“Old young farmers are farmers who established their holding between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2009 and who are now be eligible to apply for phase two of the National Reserve Fund when the application facility comes online in April”, says Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources and TD for Donegal, Joe Mc Hugh.

Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, Brian Hayes has today welcomed confirmation that a vote on a new EU wide emergency call system for new cars will take place at the Strasbourg Plenary in April. This is a revolution for safety on the roads and a technological first for the car industry in Europe. It is an example of Europe at its best.

“The Dublin- Tullow bus route has been rescued,” says Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny. Deputy Deering was speaking after the publication of the ‘Review of the Withdrawal of Bus Éireann’s Licenced Route 5 Expressway Service’ by the National Transport Authority (NTA) today (Tuesday) which confirms the future of services on this route is secure.

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick has called for a full review of speed limits currently in place on local and regional roads in Louth following the launch of the ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits’, published by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD.

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler has called for a full review of speed limits currently in place across County Meath. Deputy Butler was speaking today (Thursday), on foot of the launch of a new document entitled ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits’, which has been produced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD.

Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, Brian Hayes will today (Wednesday) meet with the European Commission to urge the institution to make the car rental code of conduct mandatory for all car rental companies.

Fine Gael TD for Sligo/ North Leitrim, John Perry, has announced that a Stakeholder Forum for the Action Plan for Jobs Border (North West) Region, will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel on Thursday 26th March at 1.30pm.

Cork based Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy, Cork North Central, (FG) TD, has welcomed today's jobs announcement, by Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes, adding a further jobs boost for Cork, as the company plans to create 50 jobs in the city over the next 3 years.

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, highlighted the success of Dublin City’s HGV ban and called on other EU capitals to follow our example. Last week the European Parliament discussed new laws for the continent’s haulage industry. The revision of the current Directive aims at improving road safety, energy efficiency and the environmental performance of road transport through greener and safer trucks.

The decision by my Government to open the new Ireland House in Austin demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to Texas and the strong value that we attach to Ireland-Texan relations both now and into the future.