I intend to first address my Justice brief and, thereafter, Defence. As Deputies will know, the Programme for Government sets out a substantial and broad agenda for reform in the area of Justice and Equality. I believe we have made great progress in implementing this agenda in the first three years of this Government’s term of office and that we have achieved an unprecedented level of reform in that time.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Tuesday) said it is time for the town to move forward and plan for a brighter future. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was speaking after the Business Improvement District (BID) scheme was passed by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council members.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has announced €620,000 to further develop several key tourism attractions in Dublin, the restoration of the historic church bell which was the first Catholic Bell to ring in Dublin in breach of the Penal Laws.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs has today addressed the Fine Gael Árd Fhéis in the RDS, telling delegates that Fine Gael in Government has made significant progress in disrupting the decades-long legacy of inaction and failures by previous Governments in the areas of child protection, youth justice and childcare quality.

Fine Gael TD for Laois Offaly, Charlie Flanagan, has said that the findings of the report on maternity deaths at Portlaoise Hospital must be used to deliver the highest standard of patient care at the maternity unit in Portlaoise. Deputy Flanagan was speaking after Minister for Health, James Reilly TD, announced that HIQA would be carrying out a thorough investigation into maternity services at the hospital.

Speaking at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) in Warsaw, this morning (Friday), Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, said membership of the EU has driven strong relations between Poland and Ireland in the past and will continue to do so in the future (see full speech below).

I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to speak on what on the face of it seems like a fairly simple and straightforward Bill.

Fine Gael TD for Laois Offaly and Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Charlie Flanagan, has called on Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, to clarify what exactly then Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, knew about the allegations made by Sergeant McCabe in relation to Garda malpractice. This comes after totally conflicting versions of events from Fianna Fáil in recent days in relation to what Fianna Fáil in government knew about these allegations and when.

2014 plan aims to build on major progress in jobs market over past two years.