Archive for 2011
Cancer Survivors urged never to start smoking because of heightened risk of secondary cancer
Posted on November 28, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
Nessa Childers MEP
'Saving lives a second time'
Speech delivered to the ‘Irish Conference on Survivorship after Cancer during Childhood and Adolescence’, held on November 26 2011
Introduction
Fellow speakers and distinguished guests- as a politician, it's not often I'm able to stand in a room and feel that most of the people I'm speaking with are in broad agreement on an issue, so this is a privilege.
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Fact finding visit to Dundalk and Blackrock
Posted on November 28, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
Visited Dundalk Town and Blackrock last Friday 25th November, which included a meeting with Noel Matthews of Matthews Coach Hire Dundalk, to see ‘in-cab’ breathalysers in situ in their coaches.
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Peatlands Petition hearing in European Parliament
Posted on November 22, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
I attended the Peatlands Petition earlier today, which related to the continued extraction of peat from Irish bogs. It was raised in the European Parliament's petition committee by Friends of the Irish Environment (FoIE).
The FoIE raised three main points. Firstly, Ireland’s relationship with its peat is one of exploitation, not conservation. Secondly, there has been a total failure to apply EU law in relation to protected peatlands, and thirdly, this has far-reaching impacts in terms of climate change, biodiversity, water quality, flooding and even the rule of law in Ireland.
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Minister Hogan must abide by Programme for Government on Climate Change
Posted on November 06, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
Minister Hogan must abide by the Programme for Government and introduce a climate change bill. Only weeks before the UN climate conference in Durban, I am shocked at the apparent backtracking of Minister Hogan on climate change commitments promised in the Programme for Government.
Labour Party members voted to enter government with Fine Gael on the basis of that Programme for Government, and the commitment to a climate change bill is one of the most important parts of that agreement. To break this commitment would be to break the trust of that agreement with the Labour Party.
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Constituency Visit to Borris and Carlow Town Friday 4th November 2011.
Posted on November 05, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
Ann Phelan TD and Cllr. William Quinn, and my group started the day with a visit to Borris Food and Craft market. We then travelled to the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow Town to meet John Boyd, Lorraine Hynes, and Marie Walsh, members of Carlow Tidy Towns.
Janette O'Brien, Carlow County Council Community and Enterprise Services, and Michael Brennan Town Clerk, Carlow Town Council, were also inattendance as both are centrally involved in supporting the work of the Tidy Towns Committee. We were also joined by Cllr Des Hurley, and the meeting in the Seven Oaks Hotel was followed by a guided tour of the Visual Theatre and Contemporary Arts Centre.
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Constituency visit to Portarlington- Thurs Nov 3rd
Posted on November 03, 2011
I will be in Portarlington for a constituency visit today, visiting my colleague Senator John Whelan and meeting with economic and cultural stakeholders active in the area. Such visits are crucially important to my work as an MEP- They provide feedback and perspective on the concerns and challenges facing my Ireland East constituency, which I can then bring back to Brussels and relay to the European Parliament.
If you're in Portarlington today and would like to meet me and discuss my work in Brussels or Ireland, please come along. My itenerary is as follows;
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MEPs vote to remove child porn websites, and to prevent online grooming and child sex tourism
Posted on October 27, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
In Strasbourg today the European Parliament voted through a new EU directive to remove child porn websites, the new EU law was originally proposed by the Socialists and Democrats political group. The new provisions include better protection measures such as the removal of child porn websites; more effective prosecution of criminals; and special support for victims. The key elements in the fight against child abuse are the harmonisation of criminal offences and penalties, and better preventive measures.
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Stop the European City Guide
Posted on October 19, 2011
European City Guide is a company based in Valencia that mails small businesses offering free advertising. It then follows up this offer by demanding thousands of euro for the service and mixing harrassment and intimidation until a small number of businesses bow to the pressure and pay. My advice is 'Don't Pay'. If you've already signed up for the service, contact my office for assistance. See my video below for more information.
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Minister Hogan should follow Northern Ireland Climate Change example
Posted on October 12, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
Northern Ireland are finalising what has been described by campaigners as a ‘world class’ Climate Change Bill based on Scottish legislation. The Republic should follow suit, and aim to be on a par with climate laws introduced in the North. Climate change does not recognise borders, it is an all-island concern and it would be nonsensical for the Republic to have climate laws that fell short of standards north of the border. Scotland’s climate change bill improves on the UK bill in setting higher targets. While business and the farming sector have concerns about the impact of such legislation, if the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland agree that tackling Climate Change is compatible with a strong and healthy economy, Ireland should adopt the same approach.
More information:
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School children and teenagers should be made aware of air-brushing
Posted on October 04, 2011 by Bronwen Maher
The UK Government has just introduced an educational pack for teachers which illustrate how photographs of celebrities have had their photographs airbrushed by magazine editors, and how the resulting body images would be virtually impossible to achieve in reality. Following this development in the UK, I have called on the Irish Government to introduce ‘lessons’ on airbrushing into Irish schools to protect children from developing low self-esteem as a result of unrealistic images shown in teen magazines.
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