McGuinness Institute Presentation: Government Department Strategies Index 2015
Mairead McGuinness - Newsletter, Winter 2010
4
Europe stands with us Wishing You a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. EU heads of state and governments have agreed that changes are needed to the Lisbon Treaty to provide for a permanent crisis management fund to replace the existing temporary measures. The target is to have the changes adopted and ratified by member states by 2013. Anything that would increase the competence of the EU would require a referendum here in Ireland. However, there is no political desire to reopen the Treaty in a major way which would see the necessity to hold a referendum. A proposal by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that errant member states might lose voting rights if they fail to keep their house in order has been rejected by many member states as unacceptable. However, there is recognition of the need for some form of sanction on member states who fail to meet their commitments under the Stability and Growth Pact. Other sanctions being suggested are fines or loss of EU funds. The details have still to be clarified. ‘You are a smart and stubborn people. Time and again you have proved you can overcome adversity. This time you do not face the challenges alone. Europe stands with you.’ COMFORTING WORDS FROM EU COMMISSIONER OLLI REHN, ON HIS RECENT VISIT TO DUBLIN. The calm Finnish Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs – now a household name in Ireland – admitted that the worst excesses of the banking and economic crisis could have been avoided by earlier and better surveillance. Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted perhaps but it is a clear acknowledgement that the EU‘s fiscal policy framework failed in many EU member states, including Ireland, with devastating consequences for national economies and the risk of a financial and economic meltdown of the euro area. In the spirit of never wasting a good crisis, the EU is reforming economic governance to address the shortcomings that allowed the problems to escalate to crisis point while also supporting us, particularly through the European Central Bank. New rules alone won't be sufficient, Governments have primary responsibility for sound fiscal policy making. The EU surveillance system is being reformed. The stability and growth pact will be re-enforced with the concept of “prudent fiscal policy making”, including monitoring national debt levels. The second core element of the reforms is to broaden economic surveillance to identify and address macroeconomic imbalances and divergences in competitiveness. The Commission will monitor unsustainable developments, carry out in-depth country analysis and issue country specific recommendations. A third element of the reforms will see greater enforcement of economic surveillance through the use of incentives and sanctions. Member states would be compelled to take early corrective action or face sanctions. Reforming how banks are regulated to avoid a repeat of the banking problems is underway. The Commission proposes a system of supervisory coordination among EU regulators and governments to identify and deal with struggling banks. And banks would be required to pay into a national fund to cover the cost of managing bank failures. The proposals form part of a package of legislation planned for spring 2011 for managing any future crisis in the banking and investment sectors. As we face into meeting the tough targets of bringing our deficit below 3pc of the GDP by 2014, it is worth reflecting on the words of Commissioner Rehn who said that medium term budgetary objectives and their implementation with expenditure ceilings should become a permanent feature of fiscal policy in Ireland. CONTACT MAIREAD Email: [email protected] Website: www.maireadmcguinness.ie CONSTITUENCY OFFICE: Mentrim, Drumconrath, Navan, Co. Meath Tel: +353 (0)41 685 4633 Fax: +353 (0)41 685 4634 BRUSSELS OFFICE: Tel: +32 (0) 2284 7214 Fax: +32 (0) 2284 9214 Mairead McGuinness MEP HARD WORKING, STRAIGHT TALKING WINTER NEWSLETTER 2010 TREATY CHANGE
Transcript of Mairead McGuinness - Newsletter, Winter 2010
Europe stands with us
Wishing You a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
EU heads of state and governments have agreed that changes are needed to the Lisbon Treaty to provide for a permanent crisis management fund to replace the existing temporary measures. The target is to have the changes adopted and ratified by member states by 2013.
Anything that would increase the competence of the EU would require a referendum here in Ireland. However, there is no political desire to reopen the Treaty in a major way which would see the necessity to hold a referendum.
A proposal by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that errant member states might lose voting rights if they fail to keep their house in order has been rejected by many member states as unacceptable.
However, there is recognition of the need for some form of sanction on member states who fail to meet their commitments under the Stability and Growth Pact. Other sanctions being suggested are fines or loss of EU funds. The details have still to be clarified.
‘You are a smart and stubborn people. Time and again you have proved you can overcome adversity. This time you do not face the challenges alone. Europe stands with you.’
COMfOrTInG wOrdS frOM EU COMMISSIOnEr OLLI rEHn, On HIS rECEnT vISIT TO dUbLIn.
The calm Finnish Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs – now a household name in Ireland – admitted that the worst excesses of the banking and economic crisis could have been avoided by earlier and better surveillance. Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted perhaps but it is a clear acknowledgement that the EU‘s fiscal policy framework failed in many EU member states, including Ireland, with devastating consequences for national economies and the risk of a financial and economic meltdown of the euro area.
In the spirit of never wasting a good crisis, the EU is reforming economic governance
to address the shortcomings that allowed the problems to escalate to crisis point while also supporting us, particularly through the European Central Bank. New rules alone won't be sufficient, Governments have primary responsibility for sound fiscal policy making.
The EU surveillance system is being reformed. The stability and growth pact will be re-enforced with the concept of “prudent fiscal policy making”, including monitoring national debt levels.
The second core element of the reforms is to broaden economic surveillance to identify and address macroeconomic imbalances and divergences in competitiveness.
The Commission will monitor unsustainable developments, carry out in-depth country analysis and issue country specific recommendations.
A third element of the reforms will see greater enforcement of economic surveillance through the use of incentives
and sanctions. Member states would be compelled to take early corrective action or face sanctions.
Reforming how banks are regulated to avoid a repeat of the banking problems is underway. The Commission proposes a system of supervisory coordination among EU regulators and governments to identify and deal with struggling banks. And banks would be required to pay into a national fund to cover the cost of managing bank failures.
The proposals form part of a package of legislation planned for spring 2011 for managing any future crisis in the banking and investment sectors.
As we face into meeting the tough targets of bringing our deficit below 3pc of the GDP by 2014, it is worth reflecting on the words of Commissioner Rehn who said that medium term budgetary objectives and their implementation with expenditure ceilings should become a permanent feature of fiscal policy in Ireland.
ContaCt MairEadEmail: [email protected] Website: www.maireadmcguinness.ie
ConstituEnCy offiCE: Mentrim, Drumconrath, Navan, Co. Meath Tel: +353 (0)41 685 4633 Fax: +353 (0)41 685 4634
BrussEls offiCE: Tel: +32 (0) 2284 7214 Fax: +32 (0) 2284 9214
Mairead McGuinness MEP HArd wOrKInG, STrAIGHT TALKInGwInTEr nEwSLETTEr 2010
trEaty ChanGE
Marking the 40th Anniversary of the North Wicklow Country Market in
Newcastle, Mairead is photographed with Rev. William Bennett and Carmel
Byrne, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow and Andrew Doyle T.D., Fine Gael
Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
usEful WEBsitEsThese 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
the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu
the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu
Council of the European union http://www.consilium.europa.eu
EPP Group in the European Parliament http://www.eppgroup.eu
Mairead with Seamus Boland ,CEO of Irish Rural Link at the launch
of the organisation's book 'Europe and Rural Ireland: A guide to the
European Union's role in Irish rural development'. The launch took
place at the Ploughing Championships in Athy in September.
Mairead with brothers Kevin, John and Mark Kiernan of Longford-based Kiernan Milling at the Tullamore Show in August.
Mairead met with students Ian Carter, Sean Connelly, Conor
Rothwell and their teachers on a visit to St. Mary‘s Diocesan School,
Drogheda. The school took part in the ‘My Vision for Europe’
competition where students nationwide compete to present their
thoughts on the future of the European Union. As winners of this
year’s competition the students travelled to the European Parliament
in Strasbourg in May.
Enjoying a glass of Dingle Farmhouse Milk with producers Tommy and Mae Bric on a recent visit to Kerry.
Visitor Group october 2010
One of the most important aspects of my work as an MEP is to listen to you and keep you informed about what is happening in Europe. The quickest way to keep up-to-date and watch what is happening is through my website www.maireadmcguinness.ie
Log on for news, comment and information.
In October a group of visitors from Ireland East visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg. They travelled from Laois, Louth, Kilkenny, Kildare, Meath,
Wicklow and Wexford.
Agriculture spending is under close scrutiny. Post-2013 agricultural policy may be refocused on environmental issues, including biodiversity. Mairead is photographed with Geoff Coates, Technical Manager for Operation Pollinator, which helps farmers to establish and manage pollen rich habitats in key locations around the farm – boosting pollinating insect populations.
Currently the money in the EU budget comes mainly (three-quarters) from member states making a contribution based on their Gross National Income (GNI). The remainder comes through the VAT system.
The Commission regards the current system as opaque, complex and lacking fairness. It has caused friction on occasion between EU member states, between the new payers and the new beneficiaries.
Controversially, the Commission wants the EU to effectively collect its own tax. It has proposed a number of options for the future financing of EU policies, including a tax on the financial sector, charges related to air transport, VAT and energy.
These ideas represent a radical departure from the current system. Likely to meet with opposition they will nonetheless form part of the debate in the run up to 2013.
The current budget is set until 2013, so there is some time for the debate to take place. The Commission will put forward concrete proposals for the future of the EU budget by July 2011.
As in member states, the issue of saving money at EU level is also on the agenda.
Boosting efficiency and eliminating pockets of inefficiency in areas like staffing, IT, buildings and costs related to the realities of working in 23 languages is being discussed.
From an Irish perspective, the President of the EU Commission Mr. Barosso has spoken of the need to look at the Common Agricultural Policy to further shift the direction of the CAP towards competitiveness, innovation, environmental protection and climate change.
Eu Budget post-2013THE EU COMMISSIOn HAS LAUnCHEd A dEbATE On HOw THE EU bUdGET SHOULd bE SPEnT And HOw IT SHOULd bE fInAnCEd In THE fUTUrE.
Mairead met with Maria O’Shea from Conahy, Co. Kilkenny on her visit to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki earlier this year. Maria is a scientific officer in the Agency.
Dacian Cioloş, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development unveiled his plans on the future of the CAP post-2013 in November. The document entitled ‘CAP towards 2020’ seeks to address the food, natural resources and environmental challenges of the future.
This is the second stage in a rather lengthy process that will see the new look CAP take effect in 2014. The commitment is for evolutionary not revolutionary reforms.
Of real importance to Irish farmers is the proposal to change the way in which direct payments are allocated. The current system in Ireland that uses an historic basis to determine payment entitlements is basically rejected, as is a single flat rate payment across all member states.
The document proposes redistributing, redesigning and better targeting of direct payments. The criteria used will be both economic i.e. basic income support to farmers, and environmental, so as to support the provision of public goods.
The proposal is for a basic level of payment in each member state (or region) and placing an upper limit on payments to larger farmers. No figures are included in the paper at this stage.
In addition, enhancing the environmental performance of the CAP through a
mandatory ‘greening’ component of direct payments linked to such issues as permanent pasture, green cover, crop rotation and ecological set-aside is outlined.
Again there is no detail as to how this would be applied and how much of the payment would be linked to these measures. There is also a proposal for a specific support scheme for small farmers, but again little of what this might look like is provided in the document.
Simplification of cross compliance rules is promised but the Water Framework Directive will be added to the existing array of Directives checked under cross-compliance. This means increased cross-compliance, which is worrying.
On market support measures, the document talks of streamlining and simplifying the intervention and private storage systems. These measures are intended to provide a safety net only.
There is no mention of the EU budget in the document and this will be crucial. As I write there has been a failure to agree the budget for 2011, which does not auger well for a much tougher debate on future financing, not just of the CAP but of the EU itself. The negotiations will be tough and those who say they want a fully funded CAP must persuade their finance ministers and political leaders to put their money where their mouth is.
MEPs get hundreds of emails every day and each email receives attention. This is one of the primary ways we have of keeping in touch with our constituents. Email: [email protected] Website www.maireadmcguinness.ie
new look CaPSIzE Of bUdGET POST-2013 wILL bE CrUCIAL
EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş.
Mairead in Brussels with a delegation from the School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin (UCD); Prof Shane Ward, Prof Maurice Boland, Principal, College of Life Sciences and Gerry Looby.
The future potential of nanotechnology in food production was one of the issues discussed at a recent event hosted by Mairead in the European Parliament on ‘An Innovation Union for Europe’s food and drink industry’. Paul Kelly, Director of Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) is photographed with Mairead at the event.
ExtErnal aCtionAn Irishman, David O’Sullivan, is to head up the new European External Action Service (EEAS) – a new diplomatic service established under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon. The new service will assist Catherine Ashton, the EU‘s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Staff will include officials from external relations services in the Council and the Commission, as well as personnel from the diplomatic services of the 27 member states.
CounCil PrEsidEntHermann Van Rompuy, a Christian Democrat, officially took office on January 1st 2010 as the first full-time President of the European Council, a new position created under the Lisbon Treaty.
He was Belgian Prime Minister and was unanimously endorsed by the European Council as the President of the European Council in November of last year.
His tasks include liaising with EU leaders and arranging the bloc‘s annual summits.
doinG it BEttErThere is broad agreement on the need for making better laws.
‘Smart Regulation in the European Union’ outlines how the Commission plans to evaluate the impact of legislation throughout the policy cycle. It outlines the need for implementing existing legislation and amending it if it is not fit for purpose.
news in Brief
retail powerACTIOn nEEdEd TO GET MOnEy bACK TO fArMErS
Long term prospects for agriculture will not improve if farmers cannot reverse the steadily decreasing trend in their share of the value added generated by the food supply chain, which has decreased from 29pc in 2000 to 24pc in 2010. If this trend continues, farmers will be in receipt of an ever decreasing share of the price consumers pay for food. By 2020 this could drop to just 19pc of the added value, which is unacceptable. It is vital that the issue of retail buying power and concentration of power in input suppliers and at processing level is seriously addressed by the Commission. I am working with other like minded MEPs to address this issue. The Commission has established a platform to discuss this and other aspects of the food chain, with a view to action.
Clean chemicalsThe European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provides member states and the European institutions with the best possible scientific advice on questions related to the safety and the socio-economic aspects of the use of chemicals.
ECHA manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation. Restrictions under REACH can be used to regulate the manufacturing, placing on the market, or use of certain substances, if they pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
The Agency is mandated to work with member states to ensure implementation of legislation in this complex area. ECHA also gets involved in looking at the testing of chemicals and the use of alternatives to using animals.
It plays a key role with industry in ensuring that high standards are observed in the use of chemicals in the EU. The REACH model is also being looked at by other global trading partners as a way of managing chemical legislation to ensure safe use and to protect socio-economic concerns.
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 me at [email protected]
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 me at [email protected]
Agriculture spending is under close scrutiny. Post-2013 agricultural policy may be refocused on environmental issues, including biodiversity. Mairead is photographed with Geoff Coates, Technical Manager for Operation Pollinator, which helps farmers to establish and manage pollen rich habitats in key locations around the farm – boosting pollinating insect populations.
Currently the money in the EU budget comes mainly (three-quarters) from member states making a contribution based on their Gross National Income (GNI). The remainder comes through the VAT system.
The Commission regards the current system as opaque, complex and lacking fairness. It has caused friction on occasion between EU member states, between the new payers and the new beneficiaries.
Controversially, the Commission wants the EU to effectively collect its own tax. It has proposed a number of options for the future financing of EU policies, including a tax on the financial sector, charges related to air transport, VAT and energy.
These ideas represent a radical departure from the current system. Likely to meet with opposition they will nonetheless form part of the debate in the run up to 2013.
The current budget is set until 2013, so there is some time for the debate to take place. The Commission will put forward concrete proposals for the future of the EU budget by July 2011.
As in member states, the issue of saving money at EU level is also on the agenda.
Boosting efficiency and eliminating pockets of inefficiency in areas like staffing, IT, buildings and costs related to the realities of working in 23 languages is being discussed.
From an Irish perspective, the President of the EU Commission Mr. Barosso has spoken of the need to look at the Common Agricultural Policy to further shift the direction of the CAP towards competitiveness, innovation, environmental protection and climate change.
Eu Budget post-2013THE EU COMMISSIOn HAS LAUnCHEd A dEbATE On HOw THE EU bUdGET SHOULd bE SPEnT And HOw IT SHOULd bE fInAnCEd In THE fUTUrE.
Mairead met with Maria O’Shea from Conahy, Co. Kilkenny on her visit to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki earlier this year. Maria is a scientific officer in the Agency.
Dacian Cioloş, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development unveiled his plans on the future of the CAP post-2013 in November. The document entitled ‘CAP towards 2020’ seeks to address the food, natural resources and environmental challenges of the future.
This is the second stage in a rather lengthy process that will see the new look CAP take effect in 2014. The commitment is for evolutionary not revolutionary reforms.
Of real importance to Irish farmers is the proposal to change the way in which direct payments are allocated. The current system in Ireland that uses an historic basis to determine payment entitlements is basically rejected, as is a single flat rate payment across all member states.
The document proposes redistributing, redesigning and better targeting of direct payments. The criteria used will be both economic i.e. basic income support to farmers, and environmental, so as to support the provision of public goods.
The proposal is for a basic level of payment in each member state (or region) and placing an upper limit on payments to larger farmers. No figures are included in the paper at this stage.
In addition, enhancing the environmental performance of the CAP through a
mandatory ‘greening’ component of direct payments linked to such issues as permanent pasture, green cover, crop rotation and ecological set-aside is outlined.
Again there is no detail as to how this would be applied and how much of the payment would be linked to these measures. There is also a proposal for a specific support scheme for small farmers, but again little of what this might look like is provided in the document.
Simplification of cross compliance rules is promised but the Water Framework Directive will be added to the existing array of Directives checked under cross-compliance. This means increased cross-compliance, which is worrying.
On market support measures, the document talks of streamlining and simplifying the intervention and private storage systems. These measures are intended to provide a safety net only.
There is no mention of the EU budget in the document and this will be crucial. As I write there has been a failure to agree the budget for 2011, which does not auger well for a much tougher debate on future financing, not just of the CAP but of the EU itself. The negotiations will be tough and those who say they want a fully funded CAP must persuade their finance ministers and political leaders to put their money where their mouth is.
MEPs get hundreds of emails every day and each email receives attention. This is one of the primary ways we have of keeping in touch with our constituents. Email: [email protected] Website www.maireadmcguinness.ie
new look CaPSIzE Of bUdGET POST-2013 wILL bE CrUCIAL
EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş.
Mairead in Brussels with a delegation from the School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin (UCD); Prof Shane Ward, Prof Maurice Boland, Principal, College of Life Sciences and Gerry Looby.
The future potential of nanotechnology in food production was one of the issues discussed at a recent event hosted by Mairead in the European Parliament on ‘An Innovation Union for Europe’s food and drink industry’. Paul Kelly, Director of Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) is photographed with Mairead at the event.
ExtErnal aCtionAn Irishman, David O’Sullivan, is to head up the new European External Action Service (EEAS) – a new diplomatic service established under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon. The new service will assist Catherine Ashton, the EU‘s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Staff will include officials from external relations services in the Council and the Commission, as well as personnel from the diplomatic services of the 27 member states.
CounCil PrEsidEntHermann Van Rompuy, a Christian Democrat, officially took office on January 1st 2010 as the first full-time President of the European Council, a new position created under the Lisbon Treaty.
He was Belgian Prime Minister and was unanimously endorsed by the European Council as the President of the European Council in November of last year.
His tasks include liaising with EU leaders and arranging the bloc‘s annual summits.
doinG it BEttErThere is broad agreement on the need for making better laws.
‘Smart Regulation in the European Union’ outlines how the Commission plans to evaluate the impact of legislation throughout the policy cycle. It outlines the need for implementing existing legislation and amending it if it is not fit for purpose.
news in Brief
retail powerACTIOn nEEdEd TO GET MOnEy bACK TO fArMErS
Long term prospects for agriculture will not improve if farmers cannot reverse the steadily decreasing trend in their share of the value added generated by the food supply chain, which has decreased from 29pc in 2000 to 24pc in 2010. If this trend continues, farmers will be in receipt of an ever decreasing share of the price consumers pay for food. By 2020 this could drop to just 19pc of the added value, which is unacceptable. It is vital that the issue of retail buying power and concentration of power in input suppliers and at processing level is seriously addressed by the Commission. I am working with other like minded MEPs to address this issue. The Commission has established a platform to discuss this and other aspects of the food chain, with a view to action.
Clean chemicalsThe European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provides member states and the European institutions with the best possible scientific advice on questions related to the safety and the socio-economic aspects of the use of chemicals.
ECHA manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation. Restrictions under REACH can be used to regulate the manufacturing, placing on the market, or use of certain substances, if they pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
The Agency is mandated to work with member states to ensure implementation of legislation in this complex area. ECHA also gets involved in looking at the testing of chemicals and the use of alternatives to using animals.
It plays a key role with industry in ensuring that high standards are observed in the use of chemicals in the EU. The REACH model is also being looked at by other global trading partners as a way of managing chemical legislation to ensure safe use and to protect socio-economic concerns.
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 me at [email protected]
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 me at [email protected]
Europe stands with us
Wishing You a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
EU heads of state and governments have agreed that changes are needed to the Lisbon Treaty to provide for a permanent crisis management fund to replace the existing temporary measures. The target is to have the changes adopted and ratified by member states by 2013.
Anything that would increase the competence of the EU would require a referendum here in Ireland. However, there is no political desire to reopen the Treaty in a major way which would see the necessity to hold a referendum.
A proposal by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that errant member states might lose voting rights if they fail to keep their house in order has been rejected by many member states as unacceptable.
However, there is recognition of the need for some form of sanction on member states who fail to meet their commitments under the Stability and Growth Pact. Other sanctions being suggested are fines or loss of EU funds. The details have still to be clarified.
‘You are a smart and stubborn people. Time and again you have proved you can overcome adversity. This time you do not face the challenges alone. Europe stands with you.’
COMfOrTInG wOrdS frOM EU COMMISSIOnEr OLLI rEHn, On HIS rECEnT vISIT TO dUbLIn.
The calm Finnish Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs – now a household name in Ireland – admitted that the worst excesses of the banking and economic crisis could have been avoided by earlier and better surveillance. Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted perhaps but it is a clear acknowledgement that the EU‘s fiscal policy framework failed in many EU member states, including Ireland, with devastating consequences for national economies and the risk of a financial and economic meltdown of the euro area.
In the spirit of never wasting a good crisis, the EU is reforming economic governance
to address the shortcomings that allowed the problems to escalate to crisis point while also supporting us, particularly through the European Central Bank. New rules alone won't be sufficient, Governments have primary responsibility for sound fiscal policy making.
The EU surveillance system is being reformed. The stability and growth pact will be re-enforced with the concept of “prudent fiscal policy making”, including monitoring national debt levels.
The second core element of the reforms is to broaden economic surveillance to identify and address macroeconomic imbalances and divergences in competitiveness.
The Commission will monitor unsustainable developments, carry out in-depth country analysis and issue country specific recommendations.
A third element of the reforms will see greater enforcement of economic surveillance through the use of incentives
and sanctions. Member states would be compelled to take early corrective action or face sanctions.
Reforming how banks are regulated to avoid a repeat of the banking problems is underway. The Commission proposes a system of supervisory coordination among EU regulators and governments to identify and deal with struggling banks. And banks would be required to pay into a national fund to cover the cost of managing bank failures.
The proposals form part of a package of legislation planned for spring 2011 for managing any future crisis in the banking and investment sectors.
As we face into meeting the tough targets of bringing our deficit below 3pc of the GDP by 2014, it is worth reflecting on the words of Commissioner Rehn who said that medium term budgetary objectives and their implementation with expenditure ceilings should become a permanent feature of fiscal policy in Ireland.
ContaCt MairEadEmail: [email protected] Website: www.maireadmcguinness.ie
ConstituEnCy offiCE: Mentrim, Drumconrath, Navan, Co. Meath Tel: +353 (0)41 685 4633 Fax: +353 (0)41 685 4634
BrussEls offiCE: Tel: +32 (0) 2284 7214 Fax: +32 (0) 2284 9214
Mairead McGuinness MEP HArd wOrKInG, STrAIGHT TALKInGwInTEr nEwSLETTEr 2010
trEaty ChanGE
Marking the 40th Anniversary of the North Wicklow Country Market in
Newcastle, Mairead is photographed with Rev. William Bennett and Carmel
Byrne, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow and Andrew Doyle T.D., Fine Gael
Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
usEful WEBsitEsThese 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
the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu
the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu
Council of the European union http://www.consilium.europa.eu
EPP Group in the European Parliament http://www.eppgroup.eu
Mairead with Seamus Boland ,CEO of Irish Rural Link at the launch
of the organisation's book 'Europe and Rural Ireland: A guide to the
European Union's role in Irish rural development'. The launch took
place at the Ploughing Championships in Athy in September.
Mairead with brothers Kevin, John and Mark Kiernan of Longford-based Kiernan Milling at the Tullamore Show in August.
Mairead met with students Ian Carter, Sean Connelly, Conor
Rothwell and their teachers on a visit to St. Mary‘s Diocesan School,
Drogheda. The school took part in the ‘My Vision for Europe’
competition where students nationwide compete to present their
thoughts on the future of the European Union. As winners of this
year’s competition the students travelled to the European Parliament
in Strasbourg in May.
Enjoying a glass of Dingle Farmhouse Milk with producers Tommy and Mae Bric on a recent visit to Kerry.
Visitor Group october 2010
One of the most important aspects of my work as an MEP is to listen to you and keep you informed about what is happening in Europe. The quickest way to keep up-to-date and watch what is happening is through my website www.maireadmcguinness.ie
Log on for news, comment and information.
Visitor Group october 2010
In October a group of visitors from Ireland East visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg. They travelled from Laois, Louth, Kilkenny, Kildare, Meath,
Wicklow and Wexford.
![CRM on Demand Architecture - McGuinness v03[1]](https://static.fdocuments.in/doc/165x107/55cf9d0f550346d033ac159d/crm-on-demand-architecture-mcguinness-v031.jpg)
