Leo Varadkar, TD

Speaking today on the publication of the Central Statistics Office recorded crime statistics for 2013, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, welcomed the fact that crime is continuing to fall across most crime categories, with a total reduction of more than 16,000 crimes over 2012.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has welcomed the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014, which has been published today (Monday) by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD. Deputy McEntee said that the new legislation will offer greater protection to consumers and create a fairer playing field between suppliers and major retailers.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to be joining you on this special day for all those of you who will be granted Irish citizenship. It is a very important day in the story of your life and it is also an important day for Ireland, as the host nation bestowing this honour on you.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has marked the reduction of the air travel tax to zero and welcomed the response of the airlines to the Government’s move in the last Budget.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this report and to affirm the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in selling Ireland.

Fine Gael Dublin Central TD and Minister of State for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, has this morning (Friday) said the provision of €1.7 million for the development of youth facilities in Dublin’s North Inner City in 2014 clearly demonstrates this Government’s commitment to our young people who are most at risk.

Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has welcomed the news that €100,000 in funding is to be granted to twelve buildings and structures in Carlow under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014.

Fine Gael Waterford TD and Vice-Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Paudie Coffey, has said the GAA must ensure that inter-county matches continue to be available on free-to-air TV here. Deputy Coffey said the GAA has a strong presence in every parish across the country and that local communities should be entitled to view inter-county matches free-to-air.

Fine Gael Meath West TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Damien English, has today (Friday) urged all Government departments to engage more with the public through social media. Deputy English made his call after the response to a series of Parliamentary Questions he submitted revealed that just three out of sixteen government departments engage in real time reporting of public conversations on social media and blog sites.

Fine Gael Donegal North East TD, Joe McHugh, has today (Friday) called on the North’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness MLA, and his colleagues in Stormont to take immediate action on the UK HGV levy, which is due to come into effect this coming Tuesday. Deputy McHugh has consistently warned that the levy will have a serious impact on Irish hauliers using the roads in Northern Ireland to transport goods around Ireland.