brother David French has campaigned tirelessly for changes to guardianship legislation in horrific cases such as this, to ensure those who kill their partner cannot automatically retain guardianship rights over their children. In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, David discusses the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill and the importance of ensuring the welfare and best interests of children remain paramount. He speaks to Senator Dee Ryan and Seanad Justice spokesperson Robbie Gallagher about Valerie, her life, the relationship, her murder and why he advocated for this change in the law. The Bill, which has been introduced to the Dáil, would allow for the removal of guardianship rights from a person convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child. Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said: “When you have a human story behind a piece of legislation, or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a very personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas.” The legislation fulfils the Programme for Government commitment to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partner or a parent of their child, as part of ongoing work to implement recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.