Senator Maria Byrne

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has today (Thursday) said that HMV staff should be paid before the company’s creditors. Deputy Byrne was speaking after it emerged that staff at the troubled music retailer have not been paid for hours worked over Christmas.

These products were already withdrawn by the company from the market. Samples of raw ingredients were also tested.

The boundary commission's findings were published some time ago but the new year presents a good opportunity to debate proposals for reform of the political system, at least on a geographical basis.

To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the early access to pension funds as announced in Budget 2013 is limited insofar as it applied only to funded additional voluntary contributions; if he will consider including personal pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Government Chief Whip, Minister Paul Kehoe T.D., today announced the Government’s Legislative Programme for the Spring 2013 Parliamentary session.

As the House is aware, the findings of Laboratory tests, provided by the FSAI to my Department on 14 January, revealed the presence of non beef DNA in some beef products. This generally involved trace or minute amounts of porcine or equine DNA with the exception of one burger which had a high level of equine DNA.

Today as Taoiseach I’m honoured to attend the European Parliament and present the priorities of the Irish Presidency

Given the statement by the Revenue Commissioners last week that they will be compiling information on valuing properties for the local property tax beginning in March, it is necessary to provide more information for the public.

Fine Gael Laois/Offaly TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has hit back at claims from Barry Cowen that the Government is failing to tackle the jobs crisis, saying that during Fianna Fáil’s last three years in power over a quarter of a million jobs were lost in the private sector.