Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the publication of legislation which will introduce plain packaging for tobacco products, describing it as the latest progressive step in the fight against smoking.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the publication of legislation which will introduce plain packaging for tobacco products, describing it as the latest progressive step in the fight against smoking.

Fine Gael TD for Donegal, Dinny McGinley has welcomed the announcement of over €1.2 million in funding for energy efficiency projects to be carried out in Donegal.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, Derek Keating, has today welcomed the Vehicles Clamping Bill 2014 published by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD.

Fine Gael Cork South Central TD and Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has said that the report of the Interim Administrator to the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) exposes the former Board’s attitude to spending public and charitable funding as it liked. Deputy Buttimer added that the HSE must learn from the report and put in place robust oversight and financial controls when dealing with non-statutory agencies to ensure transparency in the sector.

Fine Gael TDs and members of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Jerry Buttimer and Regina Doherty, are urging the HSE to fast track the assessment of a new life changing drug being used to treat Multiple Sclerosis.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has welcomed the announcement made today (Monday) by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn TD, that 6,100 Springboard courses will be available in 2014/15. In particular Deputy Lawlor welcomed changes made to the scheme which will now allow people to apply for a course as soon as they become unemployed.

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has today (Thursday) said that the Government must constantly strive to remove barriers to entrepreneurship. Deputy English was speaking at the launch of the Bank of Ireland Start-up Awards 2014 in Dublin.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Maritime Safety Consultation Document and urged all interested parties to make their views known.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has today (Monday) welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, that 6,100 new free higher education places are being made available to jobseekers as part of this year’s round of the Springboard programme.