Fine Gael Senator and Leader of Seanad Éireann, Jerry Buttimer, has expressed his delight at the launch of Norwegian Airlines transatlantic routes from Cork after a long and challenging journey to secure the service.

Donegal Minister of State Joe McHugh has announced €3M in funding for the LYIT Killybegs Tourism College. This funding, of which €750,000 will be rolled out annually, will be to assist the Donegal Tourism and Educational development. Minister McHugh was able to make this announcement following confirmation this afternoon by his colleague, Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD

An Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader, Enda Kenny TD, has told a Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting that he will outline his future intentions after his trip to the US next month. Fine Gael Party Chairman, Martin Heydon TD for Kildare South, said the Fine Gael party proceeds in “a united fashion”.

Fine Gael Cork Senator, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the approval of a Tribunal of Inquiry to investigate the alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, but has urged that we must ensure the costs don’t run unreasonably high.

In a bid to protect cyclists on Irish roads, Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon and Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty, will tomorrow (weds) publish a Bill that will see motorists forced to obey a minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres- and one metre in zones with speed limits of under 50 km per hour- when overtaking cyclists.

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Tom Neville, has said that Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Jobs has surpassed its employment targets ensuring that employment is now at its highest level since the economic crash in 2008.

New figures showing unemployment at its lowest level since 2008 have been welcomed by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar who has pledged to drive further progress in this area in the year ahead.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (Tuesday) welcomed the latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures from the Central Statistics Office, showing that employment has continued to increase and unemployment is now at 6.8%.

Addressing a Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting with European Commission First Vice President, Frans Timmermans, Fine Gael spokesman on EU Affairs, Senator Neale Richmond, has challenged the EU and civic society to take the fight to Eurosceptics.