Fergus O'Dowd, TD

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has warmly welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaelteacht, Jimmy Deenihan, of the awarding of a €1.1 million contract to allow for the latest phase of the restoration of Killarney House and Gardens.

Some of you here this evening, assembled in his honour, knew him and loved him. So, I speak to you with some anxiety, anxious to do the man, the husband, the father and the friend justice in this inaugural lecture in his name.

New CSO figures out today show very strong growth in revenue from overseas visitors last year and confirm that tourism is playing a significant role in Ireland’s economic recovery, according to Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar.

Speaking following the launch this morning (Tuesday) of Eurofound's Third European Quality of Life Survey Report, ‘The Social Situation of Young People in Europe’, Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, said the key to ensuring a better future for our young people is to provide the best means of upskilling, retraining and employment opportunities for them.

Fine Gael European Election Candidate for Ireland South and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Simon Harris TD, has today (Thursday) said that while the resignation of Nicolas Jermyn from St Vincent’s Public Hospital is welcome, there are still a number of outstanding issues for the hospital to address.

At the outset, I believe that it is important to note that the Fixed Charge Notice and penalty points system has operated extremely well since its introduction in 2002, and has enjoyed wide public support. This is evidenced by the fact that over 70% of those who receive a fixed charge notice pay it within 28 days. The system plays a very important role in enhancing road safety, but it is essential that the system is applied equally and without favour to all road users, and that it is seen to be so.

I wish to pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, on his retirement from An Garda Síochána.

Fine Gael Wexford TD, Liam Twomey, has today (Thursday) urged anyone who is eligible to vote, but who has not yet registered, to ensure they are added to the supplementary register.

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if separate Garda National Immigration Bureau arrangements could be made for employed tax-paying persons, many of whom are here as the result of Industrial Development Agency incentives and who currently are often forced to take several days from work to queue for renewal in view of limited number of renewals dispensed each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a policy on social affordability measures for vulnerable customers of the new Water Authority have been developed; when they will be available for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter?