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Plain packaging the latest progressive step in fight against smoking – Mitchell O’Connor

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the publication of legislation which will introduce plain packaging for tobacco products, describing it as the latest progressive step in the fight against smoking.

10th June 2014

CRC report exposes former Board’s attitude to public and charitable funding - Buttimer

Fine Gael Cork South Central TD and Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has said that the report of the Interim Administrator to the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) exposes the former Board’s attitude to spending public and charitable funding as it liked. Deputy Buttimer added that the HSE must learn from the report and put in place robust oversight and financial controls when dealing with non-statutory agencies to ensure transparency in the sector.

9th June 2014

Doherty and Buttimer urge HSE to fast track assessment of life changing MS drug

Fine Gael TDs and members of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Jerry Buttimer and Regina Doherty, are urging the HSE to fast track the assessment of a new life changing drug being used to treat Multiple Sclerosis.

9th June 2014

Extension of Springboard courses to all unemployed people is welcome - Lawlor

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has welcomed the announcement made today (Monday) by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn TD, that 6,100 Springboard courses will be available in 2014/15. In particular Deputy Lawlor welcomed changes made to the scheme which will now allow people to apply for a course as soon as they become unemployed.

9th June 2014

Government must constantly strive to remove barriers to entrepreneurship – English

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has today (Thursday) said that the Government must constantly strive to remove barriers to entrepreneurship. Deputy English was speaking at the launch of the Bank of Ireland Start-up Awards 2014 in Dublin.

9th June 2014

Martin must state whether he condones his Justice spokesperson’s intervention in a criminal trial – Doherty

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) called on Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, to state whether he stands over his Justice Spokesperson’s intervention in a criminal trial.

9th June 2014

Noone welcomes new clamping laws to outlaw rogue practices

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the publication of the Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014, by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, saying it will ensure that all clamping activities are carried out in a fair and transparent manner, while protecting motorists and legitimate clamping companies who abide by a fair code of conduct.

9th June 2014

Plain packaging of cigarettes is a progressive move in the fight against smoking - Burke

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator, and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health Colm Burke, has welcomed the publication of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 this week, which will introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.

9th June 2014

Speech by the Minister for Justice & Equality, Ms Frances Fitzgerald T.D. , Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, Dáil Éireann, Thursday, 19 June 2014

I move the motion, a Cheann Comhairle. The House will be aware that the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was enacted in the wake of the murder of 29 people by the Real IRA in Omagh on the 15th of August that year. It was a necessary response to that atrocity and the loss of 29 innocent lives.

9th June 2014

Statement by Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice & Equality on the Cooke Report

A Cheann Comhairle, I welcome this opportunity for the House to debate the findings and recommendations of the report by Judge Cooke into claims of unlawful surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

9th June 2014

The discrepancies in the inspection regime put in place to protect vulnerable residents in direct provision centres

Currently, there are 4,353 residents in 34 Direct Provision accommodation centres across the State under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality.

9th June 2014

Discussion of alcohol sponsorship in sport is welcome - Byrne

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the discussion of alcohol sponsorship in sport at today’s meeting of the Cross Party Oireachtas Group on Alcohol Misuse.

8th June 2014