Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Disability and Equality, Martin Conway, has today (Friday) welcomed the decision of the EU Commission to establish a specialised European patent court, the Unified Patent Court, to make it easier for companies and inventors to protect their patents.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has today (Friday) welcomed the decision to approve an allocation of just under €4.2 million for the replacement of the watermain from Vartry to Cronroe, as part of the Wicklow Town Water Supply Scheme.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has today (Friday) welcomed a proposal from the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, to have a one month toll-holiday for HGVs to encourage use of the motorway network. Deputy McEntee added that while securing a bypass for Slane remains the top priority, the proposal would be a step in the right direction for the village in the short term.

Fine Gael Wicklow TD, Simon Harris, has today (Sunday) called on Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin TD, to state whether he supports Mark Daly’s Seanad recall, which Deputy Harris has described as a blatant stunt aimed at furthering Senator Daly’s own political agenda.

Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, TD, today (2 August 2013) announced the appointment of nine members to the Children’s Hospital Group Board.

In early October, you will be asked whether you think this is the right thing to do, when the Government holds a Referendum to abolish the Seanad. Ireland is the only small country in Europe with two chambers of parliament. In fact Ireland is unusual in the OECD in having a second chamber as it tends to be federal states or countries with large populations that have a bicameral system of parliament.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, that an allocation of €450,000 has been awarded to Dunmore East Harbour under the 2013 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Deputy Coffey said that this funding will allow for the slipway on the West Wharf at Dunmore East Harbour to be widened, therefore improving the facilities at the harbour.

Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has today (Thursday) said that it is essential that the future of Newbridge Credit Union is safeguarded in its current building. Deputy Heydon was speaking after the Central Bank issued a statement on the issue this afternoon.

Speech at Glenties.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, that an allocation of €450,000 has been awarded to Dunmore East Harbour under the 2013 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Deputy Coffey said that this funding will allow for the slipway on the West Wharf at Dunmore East Harbour to be widened, therefore improving the facilities at the harbour.