Fine Gael Limerick Senator, Maria Byrne, has called for the retention of the 9% VAT rate in the hospitality sector, saying it must be maintained in order to protect jobs and create further employment. Senator Byrne was speaking on the matter this week in the Seanad.

Fine Gael Senator and Government spokesman on EU Affairs in Seanad Éireann, Neale Richmond, has added his voice to the campaign by MEP Manfred Weber, calling on the European Commission to issue all Europeans with a free, once off, inter rail pass for their 18th birthday.

The Government today (Thursday) launched the first Action Plan for Education, led by Minister Richard Bruton, aimed at making the Irish education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.

The relationship between Ireland and the United States during the last 100 years began as a story of patriots taking the opportunity to win the freedom of a nation, supported by their country men and women from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fine Gael Senator Dublin Rathdown Senator, Neale Richmond, has welcomed the promised roll out of the ‘Politics and Society’ Syllabus to all Leaving Cert students, saying it will help engage our young people in society and inform them about how democracy works.

Fine Gael Roscommon Galway Senator, Maura Hopkins, has described as worrying the news that the number of motor insurance claims relating to uninsured or untraced drivers has risen 17% nationally, to 1,644 claims to date this year.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the launch of the second year of a key development programme for aspiring rural female entrepreneurs, ACORNS.

Speaking today (Monday) at the start of the Fine Gael annual Parliamentary Party Think In in Co. Kildare, the Taoiseach outlined the priorities of Fine Gael to protect our economy and use it to make people’s lives better.

Fine Gael Kildare North TD, Bernard Durkan, has said that the future of Johnstownbridge Health Centre is secure, despite recent rumours to the contrary.

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke, has said that Senators should be made full members of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare. Currently membership of the committee is made up of TDs and Senators are not entitled to become members.