Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), Ireland and Edwin Poots MLA, Minster for Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Northern Ireland today (Wednesday 1st May 2013) addressed the All Island Conference ‘Improving Child Protection Practice: Making the most of Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges’.

The Government last night approved the heads of a bill to protect life during pregnancy which will be referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for debate and consideration, after which a bill will be drafted.

I thank Deputy Tom Fleming for introducing the motion. As with previous speakers, I welcome any measure that will result in an increase in rates of organ donation. The reference to "presumed consent" in the programme for Government opened up a conversation on this issue and it is appropriate that the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, Deputy Jerry Buttimer, arranged for a discussion of organ donation to take place in the past two weeks.

Dáil speech on Organ Donation.

Durkan welcomes €282 millon Newlands Cross upgrade project

Dáil speech on Organ Donation.

Durkan welcomes €282 millon Newlands Cross upgrade project

Fine Gael Senator for Carlow/Kilkenny, Pat O’Neill, has welcomed the announcement of more than 2,000 jobs to be created through the development of a world-class dairy facility by Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited (GIIL) at Belview on the Kilkenny/Waterford border.