Senator Garret Ahearn

I will be as brief as possible. There are only a couple of points I want to raise I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Noonan, with regard to how we can broaden out the home improvement scheme. I understand that people can claim back the VAT paid against their income tax.

Fine Gael Dublin South West Senator, Cáit Keane, has welcomed the passing of the Marriage Equality Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Speaking in the Dáil today (Thursday), Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington, has said that all vehicles should be fitted with location tracking devices to help in the fight against crime.

The Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD, has today (Thursday) been elected a Vice President of the European People’s Party at its Congress in Madrid.

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has welcomed the latest retail figures showing the strongest growth since 2007.

QUESTION NO: 34 DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Health (Leo Varadkar) by Deputy Anthony Lawlor for ORAL ANSWER on 22/10/2015 To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of staff shortages within the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which is causing a backlog in the number of nursing applications being processed; his views that this is having a knock on effect on hospitals who desperately need to recruit nurses to deal with the overcrowding issue; his plans to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

“Changes to the small benefit tax measures announced in the Finance Bill mean that employers will now be able to award non-cash bonuses of up to €500 to staff, tax free. This is good news for employers and for staff”, says Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick.

Jim Daly, Cork South West Fine Gael TD, is introducing legislation in the Dáil today (Wednesday) which seeks to establish an Education Ombudsman.

Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has said the funding approval for a major upgrade of Athlone Garda Station is testament to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s commitment to investing in the force.

Fine Gael Senator and Government Chief Whip in the Seanad, Paul Coghlan, has commented on the independent review of republican and loyalist paramilitary groups published by the British Government, saying that An Garda Síochána and the PSNI must be the only forces policing border counties.