Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has welcomed confirmation she has received that the temporary reinstatement of discretionary cards will be extended by a further 12 months, until the end of July 2016. This relates to discretionary medical card holders whose cards were lost between July 2011 and May 2014 and whose cards were subsequently re-issued until 31st July 2015. Deputy Mulherin received the confirmation from Minister of State at the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch in response to a parliamentary question she tabled on the matter.

Fine Gael Senator for Kerry, Tom Sheahan, has welcomed the 9.4% drop in live register figures over the past year but has also highlighted that we can’t afford to become complacent.

The overarching theme of the Summit is “Shaping our common future: working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens”.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has said it is time for tougher mandatory sentencing for offences against Gardaí in light of a number of worrying incidents recently.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, Derek Keating has extended his condolences to those affected by the violent murder that took place in Palmerstown Village yesterday (Tuesday). Deputy Keating has also called for a thorough and wide reaching investigation into this crime.

Fine Gael Ireland South MEP and member of the EU Transport Committee, Deirdre Clune, has welcomed moves by the European Commission to take action against airlines who are not giving their passengers their entitlements under EU Passenger Rights legislation.

Jim Daly, Cork South West Fine Gael TD, has said that Cork County Council is making significant progress with his ‘West Cork Way’ proposal, and he is confident that the next steps will see the development of the route come to fruition.

Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Pat Deering, has said that today (Tuesday) has been a good day for Carlow’s fire service with the announcement of a new fire station at Graiguenamanagh and funding of €300,000 for a new fire engine for the county.

Speaking at a Joint IFSC Ireland-City of London event in Brussels this morning, Brian Hayes MEP said that Ireland and Britain's financial services centres need to establish a structured partnership arrangement to coordinate on areas of common interest.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, has today (Monday) opened the International Peat Society conference in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly.