Leo Varadkar, TD

The Cabinet today agreed to the proposal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence that he appoint Retired District Court Judge Mr Patrick McMahon to the position of Confidential Recipient under Regulation 6 of the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice) Regulations 2007.

In response to an approach by members of the Syrian community in Ireland and in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD today announced that he is putting in place an immigration based humanitarian admission programme with a view to providing some further assistance to vulnerable persons affected by the conflict in the region.

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn TD, that Trim will be the location for one of four new Educate Together primary schools expected to open this September. It comes after a survey was carried out in Trim asking parents on their preferred school patronage.

The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline what structures he has in place to deal with sexual offenders in our prisons and in our communities and to what extent co-operation from the offender is mandatory

On 14th May last, I referred to the Garda Inspectorate the O’Mahoney Report and the Garda Professional Standards Unit Report into the Fixed Charge Notice issue. I set out and provided to the Garda Inspectorate seven principles which I believed should inform the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System:

Speaking today, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said: “I welcome the High Court ruling which should allow the State airports to operate normal services this Friday. I have said on a number of occasions that the strike should have been deferred given that the Expert Panel is currently engaging with all parties involved in the dispute.”

Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, has paid tribute to Mrs. Christine Buckley who today passed away following a long illness.

Next week’s meeting of the European Council was originally scheduled to be the first of 2014. However, as you are aware, an extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State and Government was called in Brussels last week to discuss the deeply worrying situation in Ukraine.

Fine Gael Cork South Central TD and Chair of Fine Gael’s LGBT Group, Jerry Buttimer, has today (Saturday) welcomed the passage of a motion at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in support of marriage equality.

Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Education and Skills, Ciaran Cannon TD, will tomorrow (Sunday) represent the Government at the St Pat’s for All parade in New York city. The annual event, which includes LGBT groups, community groups, children's bands, Irish organisations and religious and civic groups, celebrates the Irish community in New York.