This Week In The Seanad – This week saw the Seanad hear debate on the ESB (Electronic Communications Network) Bill 2013, which will allow the roll out of ESB-based broadband services, as well as Statements on the Greyhound Racing Industry, and we debated a Private Member’s Motion on homophobia and the role of the state broadcaster. You can read more here – http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/02/20/this-week-in-the-seanad-16/

EPP Congress – call for volunteers – As you might have heard, the European People’s Party Congress is taking place in the Dublin Convention Centre in a few weeks time from the 5th of March until the 7th of March. There will be 1,500 high-ranking European politicians travelling to Dublin and Fine Gael has a key role in organising this event. We need your help to ensure that delegates get a positive impression of Dublin and of Fine Gael. Would you be able to volunteer some time to greet delegates at Dublin airport or at their hotels or the various social events? If so, please get in touch with me.

Note Of Caution On OECD Taxation Plans – This week, I called on the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to put together contingency plans for the implementation of the OECDs planned BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) taxation measures which, depending on which countries implement them, could mean challenges for Ireland – http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/02/20/oecd-planned-action-on-tax-must-be-viewed-with-caution/

Measures Needed To Deal With Demand For Residential Property In Dublin – Parts of Dublin have seen rents rise by more than 25% in the last three years, with Dublin as a whole seeing rental rates rise by 20% according to recent reports from Daft.ie. As such, I have cautiously welcomed the news by AIB that they are providing a €350m fund for housebuilding in Dublin, Cork and Galway. However, this needs to be just one part of a holistic solution – http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/02/20/suite-of-measures-needed-to-deal-with-rising-demand-for-residential-property-in-dublin/

Dublin European Selection Convention – This week, Fine Gael held its final selection convention ahead of the European elections. While I believe that Fine Gael could have benefited from a two candidate approach, I believe that Minister Hayes will be a fantastic standard bearer for the party and will do us proud. My speech to the convention: http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/02/20/european-selection-convention-speech/