Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP today (Friday) said that as the economy begins to recover, income tax reductions coupled with wage increases will deliver rising levels of prosperity to all parts of society.

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and the party's Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke, has welcomed the news that the National Office for Rare Disease was officially opened today (Thursday). The office was opened by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and the office will remain in the Mater Hospital until the new National Children's Hospital is built.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the news that Irish Water is to invest €5 million in the water supply scheme on Cape Clear. The announcement was made during a public meeting organised by Deputy Harrington today (Thursday).

Funding for the cross border European Studies Programme (ESP) has been withdrawn by the Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive, John O’Dowd MLA. The Programme has been funded on a 50:50 basis by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills here for nearly 30 years. ESP links 90 post-primary schools north and south through collaborative curriculum-based projects furthering tolerance, mutual understanding and an appreciation of the cultures of others.

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes, and Vice Chairman of the EU Delegation for relations with Iraq, today (Thursday) described the humanitarian crisis in Iraq as urgent. He was speaking at an international meeting in Brussels to launch a new appeal for fresh funding for Iraq.

“Only this week, Fianna Fáil’s Jobs Spokesperson, Dara Calleary, bemoaned the fact that Ireland’s competitiveness is not what it was in 2008; a time when Ireland was on the brink of the economic crash, buoyed up by a false economy and broken banks.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, today welcomed the decision by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) to recognise Ireland as a country having a negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Fine Gael TD Helen McEntee has said the announcement by US distillers Brown Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel's, of $50m investment in Slane Castle Irish Whiskey is excellent news for Co Meath. This announcement comes as Meath County Council launched its Economic Development Strategy yesterday.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has said that the inclusion of a patient representative on the new Cancer Strategy Steering Group is the correct decision as the views of patients should be central to the new strategy. Deputy Mulherin received confirmation of the inclusion of a patient representative from the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar.

I welcome clarification that enhanced maternity services are to continue at Portlaoise Hospital. I welcome the ongoing engagement with staff by Dublin- Midland Hospital Group CEO, Dr. Susan O’Reilly, in the aftermath of recent reports relating to the Hospital.