Paschal Donohoe, TD

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown and party spokesman on European Affairs, Neale Richmond, has welcomed the 55% funding increase for the Erasmus programme as agreed by the European Council, stating that Ireland must now realise the full potential of the programme.

Fine Gael Senator John McGahon has received confirmation from the Department of Education that new contingency planning guidelines for schools affected by Covid-19 outbreaks will be published in the coming days.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown and party spokesperson for European Affairs, Neale Richmond, has called upon anyone living in Ireland who holds a UK driving licence to exchange it for an Irish version as the end of the Brexit transition period nears.

Covid-19 has had an adverse impact on people’s mental health and well-being. It has made society and communities dependent on the efforts of volunteers and has highlighted the need to achieve a better work-life balance as citizens adapt to our new normal.

Dublin Fingal TD and Fine Gael Spokesperson for Climate Action, Alan Farrell, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill.

Fine Gael TD and spokesman on European Affairs, Neale Richmond, has congratulated Mairead McGuinness following the formal approval by the European Parliament of her appointment as the new European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson in Seanad Éireann, Senator Martin Conway, has today welcomed the Government’s decision to facilitate the return of in-person meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and other addiction peer support groups.

The decision by Cabinet to approve an increased qualifying threshold for medical cards for those over 70, will benefit 56,000 older people, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Minister of State Josepha Madigan has called for the greater use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and mediation as part of family law cases such as divorces or custody, instead of adversarial and emotionally charged court battles.

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has called on the Minister for Sport and Sport Ireland to prioritise supports for Irish athletes whose participation in the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics has been put on hold by the Covid-19 pandemic.