Senator Garret Ahearn

“The new era of quota free milk production in the EU does not allow the EU Commission to take a stand off approach to the milk sector”, cautioned Mairead McGuinness Vice President of the European Parliament and Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North West. McGuinness was speaking after the abolition of EU milk quotas started on Wednesday 1st April.

Fine Gael TD for Galway West and Mayo South, Seán Kyne has welcomed the news that the Live Register has fallen for the 33rd consecutive month with a drop of 22.5% in the number of people signing on in Galway.

On World Autism Awareness Day, David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East has called for the development of a comprehensive autism strategy at national level. This strategy would inform policy making and help to ensure a multi-departmental government approach to services and supports for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, this week in Dáil Éireann highlighted the importance of climate change and setting realistic targets ahead of the passing of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill.

“In February I raised the issue of huge costs imposed on people building one off houses or extensions due to the new building regulations. The Minister for Housing, Paudie Coffey, committed to a review and today he has confirmed that it is to take place”, says Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick

1,000 jobs for Longford. The majority of them to be filled locally with many roles filled by employees between the ages of 16 and 24.

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has said that while the drop in the Live Register to 10% is very much to be welcomed, it is the fall in unemployment among those under 25 that is most encouraging.

“Prometric, who have brought jobs and investment to Dundalk for over ten years, are to invest more than €3.5 million to expand its operation in Dundalk, creating 40 new high skilled jobs”, says Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael TD for Louth.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard Durkan, has said that the €86 million investment in social housing announced today by the Government will help bring an end to the Kildare housing crisis.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and Chair of the Fine Gael Internal Committee on Agriculture, Martin Heydon, has welcomed the abolition of milk quotas, saying it will be of huge benefit to dairy farmers throughout the country and in his own county of Kildare. Deputy Heydon was speaking today (Wednesday) as the first day of April marked the ending of milk quotas across the European Union.