Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words

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.

100 Bliain: A Look Back at Fianna Fáil's Contribution to Irish Life Over the Last 100 Years

In this podcast, we look at the role that Fianna Fáil has played in Ireland's political life. From the foundation of the party, through its achievements and to its future, our panelists discuss where Fianna Fáil came from, the people that built it up and its legacy in Ireland today. With An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Shane Moynihan TD, Dr. Brian Murphy, Dr. Eoin O'Malley, Dr. Sinead McCoole, Anne Twomey

Supports for Victims of Domestic Violence

Senator Alison Comyn is joined by Sarah Slazenger, MD of Powerscourt Estate and Alison McNamara from Opportunities for Women to speak about domestic violence and their proposal to turn vacant town centre buildings across Ireland into safe, supported homes for those rebuilding their lives. This is an issue affecting every county. We have vacant buildings in towns and villages nationwide that could be brought back into use quickly and effectively.