Fine Gael TD for Wicklow-East Carlow and Candidate for Ireland South, Simon Harris, has today (Thursday) welcomed a new youth advocacy project ahead of the European Elections. European Movement Ireland and a number of partners are bringing together a group of 18 to 25 year olds as part of the 32-county initiative.

The Football Association of Ireland today (March 3) announced the start of work on the first phase of its National Training Centre on the National Sports Campus with a sod turning ceremony involving Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Minister Joan Burton TD, FAI CEO John Delaney, DDSL Chairman of the Board of Directors, Brendan Bermingham, DDSL Chairman, Paddy Dempsey, Chairman of the NSCDA Sean Benton, CEO of the Irish Sports Council John Treacy and Republic of Ireland management team, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions that could now be taken to provide a permanent school (details supplied) as the preferred site has been refused planning permission for the second time; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement from the Office of Public Works (OPW) that €8.27 million has been allocated to improve flood defences in Clare. Senator Conway added that two EU studies published recently by the European Commission further underline the importance of investing in flood protection.

The Cabinet today agreed to the proposal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence that he appoint Retired District Court Judge Mr Patrick McMahon to the position of Confidential Recipient under Regulation 6 of the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice) Regulations 2007.

In response to an approach by members of the Syrian community in Ireland and in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD today announced that he is putting in place an immigration based humanitarian admission programme with a view to providing some further assistance to vulnerable persons affected by the conflict in the region.

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn TD, that Trim will be the location for one of four new Educate Together primary schools expected to open this September. It comes after a survey was carried out in Trim asking parents on their preferred school patronage.

The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline what structures he has in place to deal with sexual offenders in our prisons and in our communities and to what extent co-operation from the offender is mandatory

On 14th May last, I referred to the Garda Inspectorate the O’Mahoney Report and the Garda Professional Standards Unit Report into the Fixed Charge Notice issue. I set out and provided to the Garda Inspectorate seven principles which I believed should inform the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System:

Speaking today, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said: “I welcome the High Court ruling which should allow the State airports to operate normal services this Friday. I have said on a number of occasions that the strike should have been deferred given that the Expert Panel is currently engaging with all parties involved in the dispute.”