Firstly, I want to thank you all for the invitation and congratulate your current Chairman, Bill O’Rourke, your founding Chairman, Mark O’Donovan and all the team, past and present, on reaching your tenth anniversary.

“Fianna Fáil’s belated attempt to support small business rings hollow considering their economic crash decimated Ireland’s small business sector,” according to Aine Collins, Fine Gael TD for Cork North West. Deputy Collins was referring to Fianna Fáil’s intention to raise these matters during Private Members Business in the Dáil this week.

“The announcement by leading healthcare company, MSD, that it is to invest €11.5 million in its Carlow site this year, is a real testament to Carlow’s attractiveness to multinationals.” says Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering.

“Naas is set to benefit from the huge numbers of people expected to visit the Punchestown festival at the end of the month”, is according to Anthony Lawlor, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North.

“The Dublin City Council vote to block a proposal to refurbish O’Devaney Gardens has let down homeless people in Dublin”, says Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne.

“Fianna Fáil are completely misguided in their attempts to block the opening up of 10% of bus routes to competition and they are misleading the public,” says Jim Daly Fine Gael TD for Cork South West.

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Kieran O’Donnell has encouraged business people and all interested parties to attend the Stakeholder Forum for the Action Plan for Jobs the Mid-West Region , tomorrow (Thursday) at 9am in the Strand Hotel Limerick.

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Fergus O’Dowd, has welcomed the launch of ‘Ireland’s Ancient East that is on the scale of the Wild Atlantic Way for the East and South of the country. The plan was launched today (Tuesday) by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Pascal Donohoe TD and the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, in co-operation with Fáilte Ireland.

Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has said that the HSE must honour its agreement to provide 90 nursing posts at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.