Fergus O'Dowd, TD

Fine Gael Senator for Galway West/ South Mayo, Hildegarde Naughton today (Wednesday) congratulated Galway’s young scientists after meeting with some of them at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2015.

Following a visit today to the A&E in Naas General Hospital, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard Durkan, has emphasised the seriousness of the situation and said that alternative space must be found for A&E patients.

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes is today meeting in the European Parliament with representatives from the car hire industry from across Europe. It's an industry that is worth in excess of €10 billion to the European economy.

“Protecting our local heritage sites is good for jobs in the Midlands”, says Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden. Deputy McFadden was speaking after end of year results for the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme showed that the scheme generated 175 jobs last year, with a total of €15 million invested in 540 projects across the country.

I am shocked and appalled by the brutal and horrific killings which occurred earlier today in Paris at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine. Our thoughts are above all with the victims and their families, but also with the people of Paris and of France. The murder of journalists and writers at their place of work is a direct attack on the basic values of freedom of speech and of tolerance. That this should have happened in a city and a country which for centuries have been leaders in the international struggle for human rights is a particular outrage. On behalf of the Irish Government, I offer our total solidarity and support to our French colleagues and friends as they work to capture the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The current situation with Emergency Department overcrowding can’t go on. I acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.

“The announcement that Irish Beef is to be available on the US market is a huge endorsement of the beef industry in Ireland” said Peter Fitzpatrick, Louth TD.

“Foreign investment by IDA client companies created 7,131 net high-skilled jobs in 2014 and resulted in almost 5,000 additional positions in the local economy, particularly benefiting the construction sector. This is very much to be welcomed and to be encouraged in 2015” says Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael TD for Louth.

“Foreign investment by IDA client companies created 7,131 high-skilled jobs in 2014 and resulted in almost 5,000 additional positions in the local economy, particularly benefiting the construction sector. This is very much to be welcomed and to be encouraged in 2015” says Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee.

Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has called on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland to put a stay on the increase in the Annual Retention Fee.