Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Joe O’Reilly, will tomorrow (Thursday) welcome the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton to The Errigal Hotel in Cootehill for an Action Plan for Jobs breakfast meeting.

“There is an urgent need to complete negotiations on the GP contract,” according to Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and the party’s Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke. Senator Burke was speaking after raising the matter in the Seanad with Minister of State in the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch.

Speaking in the Seanad, Government Chief Whip and Senator for Kerry, Paul Coghlan, said that the failure of vulture funds to appear before the Oireachtas Finance Committee is totally unacceptable.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that the Irish Economy has recorded a budget surplus for the first 11 months of the year. This is the first time Ireland will record a budget surplus in 8 years. Minister Coffey said Fine Gael in government has managed the economy in a prudent way that has seen the budget deficit disappear 3 years ahead of schedule and we will continue to ensure that borrowing unnecessarily is a thing of the past.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Fine Gael TD for Tipperary, Tom Hayes, has said that Basic Farm Payments of almost €81 million paid so far in 2015, are supporting Tipperary farmers.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has said that Basic Farm Payments of almost €54 million paid so far in 2015, are supporting Mayo farmers.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has said that Basic Farm Payments of over €1 billion paid so far in 2015, are supporting farmers across the country.

Speaking at a workshop on the second hand car market in the European Parliament yesterday, Ireland South MEP and member of the EU transport committee, Deirdre Clune, has called for immediate pan-European action on car clocking in our second hand car market.

Dublin Senator and Fine Gael candidate for Dublin West, Catherine Noone, has welcomed recent data from the CSO showing average weekly earnings have increased by 2.7%.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has inspected the dredging of Dunmore East Harbour which is nearing completion. Minister Coffey said that this investment represents a €7.7 million investment in the Harbour that will have long term benefits for the local economy. Minister Coffey has also been engaging with his colleague Minister Simon Coveney TD about the vacant buildings in the Harbour and bringing in new investment that could occupy them and bring even more life back into the village.