Fergus O'Dowd, TD

“Ireland at the Cross Roads”

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard J Durkan, has today (Thursday) welcomed the approval of heads and general scheme of the new Bail Bill by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD in conjunction with Cabinet. Deputy Durkan has campaigned for changes to our bail laws for many years.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard J Durkan, has today (Thursday) welcomed the approval of heads and general scheme of the new Bail Bill by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD in conjunction with Cabinet. Deputy Durkan has campaigned for changes to our bail laws for many years.

Speaking today Minister Coveney said “I am delighted to announce the opening of these very important Schemes which will encourage the development of Irish agriculture.

“I am very pleased to confirm that Donegal is to receive almost €2.5 million in funding by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government towards social housing”, says Fine Gael Minister of State and Donegal TD, Joe McHugh.

Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, Brian Hayes has today (Thursday) said that Dublin Airport can effectively become the third Heathrow runway. Mr Hayes made his comments following the Government's formal approval of IAG's offer for Aer Lingus.

Fine Gael TD for Cork East and Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, David Stanton has welcomed progress in the development of proposals to establish the country’s first Community Court on a pilot basis. This follows the recommendation by Oireachtas Justice Committee to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD in July 2014, to establish a pilot Community Court.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle, has highlighted how Fianna Fáil is trying to claim credit for the creation of the IDA in a desperate effort to re-write history and convince people of its job creation credentials.

Dublin Senator Catherine Noone, has called for anti-sugar consumption measures to be implemented here as a matter of priority. The call follows a new UK study revealing that children under 11 may be consuming three times too much sweet food and drink.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, and Chair of the Fine Gael Internal Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has welcomed the progress made at the 6th beef roundtable held this week, the second such meeting held in 2015.