Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Friday) reiterated his call for an urgent response to the unprecedented damage caused to coastal communities around the country. His comments come after Clare County Council estimated that in excess of €23 million euro worth of damage has been caused to the Clare coastline by the recent bad weather.

Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., today (Thursday) said that continued progress by Albania in the ambitious and encouraging reform process it is undertaking should ensure the granting of candidate status to that country next June.

I am delighted to be here in Albania and to have the opportunity to address you. This forum follows a very productive set of meetings with members of the Government, including Prime Minister Rama, Ministers and members of Parliament and local government. Thank you for the hospitality we have been shown by everyone. I would like to extend special thanks to the EU Delegation and to Ambassador Sequi in particular for their support during our visit.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Simon Harris, has said that there are still a number of outstanding questions former CRC Chair, Hamilton Goulding needs to answer.

Preparations are well underway for the upcoming EPP Congress due to take place in the Convention Centre, Dublin from the 6-7 March.

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chairman of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has today (Wednesday) said the latest Live Register figures are a great start to the New Year on the jobs market. The figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number of people on the Live Register has dropped for the 18th month in a row, and is now at its lowest level for four and a half years.

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Tuesday) urged the Government to immediately apply for EU funding to help address the hardships and difficulties being experienced by people in coastal communities as a result of storm damage.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Friday) called for the urgent introduction of a quality standard mark for charities, to help restore confidence in the sector. Speaking in response to the latest revelations concerning the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), Senator Noone said it was clear that action must be taken to restore confidence in the charities sector.

The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan T.D., today welcomed the successful syndicated sale by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) of €3.75 billion of bonds.