Martin Heydon, TD

Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington has said that the decision by the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring T.D, to grant €3.8m for a replacement pool in Dunmanway, Cork is a major boost for the town and the area. The money has been allocated to Cork County Council under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme.

I have just come from Dublin Castle, where the European Year of Development was launched.

“Currently €1.18 million in medical negligence claims is covered by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) and the State pays the remainder. The Government must review this cut off point, to keep the consultants who cannot afford their insurance premiums in this country “, says Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator, Colm Burke.

“The Central Bank must find a workable solution for house hunters as a 20% deposit is completely unrealistic for young first time buyers,” says Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Áine Collins.

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin today (Thursday), said that the ECB's Quantitative Easing programme does not go far enough due to the low level of risk-sharing associated with the programme.

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane, has called on the Minister for Education & Skills, Jan O'Sullivan, and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly TD, to introduce a strong cross departmental approach in order to improve standards in the childcare sector. The Senator made her comments in the context of the Seanad debate on 'Improving the Quality of Early Years Education' today (Thursday).

“I am very sad to hear of the closure of the Bose plant in Carrickmacross due to their global restructuring plan” says Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Seán Conlan.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Áine Collins, has said that recent Enterprise Ireland employment figures show that Cork is going from strength to strength with thousands of extra jobs created over the last three years.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the news that funding for the Development Offices on non- Gaeltacht islands is confirmed for the remainder of 2015, while a longer term plan is worked out.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality, has today announced the wording agreed by the Government for the constitutional amendment on Marriage Equality.