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.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/Carlow, Andrew Doyle, today (Wednesday) welcomed the engagement by the Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar with Northern Ireland officials on the HGV levy.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the discussion of alcohol sponsorship in sport at today’s meeting of the Cross Party Oireachtas Group on Alcohol Misuse.

Fine Gael Louth TD, Peter Fitzpatrick, has today (Wednesday) strongly criticised Gerry Adam’s failure to welcome the announcement of 400 new jobs for Dundalk, saying it exposes Sinn Féin’s hypocritical stance on job creation.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and Tuam native, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Children, Charlie Flanagan TD, that counselling services are being expanded to help cope with the concerns of people affected by Mother and Baby homes.