Martin Heydon, TD

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Helen McEntee, is sending a strong message to Meath and Louth nursing graduates who are working abroad: “There are 67 nursing jobs for you at home in Drogheda.”

Fine Gael TD for Clare and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pat Breen has welcomed the new National Aviation Policy published by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe.

“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 Senator, Catherine Noone, has today backed research undertaken by Alcohol Action Ireland which highlights that, despite what alcohol companies try to spin, beer is in fact not a budget “old reliable” when it comes to increasing excise – with only three increases between 1990 and 2015, and one decrease.

“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.