Archive for 2010
MEPs vote for binding energy efficiency target welcome
Posted on December 15, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers welcomed the result of today's European Parliament vote in Strasbourg on energy efficiency and energy bill-saving potential, with the upcoming revision of the EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
She said: "Despite Irish government opposition, I especially welcome the demand for binding energy efficiency targets of 20% by 2020. Just like in other areas, such as renewable energy and CO2 emissions, binding targets have helped to stimulate the drive for new green jobs.
"Energy efficiency means not only reducing our carbon emissions and new green jobs but it will also mean money saved on bills for hard-pressed family budgets.
"Across Europe, buildings account for about 40% of energy consumption, therefore we must work strongly for efficiency-oriented so-called 'deep renovation' of our new and existing buildings.
Childers welcomes EU moves to end "modern day slavery" of human trafficking
Posted on December 14, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers, speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, has welcomed new legislation which aims to end the 'modern day slavery' of human trafficking in Ireland.
She said: "Today's directive voted on by the European Parliament follows Ireland's ratification of the Council of Europe's 'Convention on Action against Human Trafficking' last month.
"This new EU directive will establish minimum rules to deal with criminals who traffick human beings. It will also introduce common European provisions in order to prevent the crime and protect the victim."
Though Ireland had the option to opt-out of the new directive under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, it has agreed to implement the new measures despite a UK opt-out.
Little to celebrate about roller coaster UN climate process
Posted on December 13, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers has given a guarded welcome to the deal at the UN climate talks in Cancun, Mexico but warned "Though the UN process has been saved, there is little or nothing to celebrate in terms of the ultimate goal - a binding global deal to reduce carbon emissions and avoid climate disaster.
"There is a roller-coaster game of expectations being played in this process. The expectations were extremely high for Copenhagen last year and were dashed. The expectations for Cancun this week were set extremely low and the outcome didn't disappoint. Now the bandwagon will move on to South Africa next year. Will expectations be set similarly low? The problem is the clock is ticking down to climate disaster, and we do not have time for such games.
She said : "The negotiators did manage to reach the best possible deal permitted in the circumstances due to lack of leadership from the major powers like the US and China, and for that the Mexican presidency must be commended. The multilateral process to extend the Kyoto Protocol is still alive, but only just. There will be a lot of pressure on COP17 in South Africa next year before Kyoto, the only binding agreement on climate , expires. But it is important that the agreement reached in Copenhagen last year is now an official UN document backed by virtually all countries. That represents some progress albeit of a limited nature.
She continued: "The result this weekend in Cancun shows that we can change things if we work together. I welcome the creation of a Green Global Fund to help developing countries adjust to climate change and mitigate its effects. However, I regret the lack of specific instruments to raise the money and will keep pushing with my MEP colleagues for a global financial transaction tax.
"The bad news is that, despite the recognition in the agreement for ‘urgent action’ to cap temperature rises at no more than the critical benchmark of two degrees Celsius above 1990 levels we have nothing binding and nothing concrete here. We need deeper emissions cuts and we need to decide on the legal status of a new global agreement . The clock is still ticking and time is running out."
Minister Martin should push for recognition of Palestinian state
Posted on December 13, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers today urged Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin to push at cabinet level for the recognition of the state of Palestine within the 1967 borders. "Given the latest breakdown in Middle East talks due to the refusal of the Israeli government to halt the building of illegal settlements, I believe now is the time for Ireland to consider following the recent example of Brazil and Argentina and officially recognise the state of Palestine.
She said "Over 100 states around the world already recognise Palestine which declared independence in 1988. Such a move by an EU member state would send a hugely significant signal that we strongly support the right of the Palestinian people to a free and independent state. Most Israelis already support a two-state solution but current progress is being blocked by the right-wing extremists in the current coalition government who refuse to halt illegal settlement building in occupied Palestinian territory. This is undermining, day by day, any chance of a viable Palestinian state.
"Minister Martin has been very active on this issue during his term as Minister for Foreign Affairs and I commend his courage in raising the issue repeatedly with his European colleagues, which is not always popular. Now in his last months in office, I urge him to push for this move within Cabinet and to work with other small European member states of similar mind to move forward with unilateral recognition.
"After visiting the region myself earlier this year, I can only attest to the massive humanitarian crisis that is still a reality in Palestine. This situation can not continue. If the US-led talks cannot lead to a two-state solution over the coming months, then it is the moral responsibly of the EU to step up its efforts. I welcome the statement this weekend by several influential European figures, including former Irish President Mary Robinson, calling on the EU to use its economic power and impose sanctions on Israel for its refusal to comply with international law."
IRELAND SHOULD CONSIDER SWITCH TO EUROPEAN TIMEZONE - CHILDERS
Posted on December 09, 2010
MOVE WOULD CUT CARBON EMISSIONS, CUT ROAD DEATHS AND BOOST TOURISM
Labour MEP Nessa Childers today welcomed the overwhelming vote in Westminster which means the UK will conduct a full analysis of the benefits of moving to Central European Time and then to carry out a three-year trial.
She stated "We should now seriously consider following the UK example and examine the impacts of such a move on Ireland. We could not have a situation where Newry would have a different timezone from Dundalk. And even if the UK does not take this sensible step, I believe we on the island on Ireland should move to the Central European timezone ourselves. It makes sense from a business, environmental and road safety point of view.
Ireland has worst breast cancer mortality rate in Europe
Posted on December 08, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Latest statistics are another damning legacy of Fianna Fail and Harney’s period as Health Minister
Ireland has second worst obesity rate in Europe
Posted on December 07, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Latest statistics are another damning legacy of Fianna Fail
Parliament supports Childers amendments on new EU Alzheimer's initiative
Posted on November 30, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers welcomed today's vote in the Public Health Committee of the European Parliament on the proposed new EU Initiative on Alzheimer's, which supported her amendments.
She said: "This EU initiative is very timely, considering the crisis developing in the field of Alzheimer care in Ireland with the number of people awaiting services having increased by 33 per cent to 1,000 in the last year. I call on the government to resist cutbacks in this area and to support this initiative fully. The economic cost of dementia ranks higher than stroke, heart disease and cancer combined. Cutbacks now would be short-sighted.
Ireland should follow Iceland with new constitution
Posted on November 29, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers welcomed last weekend’s vote in crisis-hit Iceland for an assembly of ordinary people who will re-write the country's constitution.
"Like us, the Icelanders have endured a terrible economical and political crisis. It is time to fundamentally reassess how our state operates. A revised constitution would establish a new social contract between the state institutions and all its citizens in a process that can help us on the road to national renewal and recovery. The Icelandic process is similar to that which has already been called for by Eamon Gilmore earlier this year.
"There is a lot in Bunreacht na hÉireann that has served us well, but it was written in the 1930s for the 1930s. And if we are to truly learn from the experience of this crisis, then we need to look critically again at the fundamental rules that bind the state and its citizens.
"As soon as a new government is in place and the economy has been stabilised, we should start a national discussion on the outlines of such a new constitutional framework.
Childers welcomes vote to ban US stlye direct advertising of medicines
Posted on November 24, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour MEP Nessa Childers today voted with her European Parliament colleagues to ban almost all forms of US-style direct advertising of prescription medicines.
The parliament overwhelming voted to add print media to the European Commission proposal banning the advertising of prescription medicines on TV, radio and the Internet. The decision will now allow accurate, independent and unbiased health information approved only by national authorities like the HSE to be made accessible to patients.
Speaking from Strasbourg, Childers said: "I welcome this legislation which will stop Europeans being bombarded with ads for drugs which they often don't need. We do not want to see junk-mail advertising medicines sent directly to peoples’ homes.
"Ever since direct-to-consumer medicine advertising became legal in the USA in 1997, European lawmakers have been under tremendous pressure from industry lobbyists to introduce a similar measure in the EU. During an economic crisis such as the current one, being bombarded with drug commercials which promise to quickly fix your life is the last thing that Irish citizens need.
"Unfortunately, direct-to-consumer-advertising in the US has served only to tempt people to spend their money on drugs that they otherwise might not need - all in pursuit of a 'quick-fix'. A 2007 study by the University of California, which looked at how 38 television ads for prescription drugs attempted to influence viewers, discovered that 85% of the ads portrayed taking certain medications as a way for people to regain control of their lives.
"Today's vote will preserve the ban on such advertising in Ireland and the rest of the EU. It also ensures that, while access to medication will be as open as it has ever been, Europeans will continue to only take medicines that they really need."
