Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin today (Monday) said that variable mortgage rates need to be monitored into the future to ensure that rates do not become as excessive as they are today.

The first country in the world to vote for equal marriage. I welcome that and thank all those who voted yesterday. In the privacy of the ballot box they made a public statement.

Speaking following the final count of the Carlow/Kilkenny Bye Election, Fine Gael’s Cllr David FitzGerald has congratulated Bobby Aylward on his success and thanked everyone involved in his own campaign.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, will tonight tell the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland that 2,000 jobs have been created in health in both the public and private sector in the last year. He will tell the College that the health sector should get much more recognition as an important employer and revenue generator, with a further role to play in economic growth.

Fine Gael Senator for Louth, Jim D’Arcy, has highlighted that when a farmer wills his/her lands, the farming entitlements do not automatically transfer to the recipient of the will.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said the new Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme that was launched by his colleague Minister Simon Coveney TD is a positive initiative that will assist young famers right across County Waterford.

Speech by Brian Hayes MEP to the American Chamber of Commerce in Strasbourg

Seán Kelly, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, has called for a strong harmonisation of business regulations to be prioritised in the ongoing EU- US trade or Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) negotiations, in order to boost SME growth. Mr Kelly was speaking as Ireland's only member of the Parliament's Trade Committee, ahead of a major TTIP information seminar he is hosting in the European Parliament's Dublin Office on Tuesday, May 26th. Business leaders, elected representatives and media in attendance will receive an overview of the EU-US trade talks, ongoing negotiations, possible outcomes and the potential such a deal holds for Ireland.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that he has received confirmation from his colleague the Minister for Justice Frances FitzGerald that the new Waterford City Courthouse is due to go to construction before the end of this year. Minister Coffey said that this is a significant investment in Waterford City and will mean the number of courtrooms trebling from two to six by the time it is completed.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has welcomed the announcement that the framework to support mortgage holders in arrears has been strengthened. Minister Coffey said while the number of people in mortgage difficulties has decreased significantly it is good news that those still in difficulty are being provided with a stronger options to assist them deal with their arrears issues and stay in their own homes.