Damien English, TD

Childcare workers should be allowed to take antigen tests the night before work to ensure children are not turned away the following morning, Fine Gael’s Seanad Spokesperson on Children has said.

“I was very sorry to hear of the sad passing of Des O'Malley and my sympathies go to Des's family on what must be a very difficult time with such a personal loss.

The code of silence surrounding the IRA murder of a Louth farmer thirty years ago must come to an end in order to secure truth, justice and accountability for his family, a Fine Gael TD has said.

The HSE should immediately develop and implement a national plan to address the effects of Long Covid, a Fine Gael TD has urged. Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health Deputy Burke said, “At a national level, the HSE needs to develop a long-term plan which will address the risks associated with Long Covid.

Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan, has reiterated her call for the Government to prioritise its Programme for Government commitment of drafting a new Family Courts Bill.  This landmark piece of legislation will greatly modernise the family justice system and bring about a speedier resolution to many families who remain trapped in a backlog of lengthly and delayed court proceedings. 

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh will travel to Hungary this week to take part in Budapest Pride. MEP Walsh has been outspoken about the continuous anti-LGBTI+ law adaptations in Hungary since taking office in the Parliament in 2019.

A three-year cap on the financial contributions of family farms and businesses when calculating the cost of nursing home care will bring peace of mind to farming and business communities across the country, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Leader of Seanad Éireann and Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty has called on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to conduct a review of all contracts in the Oireachtas to establish whether they have misclassified workers as self-employed.

Challenges faced by those living with dementia did not disappear during the pandemic and must be tackled by expediting the implementation of the National Dementia Care Strategy as we emerge from the height of the Covid-19 emergency, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

The Seanad has today unanimously acknowledged the lack of fairness and transparency in last year’s Belarusian Presidential election and condemned the show trials and anti-democratic actions which have taken place since.