Latest News

Donohoe announces €320,000 in second phase of funding for major festivals and events in 2015

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, has today (Thursday) announced that further funding of €320,000 has been approved by Fáilte Ireland under its National Festivals and Events Programme for 11 key national festivals and events to take place later this year.

Taoiseach attends Brussels Summit

The Taoiseach travels to Brussels today, Thursday February 12th, 2015, for an Informal Meeting of Heads of State/Government.

Speaking Points for the Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, at the Launch of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs Strategy on Wednesday 11th February 2015

Keating outlines Irish delegation’s stance on Crimea ahead of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

“As a representative of the Irish parliament, I will travel to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in Vienna on 18th February where a new Russian representative to the PA will be appointed. The candidate is Ms Olga Kovitidi who represents Crimea. This presents a problem”, says Derek Keating, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West.

Launch of Regional Action Plan for Jobs to accelerate the rural recovery – Corcoran Kennedy

“The economic recovery is well underway and over 80,000 new jobs have been created. This is in no small part due to the success of the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) and now it is time to launch the rural revival through the Action Plan for Jobs – Regional”, says Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee.

Public consultation on national broadband mapping closes tomorrow - McFadden

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has issued a reminder that the public consultation process for the National Broadband Plan closes tomorrow, Thursday, February 12th.

Coveney hosts high profile new york launch for irish beef in the us

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney T.D. last night hosted a prestigious launch event in New York to officially mark the re-entry of Irish beef to the US market.

Perry welcomes extension of retirement ‘grace period’ for pensions

Fine Gael Sligo TD, John Perry, has welcomed the extension of the retirement ‘grace period’ for public service pensions, saying it will give people more time to consider when to retire, safe in the knowledge that they will not lose out if they wait until 2016.

Weak Euro presents huge opportunity for cross border sales – O’Reilly

“The fall in the value of the Euro in relation to sterling can be very positive for retailers and exporters south of the border”, says Joe O’Reilly, Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan.

47.5% increase in goods vehicles sold indicates business is on the up - Griffin

“The latest CSO figures show that the number of new goods vehicles licensed in January 2015 was up by 47.5% from January 2014. New businesses are investing in vehicles and existing businesses are showing confidence by upgrading. This is a very good indicator of the strength of the economy”, says Brendan Griffin.

81 new jobs at Lakeland and 180 construction jobs shows recovery is spreading – O’Reilly

Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Joe O’Reilly said today (Monday) that a €36 million investment by Lakeland Dairies in its Bailieboro plant that will create 81 new jobs and up to 180 construction jobs demonstrates the recovery is spreading across Ireland.

Up to 25% of Emergency Department visit charges left unpaid – Burke

Fine Gael Senator for Cork North Central and the Party’s Seanad spokesperson on Health, has criticised figures from the HSE which confirm that as much as 25% of Emergency Department visits charges have been left unpaid and uncollected.