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Entries matching the category "eu%20commission%20food%20and%20veterinary%20office%20report"
Calling for a Ban on Brazilian Beef in Europe
Posted on December 10, 2009 by Alan Kelly
This week, I spoke in the European Parliament calling for a ban on the importation of Brazilian beef into the EU. There have been growing concerns over the Brazilian beef’s safety. Not alone that but Irish farmers deserve to be rewarded for their high standards and excellent quality beef. It’s totally unfair that they have to compete with beef that is not produced to the same standard and imported from Brazil. These farmers go through all regulatory controls as set down by Europe so all other beef should do the same. Consumers must also be protected from potentially diseased beef.
Permanent link | Categories: Agriculture • Consumer Affairs • Brazilian Beef • EU Commission Food and Veterinary Office Report
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
Meeting Commissioner Andor
Posted on February 10, 2010 by Alan Kelly
On Wednesday I met with Commissioner for Employment Affairs, Laszlo Andor. He is the Hungarian Commissioner and an exceptionally approacable and likeable person. My request for the meeting was principally to get an update on the Dell EGF fund and he told me that the fund was very flexible as regards its administration and also that it would be released this week to the Irish Government. I also got an assurance that the Waterford Crystal fund would be passed by the Commission soon and before the Parliament by March or April, which I broadly welcomed. WE also spoke about the SR Technics application and a number of other issues which I am persuing with the Commissioner on behalf Ireland and my constituents.
Permanent link | Categories: Commissioner Andor • Dell • EGF • alan kelly • Mid West
Thank You
Posted on June 10, 2009 by Alan Kelly
A big thank you to the people of Ireland South for choosing me to represent you in the European Parliament. It is a great honour and a privilege. It was a very enjoyable campaign and one that I will always cherish. I want to thank the thousands of people voted for me. I will do my best at all times to ensure they get the best representation at EU level, whether they are workers, fishermen or farmers. I also believe we can learn an awful lot more from Europe in a progressive way and I intend to demonstrate that.
Permanent link | Categories: EU • Munster • Ireland South • Labour • Eamon Gilmore • Alan Kelly
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
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
