Senator Micheál Carrigy

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a statutory limit on the amount of fees that a pension fund can charge as is proposed in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Fine Gael Kildare North TD, Bernard Durkan, has today (Thursday) welcomed this week’s announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, of an investment of over €12 billion in agriculture sector between now and 2020.

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has called on the OPW to take necessary action to slow the alarming scale of coastal erosion at Rossbeigh in Kerry, and to salvage what is left of the dunes. Senator Coghlan made his call during an Adjournment Debate in the Seanad this week.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has today (Thursday) welcomed the inclusion of the Fisheries Amendment Bill on the A list of the Government’s legislative programme, saying the Bill will be delivered during this Dáil session.

Fine Gael Cork Senator, Deirdre Clune, has today (Thursday) said that new research shows that we need to debunk myths about studying science subjects if we want to attract more young women into the tech industry. The research, carried out as part of the Women Invent Tomorrow Initiative being run by Silicon Republic, is the first of its kind in Ireland and looks at why there are so few women qualified in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has today (Thursday) said that the results of the HGV toll holiday on the M3, which was carried out late last year, show that a bypass is the only long-term sustainable solution for Slane. During the toll holiday the number of HGVs passing through the village dropped by an average of 40%.

I’m delighted to be here this evening to launch the first tranche of the Military Service Pension Archive and the accompanying Guide to the Military Service Pensions Collection. (1916 to 1923).

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has today (Thursday) welcomed the acceptance of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2013 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD. The Bill, which was put forward by Senator Coghlan and his colleagues Senators Maurice Cummins and Michael Comiskey, was supported unanimously by the Seanad.

Pleased to receive confirmation from The Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D. and the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. announced today that every second level school in Ireland will have access to 100Mbp/s connectivity by the beginning of the 2014/2015 school year.

To ask the Minister for Finance if the debt write off by AIB to Independent Newspapers (INM) was sanctioned by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter?