Blog Archive
Rigourous new EU energy standards for building welcomed by Childers
Posted on May 18, 2010 by Andy White
Irish Labour MEP Nessa Childers has today welcomed new EU legislation that will require all public buildings to have what is known as “nearly-zero energy standards” by 2018.
Speaking at the European Parliament today in Strasbourg, she welcomed the new energy efficiency laws which she says builds on the European Union’s existing minimum requirements on the energy standards of buildings.
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“Ireland drinking in last chance saloon" over EU environmental ruling
Posted on May 05, 2010 by Andy White
The Irish government’s failure to amend national legislation to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling on the application of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive to certain fish farm projects may leave the Irish taxpayer liable to pay millions of Euros in daily fines imposed by the EU, Nessa Childers MEP has said.
Ms. Childers, speaking in Brussels explained, “The European Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik today issued a final warning to Ireland demanding that the government amend Irish law on EIAs as they apply to certain fish farm projects. Ireland is obliged to take the necessary steps following a European Court of Justice judgment issued in November 2008 in regard to this matter.
“Ireland is drinking in the last chance saloon on this and many other important areas relating to the application of the EIA Directive. Failure to comply will see the hard-pressed Irish taxpayer stung for millions of Euros in cumulative daily fines which the EU has a right to impose until such time as we get our house in order and change the law as we are now obliged to do.”
She added, “During Commissioner Potocnik’s recent confirmation hearing in the European Parliament, I demanded that he take a tough, zero-tolerance line against serial environmental offenders. It gives me no pleasure to include Ireland in this rogue’s gallery non-compliant countries when it comes to EIAs and the transposing of other significant EU environment legislation. Mr. Potocnik also made a commitment to me that the operation of the EIA Directive will be reviewed this year and tightened up as I believe it is warranted.
“In March, the Commissioner also informed me that there are currently three ongoing infringements being pursued following judgments from the European Court of Justice condemning Ireland for breaches of its obligations under the EIA Directive. These cases involve several issues including quarrying, afforestation and intensive fish farming. They all have one thing in common and that is a failure to ensure that projects identified in the EIA Directive are subjected to a proper assessment for the need for an EIA to be taken prior to consent for the development being given. Indeed, a fourth case is currently before the Court awaiting judgment.
“Ireland must get its act together and ensure that the relevant legislation is changed to ensure that we are good EU environmental citizens and to avoid the daily fines set to be imposed soon.”
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Childers welcomes draft EU plan to cut CO2 emissions by 30%
Posted on May 04, 2010 by Andy White
Speaking today in Brussels today on unreleased draft documents of the European Commission, Labour MEP Nessa Childers said: "I welcome the news that the Commission plans a binding proposal for Europe to move unilaterally from a 20% emissions cut target to 30%. The economic slump has cut the cost of meeting the EU's current 2020 target by nearly a third, making a move to a 30% cut now affordable.
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Childers welcomes end of liquid bans at airports
Posted on May 04, 2010 by Andy White
Labour MEP Nessa Childers has today welcomed the ending of restrictions on the carrying of everyday liquids such as perfumes, deodorants and aftershaves on board by 2013, which she had called for last November.
The European Commission announced this week that it is ready to end the ban on liquids in hand luggage, a security measure which has been a thorn in the side for air-travellers since 2006. The Commission announcement followed the passing of European legislation which requires all European airports to introduce liquid-screening by 2013, allowing passengers to carry unlimited liquids in their hand luggage once again.
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Know your rights as a stranded airline passenger
Posted on April 27, 2010 by Andy White
Having spoken to the European Commission regarding passenger rights this morning, I can confirm that under EC Regulation 261/2004 any passenger stranded across Europe as a result of cancelled flights is entitled to have their accommodation costs covered by their airline while they wait for a rescheduled flight.
The right to accommodation while waiting for alternative transport is iron-clad under European law. If a passenger is stranded in a European city and later travels home on a re-routed flight, they are entitled to have their accommodation costs for the interim period covered by the airline involved.
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EU to bring in tougher rules on monitoring of medicines
Posted on April 27, 2010 by Andy White
With almost 200,000 deaths per year in the EU caused by adverse reactions to professionally prescribed drugs, Labour MEP Nessa Childers has welcomed moves today to bring in a new EU system to monitor the safety of medicines already approved for use by doctors.
The Leinster MEP also said that she looked forward to the proposed new system which was voted through at a meeting of the Parliament’s Environment and Public Health in Brussels today targeting the growing problem of forged or falsified medicines which she says poses an enormous threat to public health.
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Culture of secrecy around Brussels lobbying must be tackled head on
Posted on April 23, 2010 by Andy White
Gaping holes in EU governance in relation to the activities of lobbyists in Brussels have been exposed in a new report published today.
The revelations contained in the research which was carried out by Friends of the Earth Europe has led to demands from Labour MEP Nessa Childers for the mandatory registration of lobbyists who engage with the EU institutions and elected MEPs.
She said, “Big business interests are not taking the European Commission’s efforts to regulate the activities of lobbyists seriously. The question remains – why would they? The code introduced two years ago is voluntary and by definition contains no sanctions whatsoever to properly enforce acceptable standards.
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Action plan needed to tackle high rate of suicide amongst young men
Posted on April 21, 2010 by Andy White
Nessa Childers MEP has told the EU Commissioner for Health at a sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the Irish government and the European Commission must develop a new EU action plan on mental health to tackle Ireland’s high rate of suicide of young men. Ms Childers demanded an increased emphasis on suicide prevention in Europe from Commissioner John Dalli.
Directly addressing the recently installed Commissioner, Ms Childers referenced her experience as a mental health professional and cited three separate, unrelated cases of suicide which occurred at the end of February this year in County Kildare.
Ms Childers said: "Recently in my own constituency, three men living within 30 kilometres of each other took their own lives. This is an all too familiar picture in the Ireland of 2010. Anyone who contemplates taking their own lives or indeed friends or family members who have concerns about the mental health of a loved-one need to have services available close by which they can access for support during difficult times.
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Continuing travelling circus to Strasbourg, plain wrong
Posted on April 19, 2010 by Andy White
Irish Labour MEP Nessa Childers speaking in Brussels before getting a train to Strasbourg has again condemned the waste of taxpayers money in forcing MEPs, parliament staff and journalists to travel to south for this weeks plenary session - "Like many MEPs, I am long on record as being against the practice of having two parliament locations. Of all times, insisting on continuing this circus during a period of unprecedented travel disruption across Europe is plain foolish.
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EU set to give dodgy agents the red card
Posted on April 13, 2010 by Andy White
Tough new proposals to regulate dodgy football agents will be brought forward by the European Parliament before this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, Labour MEP Nessa Childers has revealed today.
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