To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which this country has incurred fines or penalties imposed by the European Union

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and the Party’s Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke, has said that major reforms are required to reduce the number of medical negligence claims as 2,840 claims are currently pending. Senator Burke was speaking today (Wednesday) following the launch of the report on the cost of medical indemnity insurance by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the publication of the initial report of the Post Office Business Development Group and has called on interested groups to take part in the consultation process on the report.

Fine Gael Party Chairperson, and Limerick TD, Dan Neville, has welcomed the Industrial Relations Amendment Act, which he debated in the Dáil recently.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central, TD Catherine Byrne, has said that work is the best way out of welfare and that while the ESRI report published today (Tuesday) confirms this, it also highlights that we must do more to incentivise and support parents to work.

Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Ray Butler, has said that there has been great progress on the Ireland’s Ancient East tourism initiative and has encouraged local groups and businesses to apply for the first phase of capital grants to develop visitor experiences. Deputy Butler was speaking on receipt of an update on the project from Fáilte Ireland.

Fine Gael TD for Longford/ Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has welcomed the news that the major refurbishment and extension works planned at Mullingar Courthouse came a step closer today (Monday) following the announcement by the Justice Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, that a joint venture company has been identified to deliver the project.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the creation of 20 new jobs in the Digital Hub in Dublin 8. The news comes as the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announces 185 new jobs in 6 IDA Ireland client companies across the country today (Monday).

The Government will tomorrow (Tuesday) consider a trial abolition of one and two cent coins, which will see prices rounded to the nearest five-cent unit. This development came following Senator Catherine Noone’s call for this scheme to be expanded nationally just last week.