Richard Bruton, TD

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed strong growth in the number of overseas visitors and those coming to Ireland for holiday purposes in the first three months of the year, as revealed in the today’s CSO figures.

Fine Gael TDs and members of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Jerry Buttimer and Regina Doherty, have urged the HSE to take action to ensure Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients can continue to receive a new drug which is significantly improving their condition. The TDs were speaking after they met with MS sufferers using the drug.

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane, has today (Thursday) called on the Food Safety Authority, to introduce mandatory folic acid food fortification and to have a renewed public health campaign to promote the importance of taking folic acid pre pregnancy. The Senator made her calls in response to the findings of a new study carried out by the UCD centre for human reproduction and the HSE Eurocat Registers, which reveals that there has been a rise of 10% in neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly in babies since 2009.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South Martin Heydon, has today (Thursday) raised questions in the Dáil about the Service Area Policy of the National Roads Authority (NRA), questioning why it is taking a state led approach to the provision of online service areas, which are the service stations directly accessible from motorways.

Seanad Chief Whip and Fine Gael Senator for Kerry, Paul Coghlan, today (Thursday) welcomed the news that Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme has been included as a priority project in Irish Water’s Proposed Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016.

Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, Minister Coveney today secured €148 million from this fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry.

Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton, has welcomed the extension, by Bus Eireann, of its city and suburban commuter tickets to the Carrigtwohill area. This will provide for substantial savings for people living in Carrigtwohill who travel by bus to Cork City for work and education.

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, today welcomed the passing by the Oireachtas of legislation to establish a new DNA Database System.

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Ireland warmly welcomes the holding of this third Ministerial meeting between the European Union and the League of Arab States and commends Deputy Prime Minister Venizelos and the Greek Government for their very effective hosting of the event.

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/Galway, Frank Feighan, today (Friday) welcomed the announcement of a €7 million investment and 125 new jobs in Carrick-on-Shannon and Roosky, made by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD.