Senator Garret Ahearn

An Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader, Enda Kenny TD, has told a Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting that he will outline his future intentions after his trip to the US next month. Fine Gael Party Chairman, Martin Heydon TD for Kildare South, said the Fine Gael party proceeds in “a united fashion”.

Fine Gael Cork Senator, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the approval of a Tribunal of Inquiry to investigate the alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, but has urged that we must ensure the costs don’t run unreasonably high.

In a bid to protect cyclists on Irish roads, Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon and Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty, will tomorrow (weds) publish a Bill that will see motorists forced to obey a minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres- and one metre in zones with speed limits of under 50 km per hour- when overtaking cyclists.

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Tom Neville, has said that Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Jobs has surpassed its employment targets ensuring that employment is now at its highest level since the economic crash in 2008.

New figures showing unemployment at its lowest level since 2008 have been welcomed by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar who has pledged to drive further progress in this area in the year ahead.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (Tuesday) welcomed the latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures from the Central Statistics Office, showing that employment has continued to increase and unemployment is now at 6.8%.

Addressing a Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting with European Commission First Vice President, Frans Timmermans, Fine Gael spokesman on EU Affairs, Senator Neale Richmond, has challenged the EU and civic society to take the fight to Eurosceptics.

Today’s (21st February) data published by the CSO in the Quarterly National Household Survey show that employment has increased at an annual rate of 65,000 in the final quarter of last year. Reacting to these positive employment figures, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. stated:

Minister of State Joe McHugh has announced a €3.8M water scheme in Gortahork which will deliver quality supplies to 5,000 people by the end of the year. The Donegal TD cut the sod today on the new water treatment plant at Ardsbeg. It is part of €6.3M in infrastructure contracts being signed off by Minister McHugh today with the formal signing for the Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana later today.