Archive for 2009
Invitation to Countdown to Climate Change seminar hosted by Nessa Childers MEP, Royal Hotel, Bray, Co. Wicklow at 8pm on Thursday 3rd December 2009
Posted on November 19, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Dear Friend
I am pleased to invite you to a seminar entitled ‘The Countdown to the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit – The European & Irish Perspective’ in the Royal Hotel, Bray on Thursday 3rd December at 8pm.
As a member of the European Parliament Environment Committee, I have been working extremely hard on the issue of climate change, the major challenge of our generation. I will be in Copenhagen for the UN Summit on Climate Change in mid- December and I am anxious to hear your views on what Ireland and Europe needs to do to address this pressing issue.
Ease ban on liquids on aircraft
Posted on November 17, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Nessa Childers has called for an immediate lift of the ban on liquids such as toothpaste or baby bottles bought by travellers in European airports and for a total lift of the ban by 2013 at the latest.
Nessa Childers said: "We still need tight security rules in the fight against terrorism, but once new technology is available in airports, this ban will be totally unnecessary.
“It will improve the travelling experience for many passengers throughout the EU. As an MEP who travels constantly through Dublin and Brussels airports, I know how frustrating it can be see ones liquid’s thrown out by security staff.
"From talks here in the Parliament, I know that the technology to screen liquids is already available. It now needs to be tested and installed in all European Airports.
“This should not take four or five years as requested by some member states. I’m calling on Dublin airport to install this technology as soon as possible."
Government accused of negligence over threat posed by seven new British nuclear plants
Posted on November 17, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Nessa Childers has said that the Irish government’s attitude to the safety threat posed by seven new British nuclear power stations “borders on negligence.”
Ireland’s only member of the European Parliament Environment Committee was responding to reports published in a Sunday newspaper which revealed that nuclear safety regulators in France, Finland, Britain and the United States have all expressed serious concerns in relation to safety aspects of the plants which are expected to be in operation from 2018.
“I am urging the Taoiseach to directly address this matter with the British Prime Minister as a matter of urgency. I have also asked the European Commission for its opinion on this issue and if it is satisfied that these new nuclear plants will conform to established EU and international standards.”
Nessa Childers said, “I represent tens of thousands of families on Ireland’s east coast from Louth down to Wexford. I would like to be able to assure them that the Irish government and the agencies charged with environmental and nuclear protection are closely monitoring the building of seven next generation nuclear power stations on our doorstep. Troublingly, this does not appear to be the case.
“However, it has been reported that the Irish authorities have not engaged with their British counterparts at any level whatsoever on this issue of enormous concern for Irish people. The lack of engagement by Irish agencies thus far leaves a lot to be desired and is bordering on negligence.
“These new plants will be constructed using a fast-tracked planning process which experts believe is deeply flawed. The entire process and the haste in which these facilities are to be rolled out raises serious questions about the British government’s commitment to safety.
“It seems to me that the Irish government has failed to learn the lessons of Sellafield and the long campaigns to have Irish voices heard and taken seriously by that plant’s operators and the British authorities.”
Childers calls on constituents to support pensions petition
Posted on November 12, 2009
Labour MEP Nessa Childers recently signed a petition by the 'Older and Bolder' community to protect old age pensions, stating that it was "an honour to put my name to such an urgent and worthwhile cause".
An Bord Snip Nua has recently proposed a 5% cut to all social welfare payments. As a former healthcare professional Nessa is fully aware of the impact which a cut in social welfare payments for the elderly might have.
Nessa has called on all her constituents to back the petition, in order to "stop this government targeting some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society on December 8th". The petition can be accessed at http://www.olderandbolder.ie/content/sign-our-petition-defend-state-pensions.
Ease ban on liquids on aircraft
Posted on November 11, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers has called for an immediate lift of the ban on liquids such as toothpaste or baby bottles bought by travellers in European airports and for a total lift of the ban by 2013 at the latest.
Nessa Childers said: "We still need tight security rules in the fight against terrorism, but once new technology is available in airports, this ban will be totally unnecessary.
“It will improve the travelling experience for many passengers throughout the EU. As an MEP who travels constantly through Dublin and Brussels airports, I know how frustrating it can be see ones liquid’s thrown out by security staff.
EU Parliament must have say on alzheimer`s research
Posted on November 11, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP insists Swedish Presidency must take account of Parliament’s voice on "the family disease"
The European Parliament must not be ignored when it comes to proposals by the Commission regarding research into Alzheimer's, according to Labour MEP Nessa Childers.
Addressing the European Parliament today in Brussels, Nessa Childers said: “As a former healthcare professional of over thirty years it was particularly distressing to learn that the Parliament might not be consulted regarding the Commission's proposals on Alzheimer's disease.
Green Gormley found out by European court ruling on septic tanks
Posted on October 29, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
“Today’s ruling against Ireland by the European Court of Justice which slams the government’s abject failure to comply with EU law in regard to the operation of septic tanks is a damning indictment of this administrations ‘green’ credentials’.
"It is estimated that there are approximately 400,000 septic tanks in operation in Ireland at present.
"As the only Irish member of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, I believe that this judgment is all the more embarrassing for the Green Party given the fact that the Minister for the Environment John Gormley has spent the last year effectively arguing on the basis of technicalities before the European Court of Justice that Ireland was acting in full compliance with the EU Waste Water Directive, when it was manifestly not.
Labour MEP says 'hands off old age pension'
Posted on October 27, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
MEP for Ireland East Nessa Childers has issued a ‘hands off’ warning to the government over concerns that the Old Age Pension may be cut in December’s Budget. She was speaking on the publication of an Older & Bolder report
She said: “Concerns expressed by older people in relation to cuts to vital services and supports like medical cards and the Christmas bonus which have been reflected in today’s Older & Bolder report have only been compounded by recent statements by the Minister for Older People, Aine Brady TD that the Old Age Pension may now be next in firing line as the government seeks to slash the social welfare bill in the December Budget.
Childers tells European Parliament that closure of INN raises serious questions over media ownership and diversity
Posted on October 20, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP, Nessa Childers told today’s session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the Parliament and the EU Institutions must maintain a watching brief on media ownership trends and developments in Ireland.
Highlighting some of the issues arising from the closure of Independent Network News and the provision of a replacement service to Ireland’s local commercial radio stations, Nessa Childers said; “The imminent closure of Independent Network News (INN), a Dublin-based news agency which supplies a first-rate national and international news service to the majority of Ireland’s local radio stations raises serious and legitimate questions about the ownership, plurality and regulation of the media in Ireland.
Childers says with less than 50 days to go before UN summit, climate change deal is on a knife-edge
Posted on October 19, 2009 by Bronwen Maher
Europe urged to show leadership to break talks deadlock on crucial climate change agreement
Labour MEP Nessa Childers has said that an internationally binding deal on climate change is “on a knife edge” and the EU must “show leadership and intervene to break the deadlock in negotiations on a new international agreement.”
The only Irish member of the European Parliament’s Environment (ENVI) Committee said, “On December 7th, the UN Climate Conference will open in Copenhagen and the world will try to agree a solution to the stark climate crisis facing us all. From the hearings with UN officials and NGOs I have participated in on the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, it is clear the deal is now on a knife edge.
“In recent days there have been a number of warnings that progress is stalling, with Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change telling Newsweek magazine that ‘the prospect that states will actually agree to anything in Copenhagen are starting to look worse and worse.’
“Despite fine words from President Obama, the US Congress seems unable or unwilling to pass national legislation to reduce emissions. Consequently China, India and other emerging countries are not ready to accept ambitious emission reduction targets which are binding. This dangerous game of brinkmanship must be brought to an end and the EU must use its influence to bring this about.”
Nessa Childers continued, “Europe is already leading on this issue, committing last year to 20% binding targets to cut CO2 emissions, rising to 30% as part of any international agreement. Now it is again time for Europe to lead and to break the negotiations deadlock. The key to this is Europe making a serious offer of new financing to the developing world to help them fight climate change. They did not cause this crisis, but they are the first ones to feel the severe effects.
“Europe has an historic responsibility to clean up the climate mess we helped create, but we also have an historic opportunity to be the winners in the race to build the worlds leading low carbon economy. The global economic recovery presents an ideal opportunity for countries to shift towards low carbon growth. Countries which don’t seize this opportunity will undermine their own future competitiveness and prosperity.
“Under Fianna Fail, Ireland's competitiveness has continually declined. We must make it a national imperative to develop our own indigenous resources for wind and oceanic renewable energy. We must focus harder on energy efficiency, especially in the building and transport sectors. Ireland has been a laggard on these issues for too long.
“This crisis must been seen as an historic opportunity to transform our economy and set us up for a low-carbon and prosperous 21st century. I call on the Irish government to play a constructive role as possible over the final fifty days of negotiations.
