I would like to begin by emphasising the important public role played by An Garda Síochána as the police force in this State and by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) as the independent body with the important remit of investigating allegations of police misconduct. Each is a crucial pillar in our constitutional democracy and each plays a vital role in the public interest.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Tuesday) encouraged the Government to speed up legislation to ban smoking in cars carrying children, after the UK parliament voted in favour of the measure. The UK ban is due to be introduced before the next general election in 2015.

Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice Equality and Defence, today welcomes the official launch of, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

The Minister is in Sarajevo for meetings with key political leaders, to address students and NGOs at the University and to meet with the local Irish community in Sarajevo, including members of the Irish Defence Forces stationed there as part of the EU mission.

Committee Stage of the Legal Services Regulation Bill Resumes on 12 February The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, has confirmed that he has circulated today the Government’s amendments to Parts 7, 8 and 9 of the Legal Services Regulation Bill which will be discussed when the Bill resumes Committee Stage on 12 February. These three Parts of the Bill deal with the:

Speaking today about the closure of Mount Carmel Hospital, Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Minister Alan Shatter said:

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has welcomed the news that the construction project to build the €4 million Endoscopy Unit at Roscommon County Hospital (RCH) is set to formally go out to tender.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, today joined with Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs to officially launch the new Child and Family Agency.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Thursday) strongly criticised what she described as the exorbitant rates being charged by some city centre hotels for accommodation for the weekend of the Garth Brooks’ concerts in Croke Park.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has written to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), urging it to take issues such as hard water into account when it sets rates for water charges, which are due to be introduced at the end of this year. Deputy Doherty also raised the issue in a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD.