Patrick O'Donovan, TD

Fine Gael TD and Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Peter Fitzpatrick, today (Tuesday) welcomed reassurances from the Minister for Education and Skills that there will be no reduction of Special Needs Assistance (SNA) posts in the school system.

Fine Gael Wicklow TD and member of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Simon Harris, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the publication of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report for Ireland for 2013, saying that its findings show that a pipeline of ambitious entrepreneurs will help to fuel our economic recovery.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has today (Tuesday) called on members of the opposition to stop scaremongering on the issue of the new Housing Assistance Payment, a scheme designed to replace rent supplement.

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the publication today (Monday) of the Children First Bill 2014, by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD. The legislation will put the Children First Guidelines on a statutory footing.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Friday) supported the call for the establishment of a cemeteries regulator, saying it is necessary to ensure the bereaved are not paying over the odds to bury their deceased loved ones. Deputy Doherty was speaking during the Dáil debate on the Cemetery Management Bill 2013.

The Fine Gael group has today (Friday) withdrawn from negotiations over the formation of a ruling coalition for Dublin City Council.

On 16 June 2014 the Expert Panel presented their final report on the resolution of the industrial relations issues in The Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (“The IASS”) dispute to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Employment, Ibec and Congress.

Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has called for the establishment of an independent firearms licensing authority to ensure greater safety in the purchase of guns. He recently submitted a Parliamentary Question on the matter to Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald TD.

Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne, has welcomed the renewed commitment by the Government to ensure SMEs benefit from opportunities presented by the public sector procurement process. Deputy Kyne was speaking after a Dáil debate this week in which he questioned the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, on the new office of public procurement and the measures being taken to ensure Irish SMEs can maximise opportunities to win public contracts.

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD, today announced she was seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified members of the public to apply to be considered for appointment as Ireland’s representative on the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).