Fine Gael Senator, Michelle Mulherin, believes that new Government reforms to commercial rates will be good news for businesses and our local authorities.

Fergus O'Dowd, Fine Gael TD for Louth and East Meath, is again calling on the Government to consider the urgent implementation of a Vacant Home Tax in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ).

“This year’s Local Youth Club Grant Scheme will see €48,226 allocated to the Donegal Education and Training Board for local volunteer led youth groups,” said Minister McHugh today. “Youth groups and clubs across Donegal will soon be able to apply to the Donegal ETB for funding under this scheme. “Youth clubs are part of the fabric of communities here in Donegal and must be supported.

DONEGAL TD Joe McHugh has welcomed news that Donegal producers can begin to export live brown crab to China within the next three to four weeks. It follows a meeting between Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed and Chinese Minister Zhi Shuping in Dublin.

“The funding announced this week by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, is great news for rural Ireland and I strongly encourage Donegal County Council to apply,” said Minister of State McHugh. “The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, and is part of a package of national and local support measures to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland.”

Fine Gael Cork Senator and Chair of the Fine Gael LGBT Group, Jerry Buttimer, has said that 1,147 same-sex couples have married since the introduction of marriage equality in Ireland.

Fine Gael Cork based Senator, Tim Lombard, has called for the introduction of guidelines to assist Local Authorities with planning applications for solar farms.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Wednesday) said that hotels and restaurants must be included in any change to the law banning alcohol sales on Good Friday. Senator Noone was speaking today (Wednesday) as the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017 was debated in the Seanad.

Cystic Fibrosis patients in Donegal are set to benefit from a new deal between the Health Service Executive and pharmaceutical company, Vertex, which will see Orkambi and Kalydeco made available from next month. The HSE are now working to finalise the contractual terms to make sure we have the best and most robust deal possible for CF patients and the healthcare service overall.