Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said that in the event of a new leader of Fine Gael, the Independent Alliance were not going to renegotiate the Programme for Government, but they would not rule out raising new issues with the new leader.
Four of the five members of the Independent Alliance, who hold various ministries, said they would like to stay in their departments in the event of a reshuffle after the election of a new Taoiseach.
Speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of the minority Government, Minister of State Finian McGrath said it was important that the new Fine Gael leader stuck to the Programme for Government.
The Independent Alliance is made up of Minister Shane Ross, Ministers of State Finian McGrath and John Halligan, Sean Canney, while Kevin Boxer Moran will assume the junior ministry from Sean Canny on 2 June.
All members of the Independent Alliance except John Halligan indicated they would contest the next general election.
Mr Halligan said at this stage he was unsure if he would run.
Sale of Harold's Cross stadium correct - IGB chairman
The Chairman of Bord na gCon said he believes the sale of the Harold's Cross Greyhound Stadium was the correct decision.
Phil Meaney, who was before the Public Accounts Committee, said while he has the utmost sympathy for Dublin greyhound owners and breeders, his belief is that the sale of Harold's Cross was the correct decision.
Responding to Sinn Féin Deputy David Cullinane, Mr Meaney said history would judge whether the decision was right or wrong and while the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) is not perfect, it has managed the business to the best of its ability.
Deputy Cullinane also sought more information regarding the Meelick site in Co Clare, which has reduced in price by almost €1.5 million in value since its purchase by the previous board.
The Meelick decision was taken in 2005 which predates the current board of the IGB.
Chief Financial Officer Michael Murnane said he subsequently found out that when the site was bought, it did not have direct access to the road network.
"It appears that the site was bought without clarification", he said.
Amendments to scrap Dáil prayer are defeated
Concern over Brexit consequences on business
Fianna Fáil has raised concerns over the actions being taken to educate the business community about the consequences of Brexit.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, finance spokesman Michael McGrath said attitudes are hardening even before Brexit negotiations begin.
He said that had resulted in British supermarket chain Co Op to saying it will only stock British beef in their stores and while it does not sell Irish beef, this could become a trend if others follow suit.
Mr McGrath said a study published today by Chartered Accountants Ireland is striking.
"It should serve as a wake up call for the Government and show that the Government needs to be doing more to make people aware of the implications of the UK leaving the customs union", he said.
No decision taken over student loan scheme - Tánaiste
The Tánaiste has said no decision has been taken to introduce income contingent student loans.
Frances Fitzgerald was was responding to Independents4Change TD Tommy Broughan who asked why the Government had pushed ahead with an evaluation report on the merits of such a scheme without consulting the Oireachtas Education Committee.
He said such a scheme would result in large student debt rates.
He also said that the Union of Students in Ireland has estimated that nearly 4,000 additional graduates will emigrate to avoid repayment of student loans.
Ms Fitzgerald said the Minister for Education had stated that it would be preferable to have a broad political consensus around the future funding of third level education.
She said there was technical work being carried out on an income contingent loan scheme to inform future policy options, but "no decision has been taken in relation to this".
Government quizzed over number of refugees accepted
Ireland has accepted 1,000 refugees out of a commitment to receive 4,000 two years ago, according to the Minister for Justice.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said that in September 2015 the Government promised that some 4,000 Syrian refugees would be accepted, and asked how many "have we accepted to date and how many do you expect that we will have received?".
The Tánaiste said most countries in Europe agreed to take in refugees and huge resources have been put in place to make sure Ireland meets it commitment in taking in 4,000 refugees.
She said progress is under way in taking minors from Calais and teams have been sent to France to ensure that commitment has been met.
Ms Fitzgerald acknowledged that Ireland will have to take extra people from Greece in order to reach its commitments and added: "We have accelerated the resettlement programme from Lebanon, so we will have over 1,000 people who will have arrived here from the refugee camps by the end of 2017."
