Heather Humphreys, TD

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has marked the reduction of the air travel tax to zero and welcomed the response of the airlines to the Government’s move in the last Budget.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this report and to affirm the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in selling Ireland.

Fine Gael Dublin Central TD and Minister of State for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, has this morning (Friday) said the provision of €1.7 million for the development of youth facilities in Dublin’s North Inner City in 2014 clearly demonstrates this Government’s commitment to our young people who are most at risk.

Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has welcomed the news that €100,000 in funding is to be granted to twelve buildings and structures in Carlow under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014.

Fine Gael Waterford TD and Vice-Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Paudie Coffey, has said the GAA must ensure that inter-county matches continue to be available on free-to-air TV here. Deputy Coffey said the GAA has a strong presence in every parish across the country and that local communities should be entitled to view inter-county matches free-to-air.

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has today (Friday) urged all Government departments to engage more with the public through social media. Deputy English made his call after the response to a series of Parliamentary Questions he submitted revealed that just three out of sixteen government departments engage in real time reporting of public conversations on social media and blog sites.

Fine Gael Donegal North East TD, Joe McHugh, has today (Friday) called on the North’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness MLA, and his colleagues in Stormont to take immediate action on the UK HGV levy, which is due to come into effect this coming Tuesday. Deputy McHugh has consistently warned that the levy will have a serious impact on Irish hauliers using the roads in Northern Ireland to transport goods around Ireland.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD, Dara Murphy, has today (Friday) said a new €200,000 Enterprise Ireland fund for entrepreneurs in Cork will help to boost new start-ups and create jobs. The fund, which is specifically targeted at Cork businesses, will allow local entrepreneurs to explore the feasibility of their start-up ideas.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD, would like to remind the general public that “summer time” will commence at 1.00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Sunday 30 March 2014. Clocks and watches should be put forward one hour at that time.

Fine Gael Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, a GAA member, former club chairman and former member of the GAA marketing committee, has called on the GAA to ensure that any televised inter-county championship fixtures are available free-to-air on the island of Ireland. Deputy Buttimer was responding to reports that the GAA is in advanced negotiations with a subscription sports channel and he has communicated his concerns in writing to the GAA.