Peter Burke, TD

Minister Charlie Flanagan T.D. welcomed the launch, by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi, Quinn T.D. of the Erasmus+ 2014 – 2020- the EU’s support programme for life long learning, training and sport.

It is crucial to send a strong, experienced representative like Brian Hayes to the European Parliament to fight for jobs in Dublin, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD said today. Speaking in Dublin today, Minister Bruton said:

Following the moving of writs in Dáil Eireann, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has made an order today (1 May 2014) appointing Friday 23 May 2014 as the polling day for the Dublin West and Longford-Westmeath bye-elections.

EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels described the referendum held in eastern Ukraine yesterday as “illegitimate and illegal” and moved to impose additional sanctions against individuals, and companies based in the Crimea.

Fine Gael MEP Candidate for Ireland South, Senator Deirdre Clune, today (Tuesday) outlined the necessity of using the hard lessons learned during the collapse of the Celtic Tiger to support those in construction who are essential to the development of Cork.

The Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, is attending the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels today, which is expected to be dominated by the crisis in Ukraine.

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, today (Friday) welcomed the Rapid Renewal Scheme, a new pilot programme being introduced by the Passport Office. This will see applications being processed on the day.

The aim of the Children First Bill 2014 is to improve the care and protection of children by raising awareness of child abuse and neglect.

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement by Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD that he intends to provide a capital gains tax (CGT) exemption in this year’s Finance Bill.