Archive for September 2010
EU globalisation fund must be more responsive to needs of redundant workers
Posted on September 07, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Speaking in Strasbourg today Nessa Childers said: “The European Globalisation Fund (EGF) should be better co-ordinated and much more responsive in meeting the needs of workers who have lost their jobs as a result of large scale redundancies.
“The Report on the financing and functioning of the EGF voted on in the European Parliament today is timely and necessary. The Report seeks to have the Fund placed on a permanent footing in the future. This is to be welcomed, but lessons must also be learned as to how the mobilisation of the Fund can better meet the needs of redundant workers.
“The experiences of workers in SR Technics, Dell and Waterford Crystal and those of my colleague MEPs Alan Kelly and Proinsias de Rossa and myself, in terms of assisting in these cases, emphasises how the potential of this Fund to give redundant workers a fresh start and new opportunities to re-engage with the labour market, has been frustrated and obstructed by factors such as poor government planning, a lack of co-ordination and poor consultation with workers and their representatives at application stage.
“The Report presented to the European Parliament seeks to put the Fund on a permanent footing and I would urge the Commission, working with MEPs, to improve and streamline the way in which the Fund is mobilised.
“In future, application processes should be speeded up and more pro-active engagement with those set to lose their jobs should be carried out before any application is made.
“We should also ensure lessons are learned about how to best implement the Fund in the future following the excessive delays experienced by SR Technics workers in terms of their application and the frustrations felt by the staff at Waterford Crystal at the restrictive nature of the Fund.
“The application for SR Technics is still with the European Commission and a decision is expected to be made shortly.”
Childers disappointed at Rosslare-Waterford rail line decision
Posted on September 03, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Nessa Childers MEP, who represents the Wexford area in the European Parliament expressed her disappointment at the decision by the National Transport Authority to support Irish Rail’s bid to suspend the Rosslare-Waterford rail link.
Ms. Childers, who has worked with the Mayor of Wexford Cllr. Joe Ryan to explore funding and upgrading avenues with the European Commission for the South-East line explained, “This decision raises serious question marks about how decisions are made in relation to public transport infrastructure in this country. Important lessons need to be learned in this regard in the future.
“For example, it is bizarre in the extreme that the NTA’s own remit permits it to consider passenger services only and disregard freight entirely when examining the viability of a rail line.
“When governments across the EU are encouraging a return to freight transport as we strive to meet the challenges of climate change, it is incomprehensible that the state body charged with examining our public transport requirements is precluded from giving full consideration to freight transport options when making key strategic decisions such as this.”
Survey on the proposed candidates from Ireland for the 'Eureopan Heritage Label'
Posted on September 03, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Following on from my previous blog in which I spoke about the plans for a ‘European Heritage Label’ which will be made up of sights which are of cultural, social or political importance to Europe, I am interested to hear about locations you would like to see the Irish government propose for inclusion.
It could be the Monasterboice High Cross & Round Tower in Louth, the Hill of Tara in Meath, Wicklow Gaol or Kiulkenny Castle, for example. Perhaps you think Kildare's Castledermot round Tower, Crosses and Church, Aghaboe in Laois, Clonmacnoise in Offaly, Haroldstown Dolmen in Carlow or Duncannon Fort in Wexford should be included?
Let me know your views by taking a moment to fill in this quick online survey.
Mc Manus an inspiration to women in politics
Posted on September 03, 2010 by Bronwen Maher
Labour Party MEP for Ireland East, Nessa Childers has paid tribute to Deputy Liz McManus following the Wicklow TD’s announcement that she will not contest the next General Election.
Nessa Childers said: “Liz McManus has been an inspiration to me and to countless women in the Labour Party and in public life in general. She is an accomplished, compassionate and visionary politician who has served both Wicklow and the State with enormous distinction since she was first elected to public office in 1979.
“Liz is a special person to me and I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to her trademark skill, resourcefulness and organisational ability, all of which she deployed to great effect in her role as my Director of Elections in last year’s elections to the European Parliament.
“Liz has an impressive and lasting record of achievement in politics and her legacy in Wicklow, and nationally, is assured. I want to take this opportunity to wish her well in the future as a new chapter of her life opens.”
Which site in Ireland best showcases our contribution to European heritage?
Posted on September 02, 2010
Welcome back to the European Parliament- following our six week recess, my collegues and I resumed normal business in Brussels this week. This involved making preparations for the first of September's two sessions in Strasbourg next week, and meeting with our political groups and parliamentary committees.
While I spent some of the recess in Brussels tying up loose ends from my first year and preparing for the second, I was glad to find a few weeks in between to take a summer break. After twenty years working in mental health, I don't underestimate the benefits of recharging the batteries and unplugging from professional life for a little while.
