Fine Gael Senator, Jim D’Arcy, has welcomed the announcement that PayPal is creating 400 jobs over the next four years at its European operations centre in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator, and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health Colm Burke, has welcomed the publication of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 this week, which will introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.

I move the motion, a Cheann Comhairle. The House will be aware that the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was enacted in the wake of the murder of 29 people by the Real IRA in Omagh on the 15th of August that year. It was a necessary response to that atrocity and the loss of 29 innocent lives.

A Cheann Comhairle, I welcome this opportunity for the House to debate the findings and recommendations of the report by Judge Cooke into claims of unlawful surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Currently, there are 4,353 residents in 34 Direct Provision accommodation centres across the State under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality.

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures agreed by the Task Force for the Mediterranean at the June Council of Ministers meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Following the announcement by the HSE that discretionary medical cards will be restored, Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath TD, James Bannon, expressed his satisfaction that support will be restored for those most in need.

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement of 400 extra jobs in PayPal in Dundalk.

Fine Gael TD and Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine, Andrew Doyle TD, today (Tuesday), commended Tom and Geraldine Shortt’s Newtownmountkennedy farm for hosting the official visit of Chinese politician Mr Liu Yunshan, who got to see at first hand quality Irish food produced in Wicklow.

Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Heather Humphreys, today (Wednesday), appealed to home owners to start applying for home energy grants now, when the weather is fair.