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Entries matching the category "eu"
NAMA CAUSED FURTHER AIB BAILOUT: I PUBLISH COMMISSIONER ALMUNIA LETTER
Posted on January 10, 2011 by Alan Kelly
I have just published the letter from EU Commission Vice President, Joaquin Almunia, explaining how AIB passed banking stress tests last July but was eventually nationalised by year-end. (See text of letter below this blog.)
It is clear that the latest AIB bailout was effectively caused by NAMA and the failure of the government to predict these losses while also taking the bank’s position at face value.
Commissioner Almunia makes it clear in his letter that NAMA’s second discount on AIB loans immediately required an additional €3b cash. This could only come from the Irish taxpayer.
When the government first stress tested the bank, it underestimated the NAMA discount – even though NAMA is a state-body. Was there no co-ordination on this by the Finance Minister?
Permanent link | Categories: Finance • Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly • EU • Current Affairs Irish
BAILOUT DEAL A DISASTER FOR IRELAND
Posted on November 30, 2010 by Alan Kelly
This Bailout deal announced by the Government following negotiationswith the EU and IMF is 'a disaster for our country'.
I've met with the EU Economics Commissioner Ollie Rehn twice during the negotiations and I've spoken to Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia twice as well. The 5.8% interest rate is penal and beyond what I or any other Irish MEPs were led to believe.
Permanent link | Categories: Alan Kelly • EU • Bailout • Ollie Rehn
MEETING PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Posted on September 30, 2010 by Alan Kelly
With my wife Regina and President Clinton
I had the pleasure of meeting President Bill Clinton recently at a dinner in his honour held in UCD in Dublin. The event was organised by Business and Finance Magazine. he gave a very personal and positive feel good speech about how Ireland could pull itself out of the economic mess we now find ourselves in. It was a pleasure to listen to him as he spoke without notes, reciting by heart Seamus Heaney poetry while entralling everyone one with his charm, wit and real life stories. The spark of positivity that he gave to people in the roon that night was very welcome indeed.
Permanent link | Categories: Alan Kelly • Bill Clinton • US • EU
IRELAND MUST FOLLOW FINLAND AND MAKE DIGITAL HISTORY
Posted on July 02, 2010 by Alan Kelly
Following the news that Finland has made broadband access a legal right for every citizen, I believe Ireland must follow their example and make broadband available to every Irish home and business.
Finland made digital history when it became the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen.
From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection.
What we need now is an urgent review of Ireland’s broadband strategy. Ireland lags way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to broadband and the problem is worst in rural areas.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour • Tipperary • North Tipperary • Broadband • Finland • access • rural infrastructure • communications • Broadband roll out • strategy
ROAMING FEES TO BE SLASHED IN EUROPE THIS WEEK
Posted on June 29, 2010 by Alan Kelly
This Thursday will see yet another reduction in roaming charges for Irish customers when travelling in Europe. Hopefully this will end the shameful practice of mobile phone companies giving 'bill shock' to their customers.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Consumer Affairs • Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour Party • European Parliament • Mobile Phone Roaming • charges • reduction • European Commission • roaming • Vodafone • O2 • travel • holidays • bill shock
EU COMMITTEE REPORTS ON GOVT'S HANDLING OF EU DELL MONEY
Posted on June 25, 2010 by Alan Kelly
The report submitted by the select group of MEP's who visited Limerick to examine the handling of the Dell EGF funds have confirmed all the issues I have highlighting.
The Government’s handling of the EU retraining money for former Dell workers has now proven beyond doubt to be shambolic.
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Alan Kelly MEP • Dell • EGF • MEP • Dell Redundant Workers • Limerick • Tipperary • Labour • FAS • European Commission
GOVERNMENT MUST NOT REPEAT DELL MISTAKES WITH WATERFORD CRYSTAL
Posted on June 14, 2010 by Alan Kelly
The European Parliament votes tomorrow on the allocation of funds for Waterford Crystal workers and I am calling on the Government to publish a detailed plan on how they will use the funding.
It is no secret that serious mistakes have been made by the government in dealing with the European Globalisation Funding for the former Dell Workers.
Permanent link | Categories: Education • Enterprise Trade & Employment • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour Party • Waterford Crystal • Dell Workers • EGF • European Globalisation Fund • mistakes • education • region • south east
ROAMING PRICES REMAIN TOO HIGH DESPITE VODAFONE VERDICT
Posted on June 08, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I welcome today's European Court verdict on roaming charges but the cost of roaming across Europe is still too expensive for consumers.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Alan Kelly MEP • mobile phone roaming • Vodafone • European Court Ruling • Internal Market • consumers • expensive
GOVT PLANNING ON EU DELL FUND PROVEN TO BE SHAMBOLIC
Posted on June 08, 2010 by Alan Kelly
04/06/10 (left to right) Gerry Henchy, Dell Workers Association, Jan O'Sullivan TD, Eamon Gilmore Labour Party Leader, Denis Ryan, Dell Workers Association and Alan Kelly MEP at An Interview with Eamon Gilmore - event in Thomond Park, Limerick on Thursday 3rd June 2010
Following a series of meetings in Limerick on Friday June 4th, I am calling on the European Parliament's employment committee to appoint someone to liaise with the government over the handling of the EGF fund.
Permanent link | Categories: Dell • Limerick • Alan Kelly MEP • European employment committee • Dell Redundant Workers • MEP • European Globalisation Fund • EGF
DWYER FAMILY DESERVE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO MICHAEL'S DEATH
Posted on May 09, 2010 by Alan Kelly
05/05/10 The family of Michael Dwyer, the young Irish man killed in Boliva meeting Alan Kelly MEP in Brussels. (left to right) Ashling Dwyer, Alan Kelly MEP, Caroline Dwyer. Photo Gary Fox
I am calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Tipperary native, Michael Dwyer in Bolivia.
An independent investigation into the killing Michael Dwyer is the only possible solution to this most serious issue.
Michael Dwyer was a loving and much loved son of the Dwyer family.
He was a loving, caring person who came from a multi-cultural background.
Last year he was tragically shot dead in Bolivia and the quality of the information emerging from authorities there is suspect.
Permanent link | Categories: Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Michael Dwyer • Dwyer Family • Bolivia • Independent Investigation • Brussels
