Leo Varadkar, TD

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, is calling for an international branding campaign for Irish beef to be established, which would highlight the fact that Irish cattle are grass-fed, giving our beef a better flavour. Deputy Lawlor has suggested that the campaign could be styled on the Kerrygold marketing drive, which pitches the product as ‘the one and only Irish butter’.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald, T.D. and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, MLA, met in Dublin today. This was their first meeting since Minister Fitzgerald's appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality.

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chairman of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has said protecting jobs must be the priority when dealing with the large level of debt within the SME sector. Deputy English was responding to the findings of a Central Bank report published yesterday, which shows that 41% of loans owed by the sector are in arrears.

This is one of the truly delightful perks of Ministerial office. I can't remember who it was who described politics as "a cruel trade" but whoever it was missed out on occasions like this, when the Minister gets to be part of the collective celebration of individual achievement.

Speaking following the announcement by Aer Lingus that it will accept the recommendations of the Expert Panel on the IASS pension scheme, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said:

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the poor standard and quality of broadband and mobile phone technology...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the poor standard and quality of broadband and mobile phone technology...

A special one-off grant of €200,000 for Mountain Rescue Ireland to purchase new vehicles and equipment was announced today by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar & Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed assurances from Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, that the Government has no plans to change the free travel scheme for older people.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, Derek Keating, has, today (Thursday), welcomed assurances from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, that climate change remains a top priority for Government.