Leo Varadkar, TD

“The Department of Finance are to undertake a review of the taxation of entrepreneurs and the self-employed. I believe that this review will come to many of the same conclusions found by the Fine Gael Standing Up for Small Business Campaign, that the self-employed want and deserve tax standardisation”, said Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Ray Butler.

Fine Gael Cork North Central Senator and the Party’s Seanad Spokesperson on Health, Colm Burke, has said that we need to plan ahead for our ageing population and that there is an urgent need to develop and grow professional home care services.

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary, Noel Coonan, has said that a drop of almost 13% in the Live Register in Tipperary since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012 is an indication of steady growth, but continued focus is needed to drive the recovery forward in this area.

Member of the European Parliament’s Development Committee, Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP has welcomed increased support for humanitarian aid. The survey was carried out for the European Commission as part of its Eurobarometer series by the polling company Behaviour and Attitudes.

“The planned upgrade of the Phoenix Park tunnel will cut the travel time for Kildare people commuting to work in Dublin”, says Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor. Deputy Lawlor was speaking after Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, announced a €13.7 million project to upgrade the Phoenix Park Tunnel in order to cater for commuter trains.

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary, Noel Coonan has said that following a slow start, 94% of GPs in South Tipperary have now signed up to take part in the free GP Service for under 6s.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has condemned the actions of vandals who left hundreds of homes exposed to the threat of flooding after they opened locks on the Grand Canal yesterday.

The Department of Agriculture have started to issue €117 million in payments nationally and €9.425,313.69M here in County Donegal under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. These payments will provide a financial boost for the 4410 farmers in Donegal who have been approved to receive this payment.

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, today (Friday) said transfers of family businesses from one generation to another should be made easier, given the fact that approximately 150,000 family businesses are forced to close in the EU each year.

Dara Murphy, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central and Minister of State for European Affairs and Data Protection says the special 9% Vat rate for the tourism industry has been a huge success and has led to the creation of over 30,000 jobs.