Speaking on the Seanad's Order of Business today (Tuesday), Fine Gael Senator and Government Seanad spokesman on EU Affairs, Neale Richmond, called for a Seanad debate on the future of Europe and how Ireland's position might look in that future vision.

Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Tony McLoughlin, has urged the public not to start gorse fires after a number of blazes raged across the area over the weekend.

We meet at the time of year that in Ireland is called Bealtaine, the Celtic season of the white fires, when we look ahead to the new life, new growth, new promise of the Summer.

“I am absolutely delighted with this news and I am delighted to be in a position as Government Minister to announce it. This busy section of road serves north and west Donegal including Glenveagh National Park, Gaoth Dobhair, Creeslough, Rosgoill, Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh and the Wild Atlantic Way. Funding of €12.56 Million has been allocated for the new road with another €2.71 Million for Irish Water to replace both the existing principle water supply from Lough Salt to Letterkenny and the distribution mains for the entire area including Rathmullan.

Fine Gael Senator, Paddy Burke, has said the GMIT working group will meet with students and staff at the Castlebar campus later this month.

Fine Gael TD for Limerick County, Tom Neville, has called for all hospitals to use a text alert system to remind patients of their hospital appointments.

“I am delighted to announced that my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys has allocated just over €121,000 to 10 heritage projects in Donegal in the latest round of funding. I am particularly pleased at the funding announced for Rathmullan Abbey and St Columb’s Church in Ballynally and funding for repair of a town house on Church Lane in Letterkenny."

Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed substantial funding released today to a number of Donegal seafood companies. Six local companies received €721,188 of the total national grants announcement of €1.3M. Four companies received substantial funding under the Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme.

I am glad that they recognise that we should move on to talk about the framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK as soon as sufficient progress has been made on the withdrawal issues.

I am pleased that the the intensive engagement by the Government with our EU partners has resulted in Ireland's concerns being reflected prominently in the EU's position for the upcoming Brexit negotiations as adopted by the European Council today.