Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said the establishment of a new €350,000 training fund will enable private sector companies to address their skills needs. Minister Coffey said businesses of any size, from a sole trader to SMEs are able to apply and the fund will also be open to existing industry bodies or enterprise groups.

“It’s no wonder that most of the current crop of Independent TDs and Senators have decided to pass on joining a new political party when they received over €813,000 in leader’s allowances in 2014”, says Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick.

The Governor of the Central Bank Mr Patrick Honohan today consulted with the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. in relation to the Central Bank macro prudential proposals on residential mortgage lending.

Firstly, I thank you for inviting me to speak here this evening on the occasion of the 60th IFA AGM.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said claims from Sinn Fein that the abolition of the Property Tax and Water Charges would cost €8 million are absolute nonsense. Minister Coffey said these claims were made by the president of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams last night on the Claire Byrne Show and were wrong by the tune of roughly €1.7 billion.

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has received assurances from the Chief Executive of Ulster Bank that the bank’s ATM machine will be retained in Ferbane, County Offaly. Deputy Corcoran-Kennedy has also been assured that Ulster Bank customers will be able to deposit money into their accounts in Ferbane Post Office.

“Gaeltacht areas are experiencing consistent employment growth and the focus of this Government is to see that continue”, says Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne.

“It is 26 years since the current Junior Certificate Examination system was introduced and the changes in our society in that time have been vast. These changes have not been reflected in how we examine our secondary school students” says Dan Neville, Fine Gael Party Chairperson and TD for Limerick.

Minister Coveney today welcomed the report produced by Dr Declan O’Connor and Dr Michael Keane that examined the likely Economic Benefits and Infrastructural Requirements arising from the planned dairy expansion in Cork.