Senator John McGahon

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?

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a temporary site has been sought for the gaelcholáiste to serve the general Ballinteer/Stepaside area that will commence operation in 2014 under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge, due to the urgency of this matter and the concerns of students, parents and teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 18 December 2013, when the capitation grant and the ancillary services grant are expected to be merged; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending S.I. No. 80/2013 - Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 to include architectural technologist in the schedule of those eligible to certify under this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the cases where the loss of the single person child carer credit results in the secondary carer moving into a higher tax band, as the loss of income caused is much larger than €1650 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has been informed by the Department of Health that the air ambulance service, formally known as the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS), has carried out 53 time-critical missions in Roscommon since its launch in the summer of 2012.

Fine Gael Cork East Deputy, Tom Barry, has today (Wednesday) has said that two significant incentives contained in the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) will greatly aid Irish tillage farmers. The RDP, as unveiled by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, includes more than €12.5 billion in funding for the agricultural sector up to 2020.