Richard Bruton, TD

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, has described as a watershed moment today’s agreement by European Agriculture Ministers of a Council position on the reform of the CAP.

For generations now there’s been a special relationship between The President of the United States and the Irish people.

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there has been a review carried out in the cost benefit to outsourcing public services; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise of the success of the partial capacity benefit scheme; the number of persons who have accessed the benefit; the number of persons who have returned to the workplace as a result; the savings it has made to the Exchequer since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has today (Wednesday) called on Fianna Fáil to stop using the situation in Cyprus to try to instil fear in Irish bank depositors.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place of the success of the jobbridge scheme since its introduction; the employment success rate for individuals who have completed their scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline consequences for medical professionals who are found to be providing false information to her Department in relation to disability or illness benefit claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the State agencies that provide information or assistance to her Department in the investigation of social welfare fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is the requirement for a review of social welfare payments to families who are living in poverty to protect the misuse of payments for drug or alcohol abuse at the expense of children or spouses; if there is a method by which teachers and persons can report suspected misuse of payments to her Department for action to be taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter.