Martin Heydon, TD

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, has today (Thursday) welcomed the inclusion in the Finance Bill amendments of a provision to extend the opening hours of licenced bookmaking premises from 7am in the morning to 10pm in the evening during winter hours.

Fine Gael TD, Martin Heydon, has today (Thursday), welcomed the news that farmers and processors have reached an agreement on the beef issue. An agreement was reached in the early hours of this morning at the beef forum chaired by Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, Jerry Buttimer, has said that today’s behaviour by Mary Lou McDonald in Dáil Éireann is a stunt which is directly designed to deflect attention away from the Party’s treatment of abuse victims. Deputy McDonald’s actions have resulted in the Dáil being suspended for the day.

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has said the supports in place for SMEs, alongside a growing economy, have resulted in an improvement in trading conditions.

Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne, has today (Thursday) welcomed plans to establish a local division of the Unified Patent Court in Ireland. Deputy Kyne has raised the issue in the Oireachtas, believing that this development will add to Ireland’s reputation as a world-class location for innovation and business.

measures necessary to improve the prices paid to beef producers here with particular reference to bringing the prices paid to producers here into line with those in adjoining jurisdictions

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has today (Wednesday) encouraged all SME owners and farmers to ask questions if a bank refuses credit. Senator Coghlan was speaking after it was revealed that the Credit Review Office (CRO) is overturning 56% of the banks’ decisions to refuse credit.

Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has been informed by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD, that the HSE has committed to carrying out a fundamental review of St Hilda’s Services in Athlone, to address the challenges currently facing the intellectual disability service-provider.

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Wednesday), said that the Seanad needs to urgently debate the findings of the Garda Inspectorate Report. Speaking on the Order of Business in the Seanad, Senator Conway expressed his shock at the serious, systemic weaknesses in the operation of an Garda Síochána raised in this report.

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, today (Tuesday) warned against the airing of e-cigarettes advertisements as these advertisements will normalise smoking and mark a step-back in the fight against tobacco.