Simon Coveney, TD

Thank you Chairperson. I would like to thank you for your words of welcome and Ambassador Patricia O Brien who is our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, for her words of introduction. I very much welcome the opportunity to be here.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. I want to begin by welcoming you – one and all – to this great day which marks a major milestone in your lives. I want to specially welcome all of those of you immediately in front of me who will shortly become Ireland’s newest citizens.

I have congratulated Joan Burton today on her election as leader of the Labour Party and confirmed that I have nominated her as Tánaiste. We agreed to work closely together for the remainder of the Government’s term of office to fulfil the mandate given to our parties in 2011.

Speaking today Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said: This is a blow to fans and to visitors coming from abroad. The way this happened at the very last minute is clearly unsatisfactory from everyone’s point of view and highlights the need to review the major events licencing laws. Nonetheless residents have legitimate concerns about five concerts in a row which the GAA has conceded was a mistake.

I was delighted to learn earlier today that Mary Robinson has been appointed the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Climate Change. Mary is an individual of enormous stature internationally with a strong passion for all human rights issues.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will communicate his disagreement with the World Health Organisation proposal which excludes universal access to reproductive health (currently MDG 5B) from its submission for a new health goal for the post 2015 framework; if he will further request that this vital health right is included in the final WHO proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

I fully support efforts by the Minister in particular to stamp out smoking. Unlike others, I accept the evidence that smoking really does kill and before it kills one, it makes one very unhealthy and it greatly reduces one's quality of life

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD, Dara Murphy, has said that he has been in touch with the GAA in Cork, who have confirmed that Páirc Uí Chaoimh is available to host the Garth Brooks concerts which have been cancelled in Dublin after Dublin City Council refused to grant licences for two out of the five planned gigs.

Fine Gael Dublin Central TD and Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement of €105,059 in funding which has been allocated to sporting clubs and organisations in the Dublin Central area through the Sports Capital Programme.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement that the islands are set to benefit from the Rural Development Programme (RDP) outlined by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD. The RDP is now being sent to the European Commission for approval.