The first thing to say is that Micheál Martin’s message of new politics and real reform is connecting with the Irish people. Just three weeks into the job as leader, he is already the most popular leader, with a satisfaction rating of 42%.

I believe this figure is a real measure of how people have responded to Micheál as the new kind of leader that the country needs now. He is the only one demonstrating the kind of positive vision the country is calling for. He is the only leader, who has set out in detail, an honest and ambitious plan for Ireland. On election day, I think people will want to deal Micheál, his team, and his new approach to politics the strongest possible hand in the next Dáil.

Returning to the polls, before anyone takes them as a foregone conclusion, people should remember the quality of the candidates standing for Fianna Fáil up and down the country. These are people who have strong records nationally and locally. These people are embedded in their communities, working hard for ordinary working people on the ground. They are people, who know the needs of their communities, have delivered for them in the past, and who have plans for the future of their local areas. This isn’t wishful thinking, these are hard political facts and I think they shouldn’t be discounted.

Make no mistake about it, the rag bag of independents and crackpot socialists are ideal if you want the next Dáil to be a four year screaming match. But when it comes to keeping recovery in focus, they just don’t have a clue.

What we need is a way to constructively reform this country. The only leader who has put forward a plan to do that is Micheál Martin, and we need him to have as strong a team as possible in the next Dáil.

Before I finish, I want you to recall a similar series of polls in the Evening Herald and the Irish Independent at the same point in the 2007 election. Despite those poll predictions, we finished seven points higher on election day itself.

We are in a similar position now. No one has voted yet, the country wants a new approach to politics, and it is up to all of us to deliver that.

Is it:

a. Now, or
b. Later

In this election, when you boil it all down, that’s really the big question that we all face.

We have the diagnosis: We are borrowing too much.

Left unchecked, the debt will destroy international confidence and investment in our economy. If it is allowed continue to grow it will destroy jobs and cripple ordinary workers with extra taxation.

We have a cure: Bring our spending under control. By doing so, we will reduce borrowing.

This is what we have been doing for the past three years. Look at our record trade figures and you will see that these difficult but correct decisions are bearing fruit. The decisions taken have seen our manufacturers return to growth, creating jobs all around Ireland.

This is no time to run away from recovery policies. Delaying difficult decisions will only make the economy weaker, while all the time the ills of emigration and unemployment will get worse instead of better.

So the opposition needs to ask itself this: Will it implement recovery policies now or later?

Right now, the people need leaders with the courage to do the right thing even when it’s not popular. Micheál Martin has made it clear in the Fianna Fáil plan that he will continue to work for recovery and continue to take the right decisions for the Irish people.

For me personally it’s not even about trade balances or GDP figures. I support Micheál in this because when I consider the heartaches in families caused by emigration and unemployment, I think why on earth would anyone delay recovery by even one day? Ireland needs a leader like Micheál Martin who has the courage to do the right thing right now.

We have the plan, it needs your support. Click here to read and share the Plan.

It worked for a while but they now have a problem: Just when Labour were looking the other way, Sinn Féin started muscling in on their old Worker’s Party, hard-left vote.

Eamon Gilmore will do anything not to lose this war on the extremes of Irish politics http://www.sbpost.ie/newsfeatures/labour-and-sinn-fein-in-fight-for-left-supremacy-54210.html. Brian Lenihan couldn’t have been more clear in his analysis “The Labour Party is looking over its shoulder all the time at Sinn Fein and is afraid of being outbid in populist stakes and unreal economic policy”.

By the looks of things he will do anything to beat Gerry.

Gerry gives two fingers to international funding; Eamon then says he will rip up the agreement and get a new one.

Gerry says we can put balancing the books on the long finger; Eamon then says we can put it off another year.

None of these positions are credible. This election has only just started and Labour have turned their backs on the difficult but correct decisions required to support recovery for Ireland. Instead they are busy fighting a street fight for extremists on the left.

The Sinn Féin “Wealth Tax” in particular is another example of this trend. The truth is that the Sinn Féin “Wealth Tax” would see all mobile wealth fleeing from Ireland. The only wealth that can’t be moved is land. As Brian Lenihan warned “Every acre of land will have to be taxed to get the type of return Sinn Féin want out of their Wealth Tax”.

Where is all this going? Where will this populist bidding process get us?

Our nation’s recovery is fragile, but real. Our exports are at historically high levels, and the performance of our manufacturing industries has stabilised. This wasn’t achieved by luck, chance or accident - It was achieved with a sound, realistic approach to solving our nation’s problems.

However, if given the chance, Sinn Féin and Labour’s increasingly extreme policies would destroy any chance of recovery.

Can you help us find examples of Labour’s left lurch? Post them below.

Of course the other great Sinn Féin promise in this election is that if they had their way the IMF would be sent packing with their €50 billion. Sounds great doesn’t it? But what would we do, how would we pay for the public services that ordinary people rely on?

Well Gerry says we’d live off our savings for a while. Then what?

Seriously, then what would we do? How would the country operate if it had no money? Where would we get money if we had just told the lender of last resort to get stuffed? As Micheál said today, Gerry thinks he can wish the deficit away with a magic wand. Think about what would happen in this country if Sinn Féin had their way and we turned our back on affordable international funding?

It’s time for Sinn Féin, and all the other opposition parties, to stop peddling false promises. They’re telling people what they want to hear rather than what needs to be done.

The truth is that if we went the way of Sinn Féin, tens of thousands of nurses, gardaí and teachers would go to the ATMs and find they hadn’t been paid. Social Welfare wouldn’t be paid. The elderly would go without their pensions. Schools and hospitals would close because we would have no money to run them. The collapse of public services would cause unimaginable hardship for ordinary people everywhere.

The truth is that Sinn Féin’s plans on the economy are not credible and are profoundly dangerous. Playing games with our ability to pay for services simply isn’t on. Also slapping penal taxes on Irish workers and businesses will choke the economy and condemn thousands of Irish families to poverty.

It’s time Sinn Féin stopped playing their dangerous games with the economy. What Ireland needs is a real, credible plan. What do you think? Should Sinn Féin start spelling out what are their funding alternatives?

The Labour Party cites education as one of its core policy areas, but yet it has very little to say on it. Labour has yet to produce any substantive education policy document or offer any solutions to the funding problems facing the higher education sector, particularly in relation to increasing demand for college places. Last year, Labour’s Ruairi Quinn accused Ireland’s higher education strategy of “lying in tatters” due to rising student numbers yet he continued to rule out the reintroduction of third level fees.

The demand for college places increased by 9% last year and today’s Hunt report states that we need the capacity of our higher education system needs to double over the next twenty years. If we continue to ignore the current funding problem in the manner of the Labour party, then we will be left with a higher education system unable to cope with the demand for places and risk compromising quality standards. We need to introduce a sustainable and affordable funding model that ensures as many people as possible benefit from a world class education system.

It is difficult to see how a Labour/Fine Gael government could reach agreement on this matter. Their current policies in this area are diametrically opposed. Fine Gael has proposed the introduction of a graduate tax that would heap substantial debt on graduates the moment they enter the tax system no matter what their level of earnings. We all know it often takes years before students begin earning a decent income. Yet FG proposes that students will begin paying back up to €17,000 in debt irrespective of their level of income. This proposal goes much further than the recommendation of the Hunt Report. The Hunt Report recommendation is much more equitable and affordable and will ensure that greater numbers of students from lower socio economic backgrounds can afford to attend college.

As there are indications that interest rates may rise, it is more important than ever that under pressure mortgage holders know that the new revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears is there to help.

The Central Bank has just published the new revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA).

The Central Bank Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) reflects the recent recommendations made by the Government founded expert group on mortgage arrears and personal debt chaired by Hugh Cooney. I was pleased to see that many of the recommendations reflected the recommendations that were made in the Report I co-authored with Deputy Olwyn Enright of Fine Gael last February.

Under the new CCCMA lenders will not impose arrears charges or surcharge interest on borrowers who are in arrears and who are co-operating with the new Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) with effect from 1 January 2011.

The revised CCMA includes more detailed requirements for lenders when dealing with borrowers experiencing arrears and financial difficulties.

Borrowers who notify their lender that they are facing financial difficulties and may be at risk of mortgage arrears will be able to avail of the CCMA and lenders must establish a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) to deal with arrears and pre-arrears customers.

I am especially happy to see that as part of the CCMA lenders must ensure that communications with borrowers are presented in a clear and consumer-friendly manner and must make an information booklet available which provides details on the resolution process. This is very good news as it is often the stress of contacting their banks that puts people off discussing their financial pressures.

Also as part of the CCMA, lenders cannot contact the borrower more than three times, by whatever means, in a calendar month other than correspondence required by the CCMA or other regulatory requirements. I know that many people found relentless contact from their lenders added to an already pressured situation.

I am also happy to see that a lender must not require a borrower to change from an existing tracker mortgage to another mortgage type, as part of an alternative arrangement offered to the borrower in arrears or pre-arrears.

In addition to this Code recommendations made by the Cooney Group on the issue of personal debt have received the support of the Government and will be rolled out by the end of this year. These include supporting people who lose their homes by allowing them to stay in the home while the local authority finds appropriate accommodation. It is also envisioned that a Deferred Interest Scheme for borrowers who can pay at least 66% of the interest giving them up to 5 years to get back on their feet. Lenders should also consider letting borrowers in negative equity trade down to a more affordable. It is also proposed that a statutory non-judicial debt settlement system should be established.

Protecting family homes is a major priority for me and an issue I have worked on for the last 18 months. We are already helping almost 18,000 families directly through mortgage interest Supplement. We have refocused Mortgage Interest relief to help those who bought their homes at the peak of the market. In addition banks must now wait at least twelve months before they can apply for repossession.

I know there are families in my own constituency and around the country who have lost their jobs or have taken a pay cut and are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments as a result. These measures in addition to the practical action we have taken to date will help them retain their home. I would urge those who are worrying about their mortgage repayments to talk to their lender. In addition confidential free advice on coping with debt problems is always available with MABS.

It remains a great privilege for me and all of my colleagues to serve the people as their TD in Dáil Eireann.

I believe our work in our constituencies has had real benefits and we are seeing many educational and school building projects progress.

Like many around the country I have a young family. I want what is best for them. I want what’s best for you and your family. This principle is what guides me and the work that I do in the Dáil.

In recent months we have seen very important jobs and investment announcements but I know the numbers of people signing-on, despite being down significantly over the past 5 months, is still too high. I know from personal experience the difficulty and distress that comes with unemployment and working to tackle this problem and ensure there’s investment in education services are my top priorities.

Again I want to wish everyone a happy new year and I want to continue to do my level best for the people in the years ahead.

Recent statistics from the CSO point towards a massive recovery in the agriculture sector since 2009. According to the CSO’s advance estimate of Output, input and Income, the first estimate of operating surplus in agriculture in 2010 shows an annual increase of 46%. This follows a 31.1% decrease in 2009. After an extremely difficult year in 2009, farmers are experiencing a much needed reversal of fortunes.

In recent months, the Government outlined the integral role that the agri food industry will play in our economic recovery in the coming years. It began with the publication in July of Food Harvest 2020, an ambitious ten year plan for the industry. The report of the 2020 Committee on the future of the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sector sets targets to increase exports by a third to €12billion on an annual basis over the next decade.

In December’s budget, we once again recognised the vital role that agriculture and the agri food industry will play in this country’s economic recovery. The sector is highly labour intensive and is a vital part of the rural economy. As a result, payment levels for all the main agricultural schemes have been maintained for 2011.

We will continue to support farmers incomes through the re opening of the Agri-Environment Scheme, continuing payments under REPs, Farm Waste Management payments, funding for the Suckler Welfare Scheme and spending on the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. The total Department expenditure in 2011 will be almost €3 billion.

In 2010, total direct payments to the agriculture sector are expected to amount to circa €1,900 million, which includes payments under the Single Payment Scheme, the Area Based Disadvantaged Compensatory Allowance Scheme, REPS, forestry premia, disease compensation and other smaller schemes.

While Food Harvest 2020 is an ambitious ten year plan, the financial support provided in the budget along with recent CSO indicators prove these targets are achievable. Strong Government support means the sector is well placed to drive our economic recovery and move food and drink exports from €7 billion to €12billin over the next decade. The outlook for farmers and the rural economy in 2011 is undoubtedly positive.

A number of key milestones were reached in 2010 in tackling road safety. Reducing excessive and inappropriate speed on our roads is a key road safety issue. The rollout of the safety camera project in November this year represented a major achievement in our Road Safety strategy. Recent figures released from the Gardai indicate that the safety cameras project is already having a major impact in saving lives on our roads.

According to Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey, there has been a sharp decline in people being killed or seriously injured on the roads in recent weeks since the introduction of the speed cameras. There has been a reduction of 51 in the numbers killed or seriously injured in the period from November 17th to December 13th compared to the same period last year. The Garda Commissioner has put this down to the introduction of the speed cameras.

In July 2010, the Road Traffic Bill 2009 was signed into law allowing for the lowering of the current maximum legal blood alcohol concentration limit. This bill also introduces mandatory roadside testing of drivers involved in collisions and administrative fixed penalties for certain drink driving offences. Mandatory roadside testing will come into place early in the new year.

Finally, one of the biggest achievements in the area of road safety has been the improvement in our road network. This week saw the completion of the major inter urban roads programme with the opening of the final stretch of the M7 from Castletown and Nenagh. This completes the major inter urban routes linking Dublin with Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and the Border and has significantly reduced journey times and improved road safety around the country.

While we've reached many milestones in 2010, there is never any room for complacency. One life lost is always one too many. It is important that we don’t see any sign of complacency over the Christmas period. As the severe weather conditions continue, I would urge drivers to be extremely vigilant and not let the many achievements of the past year go to waste.

There is a support for those who create jobs and for those seeking employment.

The Budget puts a welcome focus on the construction sector which has been devastated by job losses. Budget 2011 will introduce tax incentives for a retrofit scheme and reform the relevant contracts. I am hopeful that construction firms will be able be able expand into this area.

Our corporation tax of 12.5% will be retained. This will help to secure and expand on the thousands of jobs that we have attracted to Ireland through Foreign Direct Investment. Employers will also be supported to create employment with the expansion of the Employer Job PRSI Scheme and the extension of the tax exemption scheme.

There will also be a 3 Year Tax Exemption for Start-up Companies that commence a new trade in 2011. The scheme is being modified so that the value of the relief will be linked to the amount of employers’ PRSI paid by a company in an accounting period subject to a maximum of €5,000 per employee. If the amount of qualifying employers’ PRSI is lower than the reduction in corporation tax liability otherwise applicable, relief will be based on the lower amount.

For those seeking work we are this Budget plans to provide 5,000 additional places in the private sector under the skills Development and Internship Programme. In addition to this, 5,000 places will be provided in the public service under the Work Placement Programme. In the Community and Voluntary Sector 5,000 places will be provided under the Community Work Placement Scheme.

There are no easy solutions but I am confident that the Budget and the National Recovery Plan outlines the necessary and achievable measures to get this country back on its feet.

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen has given some excellent interviews on RTÉ and Newstalk in recent days. You can listen back to them by clicking here.

The National Recovery Plan will remove potential impediments to competitiveness and employment creation. It will help to encourage export growth and recovery of domestic demand. There were no easy choices available. I am confident though that our National Recovery Plan has spread the necessary adjustments across all sectors. It is therefore as equitable as possible.

I am confident that Ireland’s economy will recover. This National Recovery Plan will build on our strengths and develop other sectors to provide a balanced economy and employment for our people.

What we need now is hope and faith; hope in our future and faith in our people. Ireland is a resilient and creative country. We are in challenging times and facing difficulties but a plan is now in place that can reverse our fortunes.

A summary of the plan is available here or you can read the full plan on the Department of Finance website.

This election is taking place at a time of challenging national circumstances, but what really matters to people is what is happening in their towns, villages, communities and homes. It is important to me that I get to meet as many people as possible to set out our plan for Donegal and Ireland’ s future. I believe that it is really important to give Donegal strong and effective representation and as a Government candidate, I am best placed to do that.

Polling day is the 25th of November and between now and then I am determined to do all I can to secure every vote I can. This election is about Donegal and our future and it is time to put aside politics as usual. If elected I will work every day to turn the economy around and create the jobs and investment that Donegal needs.

Some photos below from my canvass around Donegal over the past week. You can also find out more on my campaign by going to my campaign page - www.fiannafail.ie/brianodomhnaill.

There’s some very positive news on the economic front. A report published today by the Irish Exporters Association shows that the value of exports rose to over €40 billion between July and September, an increase of 9.3% on the same period last year.

The country’s export performance continues to buck the trend and is showing great resilience and dynamism. Today’s report shows particularly strong year on year growth in the agri-food sector and the chemical and pharmaceuticals sector.

Exports will be central to our recovery and an increase in exports creates jobs directly and indirectly in all areas of the economy. There is clear and very positive upward trend in exports. Recent figures released by the CSO also showed rapid growth with the value of exports in July up by 12% compared with July last year.

It’s really important that the Government capitalises on this through the new Foreign Trade Council, setup to implement the integrated plan for trade, tourism and investment. The Minister for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher chaired the first meeting of the Foreign Trade Council today.

Only last week a report by IBM found that Ireland was the number one country in the world in terms of jobs created by inward investment. There’s no question that we’re facing challenging times but we should take heart that the FDI and Export Sectors are playing their part in returning Ireland to growth and there are reasons to be positive about Ireland’s economic recovery.

Among those participating in the marathon will be 11 TDs and Senators who will comprise the Oireachtas team, of which I’m proud to be a member. This is the first time I’ve competed in a marathon and I have to say I’m both excited and nervous at the prospect.

As I have been training and preparing for the event, what has really struck me is the level of commitment and discipline it takes to compete in a marathon, at any level. It has really opened my eyes to the dedication that goes into the training in the months and weeks leading up to the marathon. All going well tomorrow I think this knowledge will really add to the sense of achievement if I make it across the finish line tomorrow. I imagine this will also be the case amongst all the other 13,000+ competitors.

The other thing that I’ve been positively driven by is the level of camaradie and kinship that exists among people involved in all levels and forms of athletics. In particular I’ve been amazed by those who are looking to compete in the marathon.

It really has struck me how these people make up a large community in their own right. Everyone from those who are running the marathon this time around, to those who have run the marathon in the past or who know someone who has done a marathon. They offer so much advice, support, experience, encouragement and enthusiasm to their fellow runners. They help make what can be an isolated pursuit, feel like a collective undertaking.

In the run up to the marathon I’ve been getting emails and letters from people throughout Donegal and the rest of the country wishing me well. I hope that as the legs start to feel tired and I hit ‘the wall’ these messages of support and friendship will give me the energy and strength to keep going.

I’m really looking forward to getting going tomorrow and I hope I will do well for my charity and all those people who have offered me support and helped me to prepare for the marathon.

*Senator Keaveney is running on behalf of Friends of Letterkenny General Hospital.

With this increased traffic flow however comes the increased risk of accidents on our roads. During the course of the October Bank Holiday weekend last year, 4 people lost their lives on our roads. The previous year, road accidents resulted in the death of 3 other people.

We need to all play a role in helping to prevent road accidents and the most simple way to do that is to follow the simple road safety advice. The Road Safety Authority has published some advice for people travelling by road this weekend and I think it is worth repeating.

Drivers

• Always drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions and circumstances
• Never ever drink and drive, designate a driver or use alternative transport
• Wear a seat belt and ensure all passengers front and rear are wearing theirs too
• Improve your visibility on the roads by driving with your dipped headlights on
• Plan your journey in advance and set off as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic
• Take frequent breaks to avoid tiredness / driver fatigue
• Be extra alert. Drivers heading off on a weekend break have a tendency to relax their guard, so be especially alert if driving on unfamiliar roads around your destination.

Pedestrians

• Walk on a footpath, not in the road
• Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths
• Be seen. If walking at night wear a high-visibility jacket, armband and carry a torch.

Cyclists / Motorcyclists

• Don’t weave in and out of traffic
• Avoid driver’s blind spots
• Be seen wear a high-visibility jacket
• Use your lights day and night

Almost every bank holiday weekend sees some terrible accident on our roads. Let’s all heed the advice by the Road Safety Authority this weekend and try to prevent any more lives being lost. That way we can all enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

It is an important date in the year for the Fianna Fáil organisation and for party members and activists in north Kildare.

Wolfe Tone was one of the most significant figures in Irish history and I am delighted that we come together each year to commemorate his contribution to our history.

The ceremony itself is always enjoyable. It begins with a march on the Colour Party and music from St. James’ Brass and Reed Band. Following the welcome from Eamon Keane, the Commemoration Committee Cathaoirleach and ecumenical prayers, there is a reading from Wolfe Tone’s address to his Court Martial.

Then An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD addresses the gathering and lays a wreath. The event concludes with the raising of the national flag, singing the national anthem and the playing of the last post.

While I have attended this event over many years, it never fails to amaze me the amount of people who turn up, young people in particular. It strikes me that Wolfe Tone’s sacrifice for his country, while so long ago, still resonates strongly with people today.

Watch Kildare North TD's, Áine Brady and Michael Fitzpatrick talk about the annual event in Bodenstown.

The European breast cancer support group Europa Donna has launched a Breast Health Day and I was really pleased to be able to back them. Europa Donna are encouraging women to take responsibility for their own breast health on Friday as breast cancer has the highest mortality of any cancer in women worldwide.

All advice is that exercise and a healthy balanced lifestyle are essential in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Women from the youngest age can benefit by engaging in moderate exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day.

It is essential that women look after themselves and their own health as it can have a long-term effect. More information can be found at www.breasthealthday.org or www.europadonnaireland.ie.

As women, we have a tendency to look after everyone else before ourselves but it is essential that every woman prioritise her health. Any woman who has concerns about her breast health should contact her GP.

David Beers has said that the Irish economy will recover more quickly than several other European countries. He also praised the flexibility of the labour market and our improving competitiveness.

Mr. Beers comments are very welcome. They are particularly encouraging given that Standards and Poor’s has been critical of us in the past.

While much remains to be done, there is no denying that this assessment is good news. We all know the important role that these agencies play in how the markets view us.

Though many challenges lie ahead, we should take heart from the fact that the decisions that have been taken, though unpalatable, are beginning to have an impact.

Under the strategy launched today (28 September) the IDA plans to attract a further 780 firms to this country. The strategy will also see a push to increase the numbers of tourist coming to Ireland by 33% to reach 8 million by 2015. Finally, the strategy aims to increase the value of Irish exports by a third. Only last week we were able to announce that the value of exports in July was up by 12% compared with July last year. I firmly believe our recovery will be export-led and that is why the Government is putting record levels of investment into the enterprise sector to stimulate the economy and create jobs so that we can return to economic growth.

The plan will be implemented by a new Foreign Trade Council set up specifically to coordinate the strategy. They will work to find new markets for Irish businesses and other Irish products in places such as China, India and Brazil. In addition, the Council will work with our embassies abroad to develop more opportunities for Irish businesses. This strategy aims to create 300,000 jobs directly and indirectly over the next five years. I am confident that firms in Kildare and around the country will benefit.

• Read more on the Government Strategy here.

I fail to understand how playing politics with potential jobs and investment in this country could possibly be justified. By refusing a voting pair with the Tánaiste for a trip that was arranged before she moved into the Department Fine Gael are putting investment and jobs at risk.

More students come from the United States to Ireland than any another country according to Enterprise Ireland. The estimated revenue to Ireland is worth €900 million already and there are plans in place to try to increase this amount to €1.3million. Fine Gael are putting this in jeopardy.

We are in strong competition with the UK and the rest of Europe for these US students and the Enterprise Ireland are on record as saying that the ‘pulling power’ of the having the Irish Deputy Prime Minister in the US would have a significant impact.

Fine Gael must reverse their position and put the country first and recognise the importance of this trip for the future of this country.

It is a great opportunity for me to meet with friends, colleagues and fellow farmers and I always enjoy seeing the latest in machinery, livestock and products as well as getting to discuss agricultural issues. This year I am looking forward to seeing the European Reversible Ploughing Championships that are taking place for the first time. There will be well over 1,000 stallholders at the event including our own party.

The Ploughing Championships are a massive undertaking with the planning for this event starting the day after the 2009 event closed. I would like to congratulate the organisers and the 500 volunteers who work so hard to make it an enjoyable event for all of the 180,000 expected visitors. I wish them all the best.

• For more information, click here for the the National Ploughing Association website.

This morning session at the Parliamentary Party meeting was really interesting. We heard from the Taoiseach who outlined how crucial the period ahead is for our country and how important it was to meet the challenges ahead of the budget, restoring confidence to the banking system and getting people back to work. An Taoiseach told reminded us that Ireland is still a successful country with huge potential for the future.

That was why it was so encouraging to hear the contribution of Jim O’Hara the VP of Intel Ireland who said that he believe that things were better now than they were two years ago and that Ireland is seen as a very positive place to do business. Jim O’Hara pointed out that Ireland has a very educated workforce and a lower cost base than previously as well as good leadership.

Tomorrow we will hear from Frank Daly of NAMA and John Trethowan from the Credit Review Office among others. It is very clear that getting credit flowing again will secure and create jobs and I am looking forward to hearing the contributions of the speakers.

You can watch a video from the first day of the Conference with Minister Batt O'Keeffe here.

Some photos from the first day of the Conference below:

I’m delighted to see my home city of Dublin has been described in a report by the British Council as attractive and welcoming. For Dubs though this is not news. Dublin has a fantastic environment, great people and brilliant atmosphere – even if we still have issues with the weather from time to time.

From an investment point of view Dublin is an attractive capital city with a strong pro-business ethos and is now home to some of the world’s most progressive multinational companies such as Google and Facebook. We have two world class stadia, Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium, while the Docklands area of the city has been completely transformed and is now home to the Grand Canal Theatre and the revamped O2.

The positive report from the British Council, drawn up for the Open Cities project, is significant. Attracting tourists and new companies to Dublin will be a major boost for the city and for jobs. The report said a “traditionally warm and welcoming culture is supported by excellent entertainment and sporting opportunities which, combined with the city’s strong historical and cultural identity, render Dublin an attractive and liveable city.”

As a public representative I have witnessed firsthand how much Dublin has changed and developed in the last 20 years. Dublin is now a multicultural city that has welcomed large numbers of people from the across the EU and beyond.

Dublin continues to expand and progress. This year a fantastic new terminal will open at the airport. The Metro will be built along with DART Underground which will transform how people move around Dublin and the economic prospects for the city.

Dublin’s journey has been a long one with many iconic events along the way not least the historic battle at the GPO in April of 1916 when the building was the headquarters of the men and women who took part in the Easter Rising. Our proud literary tradition was recognized earlier this year when UNESCO designated Dublin a UNESCO City of Literature, one of only four cities in the world to achieve this honour. Furthermore, Georgian Dublin, with is wonderful architecture and historic canals and planning guidelines has been short-listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site

I look forward to seeing Dublin grow and expand. I think we’ve managed to retain the unique character of our wonderful city as it has grown and developed, and know we will continue to ensure that Dublin goes from strength to strength in future while retaining our proud heritage.

Chris Andrews is TD for the Dublin South East Constituency.

People across Ireland have been horrified in recent weeks as the appalling flooding disaster has been revealed. Since the first reports of flooding in early August, the world’s media has brought us terribly distressing images on our television screens as the floods affect increasing numbers of people across the country – more than seventeen million people are now affected.

For anyone who hasn’t been able to follow the details of the crisis, here are some of the facts:

It is estimated that as many as 1,600 people have already died as a result of the flooding after huge monsoon rainfall hit the country. The final death toll won’t be clear until the waters recede.

More than 17 million people have been directly affected by the floods. 10 million have lost homes, livestock or crops.

The World Health Organisation is warning that diseases are spreading rapidly. One UN official has reported that 3.5 million children are at high risk of deadly water borne diseases such as dysentery and watery diarrhoea.

This is a crisis almost beyond imagination; the number of people being impacted is just staggering.

The Government has so far committed €2 million in funding towards the initial humanitarian effort.

This is by far the most urgent humanitarian crisis taking place in the world today. I would encourage all Irish people to continue to do what they can to help the humanitarian effort. Our Irish NGOs are heavily involved in the aid effort and the public has been hugely generous to date with over €2.5 million raised.

A useful web site for people wishing to support the relief effort is www.howyoucanhelp.ie. Updates on the crisis and information on donating are also available on the web sites of the Irish NGOs.

More information on the support being provided by the Government, through the Irish Aid programme, is available here:

www.irishaid.gov.ie

Hopefully the flooding will soon start to subside. However, in the meantime Ireland will continue to play its part in helping the international relief effort.

Peter Power is TD for Limerick East and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for Overseas Development.

Times are tough for small and medium sized businesses across the country right now and they need every helping hand that the Government can give them.

Public contracts are a very important source of business for SMEs but it has been difficult in the past for some smaller businesses to secure them because of certain qualifying conditions.

I am delighted that new guidelines have now been issued by the Government to level the playing field and to make it easier for companies of all sizes to compete for public contracts.

We have cut the red tape and changed the thresholds so that more companies can qualify to tender for Government contracts.

The process isn’t complete just yet. We have some further work to do on it, but it’s a good start and I know that it is already making a difference for SMEs across the country.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the public procurement process can check out www.procurement.ie.


Dara Calleary is TD for Mayo and Minister of State for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation.

It is vital that students are encouraged to take Higher Mathematics if we are to continue to market Ireland as a knowledge economy with a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. The skills involved in achieving high grades in maths are sought after by the high-tech industries that this Government works so hard to attract to Ireland and local business and industry seek those with high level maths skills for their R&D departments.

Higher Maths can seem daunting to students, even those with skills and talents in the subject so it is vital that we provide practical support and encouragement to those students.

I know that legally the criteria for admission to higher education institutions are a matter for the colleges themselves but I am confident that they will be open to encouraging more higher level maths students. If they give a positive reaction to the Minister’s proposals then students entering their Leaving Cert cycle could be encouraged to take higher maths for their 2012 CAO application. I am hopeful for a positive result.

The Government is again teaming up with the FAI to support the village for a third year.

This ground-breaking project has seen 300 children from both sides of the divide come together to break through barriers of segregation and mistrust which sow the seeds of violence. For a small  investment the Government and the FAI have had a major impact on these young people and hopefully given them an experience that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

The children take part in sporting, art and cultural workshops during their stay at the Irish supported camp. During a visit to the first ‘Village of Hope’ in Israel two-years ago I saw at first hand the unifying force of soccer and the excitement of the young children.

In 2010 I am delighted to confirm that my Department will provide €55,000 for this very worthwhile project. I want to pay tribute to the Irish football coaches who travel to the Middle East each year to ensure the success of the village and to Former FAI President Milo Corcoran and Ophir Zadak, former General Manager of Drogheda Utd, who have organised the project from the very beginning.

This year we saw the impact of the first African World Cup and the positive impact it has had on a continent – in a smaller but no less important way Ireland’s Village of Hope will also have a lasting impact on the lives of the young people involved.

About the Football Village of Hope

The Football Village of Hope is an Irish-Israeli sponsored football-based peace building initiative that has been funded by Irish Aid since 2008. Its objective is to bring together Israeli and Palestinian children, give them a chance to meet the ‘other side’ and to break the cycle of segregation and distrust. In July 2009, one hundred children from both communities played football together and received coaching from professional coaches from the Football Association of Ireland. The children take part in co-existence workshops where they mix with children of the other community in small groups and are engaged jointly in peace building activities such as drawing sessions, performing a show or writing a story. In 2010 it is intended to have 120 children, including 20 girls, participating in the Village of Hope activities.

The project is organised by Milo Corcoran, former President of the Football Association of Ireland and Ophir Zardok, Ex. General Manager of Drogheda United Football Club. The Peres Centre for Peace and Al Quads Association are local partners. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michéal Martin attended the Football Village of Hope during his visit to Israel in July 2008. The project has been recommended for funding by Ireland’s Embassy in Tel Aviv. This year, the Irish Government will provide funding of €55,000 for this project and the 2010 Soccer Village of Hope will take place at the end of September.

As a proud resident of New Ross I have seen first-hand the importance of investing in tourist sites and facilities to secure and create local employment. Every year, countless tourists and visitors travel to the sunny south east and it is essential that towns like New Ross have something special to offer. That is why I was so pleased this summer to see that the Government has allocated €1.36million for the development of the New Ross Quayside. A similar development in Wexford Town has had a transformative effect and given a huge boost to local retailers, restaurateurs and others.

Another site I am passionate about in New Ross is the Dunbrody Famine Ship. The accompanying Visitor Centre is a great resource for those coming to see the replica Famine Ship in the Quay, which is a focal point for tourism in the town. Significant investment in the Dunbrody Famine Ship has turned it into a fantastic experience. There are now plans to redevelop the Visitor Centre and the Government has committed funding of €1.9 million to the project.

This investment coupled with the money allocated in the Budget this year for development of the Kennedy Homestead provides New Ross with a unique site of interest and history for visitors and tourists.

Of course, the highlight of my summer is always the JFK Dunbrody Festival that I have been involved in organising since it started 10 years ago. This year, over four days, we welcomed Jedward, Crystal Swing, Brian Kennedy and PJ Gallagher among others to a fantastic festival of music, comedy, food and craic. Festivals like these are an ideal way of bringing visitors to our town.

I know that many towns and villages around the country work hard to provide a positive experience for visitors. Many local jobs, particularly in rural areas depend on tourism that is why I have and will continue to work so hard to secure tourism investment for to New Ross.

Crystal Swing at the Dunbrody Festival

Seán Connick and one half of Jedward!

Seán Connick at the JFK memorial in New Ross

Seán Connick is a TD for the Wexford Constituency and is Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

It has been a source of frustration for those on Leeside that the Cats have moved two ahead on the list of All-Ireland winners (32 as opposed to Cork’s 30). A Cork man loves a challenge, and so it is that this Sunday will see the Rebels go in as massive underdogs in an attempt to stop Kilkenny achieving the historic five-in-a-row.

I have been saying all season that Kilkenny have to lose some time - why not this Sunday? No Cork player who pulls on the blood red jersey has ever felt inferior to his opponent, and I expect that to be the case again in Croke Park this Sunday afternoon. This is a Cork team that still has many players who know what it takes to win an All-Ireland. Men such as Donal Óg Cusack, John Gardiner, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Ronan Curran and Ben and Jerry O’Connor have all tasted success on the biggest stage, and they will be determined to do so again. It has been four years since Cork were last victorious over Kilkenny in the championship, so I expect them to be ravenous when the sliotar is thrown in at 3.30 on Sunday.

Looking back over the meetings between these sides since Brian Cody’s reign began, Cork have only conceded three goals in five matches. We have managed to keep a clean sheet in two of those games. That is no mean feat, and if Donal Óg can guard the net as only he can, Cork will be in with a great shout.

We only have to cast our minds back to the end of May when this Cork side upset Tipperary, racing to a 10 point win over the Premier County in the Munster Championship. That match showed the potential of this side, and while they failed to win the Munster Final against Waterford, Denis Walsh’s charges have still progressed from last year.

So to Kilkenny - it is to Brian Cody’s credit that he continues to bring this team to the summit year after year. Winning four All-Irelands in a row is a fantastic feat – the manner in which they have won those matches only adds to the achievement. Cody is a master of understatement, and is a shining example of how to keep people motivated. The carrot of five-in-a-row must surely be at the back of his mind, but the man from Sheestown has made no mention of it in public. Perhaps he is wary of the Kerry football team in 1982 who were so cruelly denied the magic five by a late Seamus Darby goal for Offaly – tempting fate is not something that Cody nor Kilkenny can ever be accused of.

While a Kilkenny win would probably be the logical prediction to make for Sunday, I can’t help but feel that this Cork side has one final kick in them. We love proving people wrong, and have a massive incentive to win on Sunday. The old guard, mixed with the youth of players such as Eoin Cadogan and Aisake Ó hAilpín, can produce a display that will rock the Cats on Sunday.

Cork will respect, but not fear, the likes of Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh, Michael Rice, Eddie Brennan and Richie Power. If the red and white can stay in touch up to the last 10 minutes then we could have a shock on our hands.

As a Cork man I have to be positive, so I’m going for Cork by two or three points. Up the Rebels!

Michael McGrath is TD for the Cork South Central Constituency.