Josepha Madigan, TD

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP has today (Sunday) said that discrepancies between Irish data and ECB data on SME lending need to be investigated, to give Irish businesses a clearer picture of current lending conditions.

Minister of State Paudie Coffey TD has announced a Boundary Commission will be established to review the current Boundary of the Waterford City/South Kilkenny Border. Minister Coffey said the Commission would look at the boundary from a planning and development perspective and would look to ensure historic and cultural ties were respected in any recommendations that are to be made. Minister Coffey also said there are exciting new plans for the re-development of the North Quays that will transform Waterford City and ensure its place as the main urban centre in the South East Region.

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, James Bannon has urged farmers and farming families to make farm safety a priority during the busy silage cutting season.

“There are now more Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and Resources teachers available than ever before, despite what Renua may have people believe”, says Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP today (Friday) said that as the economy begins to recover, income tax reductions coupled with wage increases will deliver rising levels of prosperity to all parts of society.

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and the party's Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke, has welcomed the news that the National Office for Rare Disease was officially opened today (Thursday). The office was opened by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and the office will remain in the Mater Hospital until the new National Children's Hospital is built.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the news that Irish Water is to invest €5 million in the water supply scheme on Cape Clear. The announcement was made during a public meeting organised by Deputy Harrington today (Thursday).

Funding for the cross border European Studies Programme (ESP) has been withdrawn by the Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive, John O’Dowd MLA. The Programme has been funded on a 50:50 basis by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills here for nearly 30 years. ESP links 90 post-primary schools north and south through collaborative curriculum-based projects furthering tolerance, mutual understanding and an appreciation of the cultures of others.

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes, and Vice Chairman of the EU Delegation for relations with Iraq, today (Thursday) described the humanitarian crisis in Iraq as urgent. He was speaking at an international meeting in Brussels to launch a new appeal for fresh funding for Iraq.

“Only this week, Fianna Fáil’s Jobs Spokesperson, Dara Calleary, bemoaned the fact that Ireland’s competitiveness is not what it was in 2008; a time when Ireland was on the brink of the economic crash, buoyed up by a false economy and broken banks.