As we enter winter, I encourage people to avail of the flu vaccine which is being offered through all health centres throughout the country. It is important that people of all ages, and especially people who meet others on a daily basis, avail of the vaccine. This will help bring down the numbers of people presenting to accident and emergency departments of hospitals with pneumonia and flu and occupying beds.

Edwards Lifesciences, a pharma company, announced 600 jobs for the mid-west a couple of months ago. The company has a temporary base in Shannon Airport. It has announced its permanent location in Castletroy in Limerick. This is good news for Limerick and the mid-west. One of the things that influenced the company's decision was the standard of education and the skills of the workforce and training that people have had. It is good news when a company of this size locates itself in Limerick and it will have an effect on other companies that are looking at the mid-west as a location.