Newsletter

Wishing You a Very Happy Christmas
and a Peaceful New Year.

Mairead McGuinness
hard WorKING, sTraIGhT TaLKING
WINTEr NEWsLETTEr 2009

Green for Go
ThE PasT TWELvE moNThs havE European Parliament increased powers The EU is still beset with economic and
BEEN hECTIC. ThE EUroPEaN and responsibility. banking problems. Ireland remains mired
ELECTIoNs IN JUNE WErE sWIfTLy The Lisbon Treaty will also result in in both. The news from the Commission
foLLoWEd By ThE sECoNd changes on how the EU makes decisions. is that the many EU countries are coming
rEfErENdUm oN ThE LIsBoN It should result in more effective decision out of recessions, albeit at a slow pace.
TrEaTy. IN oCToBEr, ThE IrIsh making. Given the many challenges we Europe's economy emerged from
ELECToraTE voTEd EmPhaTICaLLy face, this will be a positive development recession in 2009 and is expected to grow
IN favoUr of ThE TrEaTy. ThIs for the EU. But it will also require that by 0.7 per cent next year. However, this
Was foLLoWEd By ThE CzECh member states, the EU Commission and slight improvement follows a contraction in
PrEsIdENT sIGNING ThE TrEaTy - the European Parliament use the new the economy of 4.1 per cent this year.
ThE LasT of ThE 27 mEmBEr sTaTEs powers in the Lisbon Treaty effectively.
To do so. The news about Ireland is less positive.
Now more than ever within the European While France and Germany have officially
I had expected more jubilation when Union, we need to focus our collective emerged from recession in 2009, Ireland
the Treaty finally got the green light, but energies on the major challenges that is not expected to do so until 2011
instead the developments were greeted confront us: the economic difficulties, according to the EU Commission.
by a warm but low key welcome, perhaps climate change, energy security and food
because its birth and delivery had been so We have to solve our budgetary problems,
security. All of these issues must be tackled our banking mess and restore economic
long and troublesome! at EU and global level. A strengthened growth and jobs. Many will be glad to see
We are now in the action phase and each EU will be a more effective player on the the end of 2009, but many remain fearful
day brings developments towards the full global stage to advance these issues. of what lies ahead in 2010.
implementation of the Lisbon Treaty - A A new EU Commission is also taking
new President for the European Council, 2009 was also a time to look back and
shape, under the Presidency of Jose reflect on a major event in the history of
a new high representative for foreign Manúel Barrosso - His team will hit the
affairs and security policy, and for the the EU.
ground running in January.

In November 2009, 16 original, 3.6m high parts of the
Berlin wall were positioned outside the European Parliament
in Brussels as a reminder of the time when Berlin, Germany
and the EU was divided. Today with Lisbon there is greater
unity and the wall is well and truly down.
The Berlin wall fell 20 years ago and we all joined with the
German people in celebrating this very significant historic
occasion.
The wall, built in 1961, came to symbolise the Iron Curtain
between Western Europe and the Eastern bloc. Its fall on
November 9, 1989 was the catalyst that led to fundamental
change across the whole of Eastern Europe.
Twenty years later an enlarged European Union includes
many former Communist countries bound together by a
shared commitment to peace, democracy, human rights
and the rule of law.

ContaCt Mairead ConstituenCy offiCe: Mentrim, Drumconrath, Navan, Co. Meath
Email: mairead.mcguinness@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +353 (0)41 685 4633 Fax: +353 (0)41 685 4634
Website: www.maireadmcguinness.ie Brussels offiCe: Tel: +32 (0) 2284 7214 Fax: +32 (0) 2284 9214

CaP Post-2013
CoNfIdENCE amoNG farmErs aCross ThE EU Is aT a LoW EBB. ThE
CoLLaPsE IN CommodITy PrICEs has sEvErELy hIT farm INComEs.
In Ireland the problems have been have also stressed the need for farm
exacerbated by the cuts imposed by organisations across the EU to engage
the Government on a number of very more effectively with MEPs.
important farm schemes and a failure to The dramatic fluctuation in commodity
deliver on commitments made. prices is a powerful argument for the
As always, poor weather in the summer continuation of the Single Farm Payment
months added to the costs of farming - post-2013. I believe we will have support
not to mind the hassle of working under payments post-2013, but there is
difficult conditions. huge division about the distribution of
Against this background, we have had payments both within member states and
the implementation of the Health Check between member states.
of the CAP. The coming year will be There is not widespread support across
dominated by discussion and debate on the EU for the continuation of these Mairead with the new Chairman of the Committee on
the future shape of agricultural policy payments at historical levels. Ireland Agriculture and Rural Development in the European
post-2013. opted to fully decouple payments in Parliament, Italian MEP, Paolo De Castro. Mr. De
the 2003 reforms and should not be Castro is a former Minister for Agriculture in Italy and a
That debate is being dominated by a professor of agricultural economics.
review of the EU Budget post-2013. penalised now for that decision. There
Those who do not fully understand is some debate about introducing a flat
the needs of EU agriculture and food rate per hectare payment at member
production are attempting to raid the state level. There is also pressure from
agriculture budget and divert monies to the new member states for an increase
other uses. in the level of their payments. In addition,
there is discussion about updating the
A recent draft report from the European reference period for calculation of the
Commission is a threat to the CAP as it Single Farm Payment. Nothing is decided,
poses the possibility of member states but everything is on the table and Ireland
part-funding the Single Farm Payment needs to be strong and forceful in its
and a further erosion of market support defence of a centrally funded Common
measures. Agricultural Policy. I argue that change
Under the Lisbon Treaty, the powers must be gradual, well-flagged and
of the European Parliament in relation proportionate.
to the agriculture remit will be greatly On rural development, the emphasis (Above) At the Iverk Show, Co. Kilkenny, Mairead
enhanced; we will share decision making met with Eileen Foley, Eileen Phelan, Mary Flynn and
will be on water management, climate Katheryn Quinlan.
with the Council and the Commission. I change and biodiversity. Firm details of a
have stressed to my fellow members on replacement scheme for REPS are eagerly
the Parliament's Agriculture and Rural awaited at farm level, but there is little
Development Committee the importance doubt that the level of payment will be
of meeting our commitments to family lower than that in REPS.
farming and the rural community. I

supermarket Power
The crisis in the dairy sector dominated discussions throughout the year. Milk prices
to producers fell through the floor. By the end of 2009, a package worth €280
million was agreed to assist the dairy sector. For Ireland this will mean €11 million
for dairy farmers - more symbolic than significant. The positive news is that as we
approach a new year, dairy markets have improved somewhat.
Several member states, including France, have announced a major package of
support for their farmers. However, the Irish Government has remained silent. I
am fearful of a trend towards more national support for farmers and away from a
common approach through the CAP.
The crisis also once again highlights the massive gap between producer and
consumer prices. The power of the supermarkets and their ability to profit at the
expense of producers and consumers is to the fore. The European Parliament is
active on this issue and we are putting pressure on the Commission for real action (Above) Mairead photographed with Pádraig Walshe,
President of the IFA and the European farmers
on transparency in the food chain to curb the excessive power of the multiples.
organisation, COPA .

MEPs get hundreds of emails every day and each one receives attention. This is one of the primary ways we have of
keeping in touch with our constituents. Email: mairead.mcguinness@europarl.europa.eu Website www.maireadmcguinness.ie

news in Brief
druGs in ireland
Ireland has the fourth highest rate of
cocaine use among 15 to 34-year-olds
in Europe, according to the 2009 annual
report of the European Monitoring Centre
on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
Of the 27 European countries only
Denmark, the UK and Spain had a
higher prevalence than Ireland, which
also has a higher than average number
At the 10th Anniversary Conference of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), Mairead
photographed with Prof. Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, UCD and Prof. Alan Reilly,
of drug-related deaths per million of
Chief Executive of the FSAI. population.
The report entitled, The State of The Drugs
Problem in Europe highlights the ‘growing
Protecting our resources sophistication’ in marketing legal alterna-
tives to illicit drugs (so-called ‘legal highs’)
ENvIroNmENT ProTECTIoN rEmaINs a KEy PrIorITy of ThE EU. aLoNG and describes the difficulties of ‘hitting a
WITh my WorK oN aGrICULTUrE aNd rUraL dEvELoPmENT, I NoW sIT moving target.’
oN ThE ENvIroNmENT, food safETy aNd PUBLIC hEaLTh CommITTEE
IN ParLIamENT. ThErE arE sTroNG LINKs BETWEEN ThEsE TWo KEy Banks under Pressure
CommITTEEs. The EU Commission has sent out a strong
message to bankers that it will not allow
This year, the Irish Food Safety Authority CLImaTE ChaNGE them to continue with business as usual
celebrated its tenth birthday with a major This remains a big topic of debate and while at the same time benefitting from
conference on food safety. The Authority action. The Environment Committee taxpayer bailouts.
has proven its worth in protecting and is the lead committee on this issue
The Commission has already taken action
enhancing consumer protection in the and is monitoring the outcome of the
to break up big state-rescued banks by
area of food safety. Its work has also been Copenhagen Conference closely. Action
forcing them to sell off parts of their
important for food producers and the food to address climate change is required
operation.
industry. across all sectors. The EU's climate change
package announced in 2008 aims to I believe there has to be some pay back by
Currently work is underway at EU level
reduce green house gas emissions across the banks for the mess they have created
on food labelling. There is concern about
Europe by 20 per cent by 2020 and as a result of poor business practices. They
the high fat and high salt content of some
increase to 20 per cent the renewable cannot receive bailouts and expect to hold
processed foods. Ways to address this with
energy target. onto all they have.
clear food labelling rules is underway, but
disagreements exist over what system to On production of renewables Ireland is The move at EU level is sending shivers
use. Consumers need information that is falling behind. As one of the countries down banking spines in Ireland and
clear and allows them to make informed with the greatest dependence on imported elsewhere; and no harm in that!
choices about the foods they purchase. energy, this policy failure is regrettable.
Food labels can be both confusing and Transport, industry and agriculture are thank you
hard to read. New labelling laws will all being called on to play their part in I would like to thank all those who
hopefully address these twin problems and climate change mitigation, and it's only supported me in my campaign for
make it easier for us to understand what right that all industries should shoulder re-election to the European Parliament. It is
we are buying. their fair share. It is important, however, a huge honour to have been re-elected in
One of the major public health issues that we do not try to address climate June last with a very strong mandate. I am
which the Committee is addressing is the change within the EU agricultural sector very pleased to be able to serve the people
information made available to us when by cutting production and allowing of Ireland East for the next five years in
we buy medicines. We are all familiar increased levels of third country food Parliament.
with the information accompanying imports. This problem of "carbon leakage"
With the implementation of the Lisbon
medicinal products, but how often should is a real concern to farmers and the food
Treaty the role and responsibilities of the
this be updated and who is responsible industry. We need research to allow our
European Parliament will be enhanced.
for updating on adverse reactions to agri-sector reduce emissions, without
This will bring with it an increased
medicines? These issues are being debated reducing production. We need a land
workload in Brussels, Strasbourg and in the
currently in committee. The monitoring and use policy which allows for food and fuel
Constituency. I relish the challenge!
reporting of adverse reactions to drugs and production and for carbon sequestration.
updating of consumer information are a We need better management of our Please feel free to contact me if there are
vital part of this debate. scarce resources. issues you are concerned about.

MEPs get hundreds of emails every day and each emailreceives attention. This is one of the primary ways we have of

Visitor Group september 2009

Post Primary School on a visit in September.
with a group of students and teachers from Maynooth
Sitting it out at the European Parliament in Strasbourg being part of a visitor group please contact
an Parliament, large and small. If you are interested in
Mairead is delighted to welcome groups to the Europe
Emir in Mairead's constituency office on 041 685 4633

Women for Europe members Niamh Galla
gher and Michelle O'Donnell
Keating advocating a YES vote to Lisbon
with Mairead in the European Budding repo
Parliament, Brussels. rters, Elliot G
interviewed race, Emma
Mairead as Keane and D
ised by Mea part of a 'Cel avid O’Neill
th Comháirl ebrating Euro
e na nÓg pe' project or
gan-

onnor
e and Joan O'C
nes, Mossy Ford
David Wals h, Claire Ann Jo Drive in Strasb ourg
is year's Freedom
participating in th
,
; Jim Higgins M EP
agues in Europe
r Fin e Gael Party colle Kelly M EP
Mairead with he ation, and Sean
, Head of Deleg
G ay Mitchell M EP

useful WeBsites
These are some useful websites for more information on the EU and the Parliament.
europe direct http://ec.europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm
the european Commission in ireland http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/welcome/index_en.htm
Mairead with D the european Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu
es Leadon, Hea
Equine Centre, d of Clinical Pa
Naas and Shan thology, Irish the european Commission http://ec.europa.eu
Breeders Associa e O'Dwyer, Irish
tion on a visit to Thoroughbred
the European Pa Council of the european union http://www.consilium.europa.eu
rliament.
ePP Group in the european Parliament http://www.eppgroup.eu


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