Fergus O'Dowd, TD

Fine Gael Waterford Senator and the Party’s Leader in the Seanad Maurice Cummins, has announced that proposals to develop the role of the Seanad within the existing constitutional framework are planned for October next.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, today met the Palestinian Ambassador, along with Ambassadors from Morocco, Saudi Arabia and representatives from the Egyptian and UAE Embassies. Their discussions focused on the current crisis in Gaza.

Fine Gael Party Chairperson, and President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville TD, today (Wednesday), introduced Elber Twomey and her brother Thomas, to the Minister for Justice, France Fitzgerald TD. In 2012 Elber Twomey lost her husband, son and unborn daughter in Devon, when a taxi driver deliberately drove into them after writing a suicide note.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, accompanied by Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy, TD, participated in today’s General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels, the first meeting of the body under the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Fine Gael TD for Laois Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has today (Tuesday), been appointed as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the position vacated by Damien English, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, today (Tuesday).

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, is meeting EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels today to discuss the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine and the current crisis in Gaza.

The Government today announced funding of €500,000 for the United Nations’ emergency appeal for families affected by the devastating conflict in Gaza.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We talk a lot these days about reform. But why reform? Surely not just for the sake of reform; But to keep apace with rapidly changing realities of life in contemporary Ireland.