Fine Gael Wicklow TD and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Simon Harris, has today (Wednesday) called on the board of St Vincent’s University Hospital to make an immediate statement on how it intends to bring itself into line with public pay rules. His call comes after it was revealed that St Vincent’s is the only hospital still in breach of public pay policy.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and Chair of Fine Gael’s Internal Agriculture Committee, Martin Heydon, has today (Tuesday) said that he is very pleased that the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, has agreed to his proposal to allow a derogation from vehicle height restrictions for the haulage of hay and straw. In response to a question from Deputy Heydon, Minister Varadkar confirmed today that he has asked his officials to draft regulations to allow for a narrow exemption for the haulage of agricultural fodder from the height limits brought in by the 2008 regulations.

Fine Gael Wicklow TD and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Simon Harris, has today (Tuesday) called on the Rehab board to immediately reveal the pay of all of its senior staff. Deputy Harris added that it is completely unacceptable that Rehab has said that it won’t reveal pay details of top managers until its 2015 accounts are published in 2016.

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has confirmed that the Health Committee has requested a meeting with the HSE to receive an update on its review of Section 38 and 39 organisations. Deputy Buttimer said that the HSE review is another move towards greater transparency, which is critical to restore public trust and confidence in such bodies.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has welcomed the recent announcement that AIB is establishing a €350 million development finance fund for house building, but added that a suite of measures is needed to deal with the rising demand for residential property in the capital.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, Dara Murphy, has welcomed the announcement by Minister of State for the OPW, Brian Hayes TD, that €50 million is to be invested in flood prevention measures for Cork city.

Fine Gael and its leader Taoiseach Enda Kenny will host the European People's Party (EPP) Congress for the European elections in the Convention Centre Dublin on 6th and 7th March, 2014.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste will pay a working visit to the OECD on Friday, 7 February 2014, to discuss a range of economic and social policy issues with OECD experts following Ireland’s successful exit from the EU IMF Programme.

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the Bill and I welcome its import and intent. In the county enterprise board in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown we have had a body of real excellence and I have had nothing but admiration for it through the years because of the work it has done.

To ask the Minister for Health what will happen to patients' medical records due to the closure of Mount Carmel Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter?