Tag Archive for European Commission

Commission wants to ban phosphates in laundry detergents

November 4, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

European Commission buildings in Brussels

The European Commission is today proposing to ban the use of phosphates and phosphorous compounds in laundry detergents.
Phosphates from detergents are one of the main sources of ‘red tides’ and ‘green tides’ of algae bloom and seriously affect water quality, both in rivers and at sea. Getting rid of phosphates is difficult – they have to be removed in waste-water treatment plants at huge expense.

An EU Regulation would mark the end of voluntary or ineffective measures by some countries, with neighbouring countries having to suffer the consequences.
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Commission favours temporary suspension of animal cloning for food production in the EU

October 19, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

European Commission buildings in Brussels

The European Commission has today announced that it will propose a temporary suspension of animal cloning for food production in the EU. The Commission also plans to suspend temporarily the use of cloned farm animals and the marketing of food from clones. All temporary measures will be reviewed after five years.

Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, said:

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Irish want stronger European economic governance

August 27, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments
 

European Commission buildings in Brussels

First results for latest Eurobarometer

Irish public opinion has shifted sharply in favour of stronger EU economic governance, according to Eurobarometer poll results published today. Along with the Finns, Ireland showed a 13% rise in those who want stronger European measures and coordination to combat the economic crisis, with a total of 77% in favour.

 
When asked how they felt about the national economic situation, 95% of Irish people polled think things are very or rather bad – as compared to an EU average of 77%. The most pessimistic of all are the Greeks (98%) and the Hungarians (96%). When asked about the national employment situation, 97% of Irish people polled were pessimistic, third most gloomy in the EU, behind the Greeks and the Spanish.  Read more

Commission approves transfer of 1st tranche of impaired assets under NAMA

August 3, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

Commission approves the transfer of the first tranche of impaired assets under NAMA The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, the transfer of the first tranche of assets to the Irish National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

The Commission found this transfer to be in line with the approved scheme and with its guidance on the treatment of impaired assets. Read more

Biggest ever investment in research & innovation – Irish Commissioner

July 20, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

Irish Commissioner Maire Geoghegan Quinn

Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has announced nearly € 6.4 billion of European Commission investment in research and innovation.
This follows her success in getting Member States to agree to keep the target of 3% of GDP for R&D spending, in spite of tighter budgets.

The package, the biggest ever, covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors. This funding will advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population.

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Ireland faces grilling over equality cuts

July 15, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

European Commission buildings in Brussels

The Irish government’s decision to drastically reduce funding and staff numbers at the Equality Authority last year is to be probed by the European Commission.

EU officials have confirmed that they are to examine if the cuts are preventing the agency from discharging its functions under EU law. Read more

European Commission appoints new Head of Representation in Dublin

July 14, 2010 Donegal News & Sport No comments

Barbara Nolan who will take up her new appointment in October

Barbara Nolan will take office as the new Head of Representation in Dublin at the start of October this year. 
Ms. Nolan, currently Head of Unit for Higher Education and Erasmus at the Education and Culture Directorate-General, joined the Commission in 1985.

She was the Commission’s spokesperson for Employment, Social Affairs and Health matters between 1993 and 1999, as well as spokesperson for Justice and Home Affairs issues between 1993 and 1994. Ms. Nolan also served as Assistant to the Director-General and head of the communications unit between 2002 and 2007. Read more

Ireland takes part in new EU food security research

June 12, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

Irish Commissioner Maire Geoghegan Quinn

Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn launches major joint research effort to ensure food security in the face of climate change and rising demand

Twelve top scientists are meeting in Paris today to prepare a European–level work programme to coordinate nationally funded research aimed at securing a safe and sustainable food supply. Irish Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, will coordinate the new programme.

This initiative involves twenty European countries, including Ireland, and is jointly led by France, through its National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the UK, through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Read more

State aid: Commission temporarily approves recapitalisation of EBS

June 2, 2010 Irish News & Sport No comments

The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules an emergency recapitalisation worth €875 million in favour of the Irish Educational Building Society (EBS) for reasons of financial stability. The Commission approved the measure temporarily for a period of six months as urgent rescue aid.

EBS now needs to submit a restructuring plan, to address its difficulties in the long-term and to become viable without continued state support. Read more

Irishman makes case for safer horse-riding helmets to EU

January 29, 2010 Irish News & Sport One comment
European Commission buildings in Brussels

European Commission buildings in Brussels

An Irishman whose son was killed in a horse-riding accident has travelled to Brussels to press for the enforcement of new safety standards on riding helmets. Peter Downes’ son died tragically after he fell from his horse in 1995, prompting the Westmeath man to begin a lengthy campaign to improve the level of protection provided by riding helmets.
As a result of his efforts, a new European safety standard on high-performance helmets for equestrian activities was developed in October 2005. However it’s since emerged that no newly-designed helmets have been placed on the market because of concerns that the new standards would result in helmets being too heavy and cumbersome to wear.
Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness, who has supported Mr Downes’ case through to this week’s hearing before the European Parliament Petitions Committee, said it was ‘simply not good enough’ for manufacturers to claim that there is no market demand for high performance helmets.

‘Effectively the work done to produce the new standard was incomplete, with no thought given to practical implications,’ she said.

The European Commission will now seek to withdraw the 2005 standards and re-examine how to improve the level of protection using current technology.

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