Ireland is a great place to make films and television programmes, a point that An Taoiseach and I made to Stephen Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis when we met at Government Buildings in January, and a matter I also discussed with Tom Cruise when he was in Dublin recently.

Marking the 15th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is an opportunity to reflect on progress and to plan ahead with a sharp focus on a shared society.

Working directly on the issues that matter to the people of Meath East has given me a passion and determination to work hard on behalf of the constituency. I have campaigned on a range of local issues like getting a fair deal for people in pyrite homes, to fighting for the people of Slane who have campaigned long and hard to get a bypass for their village.

Ireland takes the chair on 1 January and we intend to hit the ground running. We’ll be about substance, not show – in short, we’ll be a no-nonsense Presidency. This will be Ireland’s 7th Presidency of the European Union. We are known for running an effective Presidency, and Ihope very much that we can live up to that reputation once again next year.

I am confident that by making these difficult but necessary decisions, we will stay on course to exit the bailout and continue on the road towards economic recovery. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Working together, I am certain we can succeed in creating a strong, sustainable economy that creates jobs and opportunities for our young people.

"Why must children be forced to settle for crumbs from the Constitutional table - children have been let down by the state in the past. A Yes vote will put the onus on the State to live up their responsibilities to children"- Yvonne Kelly, ISPCC Volunteer

We are one of the families in this country who are extremely fortunate to be sharing our home with children who for a variety of reasons cannot stay in their own homes. It is only through our dealings as a foster family that I have come to realise how the current legal system underpinned by the Constitution has let down some of our most needy and vulnerable children.

The Government Chief Whip, Minister Paul Kehoe T.D., today announced the Government’s Legislative Programme for the Autumn 2012 Parliamentary session.

Collins had high hopes and expectations for the country he helped to found and liberate. In his own words, “the freedom, strength, and greatness of the nation will be measured by the independence, economic well-being, physical strength and intellectual greatness of the people.