Newsletter

Green for Go

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

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.

ThE PasT TWELvE moNThs havE BEEN hECTIC. ThE EUroPEaN ELECTIoNs IN JUNE WErE sWIfTLy foLLoWEd By ThE sECoNd rEfErENdUm oN ThE LIsBoN TrEaTy. IN oCToBEr, ThE IrIsh ELECToraTE voTEd EmPhaTICaLLy IN favoUr of ThE TrEaTy. ThIs Was foLLoWEd By ThE CzECh PrEsIdENT sIGNING ThE TrEaTy - ThE LasT of ThE 27 mEmBEr sTaTEs To do so.

I had expected more jubilation when the Treaty finally got the green light, but instead the developments were greeted by a warm but low key welcome, perhaps because its birth and delivery had been so long and troublesome!

We are now in the action phase and each day brings developments towards the full implementation of the Lisbon Treaty - A new President for the European Council, a new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and for the

European Parliament increased powers and responsibility.

The Lisbon Treaty will also result in changes on how the EU makes decisions. It should result in more effective decision making. Given the many challenges we face, this will be a positive development for the EU. But it will also require that member states, the EU Commission and the European Parliament use the new powers in the Lisbon Treaty effectively.

Now more than ever within the European Union, we need to focus our collective energies on the major challenges that confront us: the economic difficulties, climate change, energy security and food security. All of these issues must be tackled at EU and global level. A strengthened EU will be a more effective player on the global stage to advance these issues.

A new EU Commission is also taking shape, under the Presidency of Jose Manúel Barrosso - His team will hit the ground running in January.

The EU is still beset with economic and banking problems. Ireland remains mired in both. The news from the Commission is that the many EU countries are coming out of recessions, albeit at a slow pace.

Europe's economy emerged from recession in 2009 and is expected to grow by 0.7 per cent next year. However, this slight improvement follows a contraction in the economy of 4.1 per cent this year.

The news about Ireland is less positive. While France and Germany have officially emerged from recession in 2009, Ireland is not expected to do so until 2011 according to the EU Commission.

We have to solve our budgetary problems, our banking mess and restore economic growth and jobs. Many will be glad to see the end of 2009, but many remain fearful of what lies ahead in 2010.

2009 was also a time to look back and reflect on a major event in the history of the EU.

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 hard WorKING, sTraIGhT TaLKINGWINTEr NEWsLETTEr 2009

In Ireland the problems have been exacerbated by the cuts imposed by the Government on a number of very important farm schemes and a failure to deliver on commitments made.

As always, poor weather in the summer months added to the costs of farming - not to mind the hassle of working under difficult conditions.

Against this background, we have had the implementation of the Health Check of the CAP. The coming year will be dominated by discussion and debate on the future shape of agricultural policy post-2013.

That debate is being dominated by a review of the EU Budget post-2013. Those who do not fully understand the needs of EU agriculture and food production are attempting to raid the agriculture budget and divert monies to other uses.

A recent draft report from the European Commission is a threat to the CAP as it poses the possibility of member states part-funding the Single Farm Payment and a further erosion of market support measures.

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the powers of the European Parliament in relation to the agriculture remit will be greatly enhanced; we will share decision making with the Council and the Commission. I have stressed to my fellow members on the Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee the importance of meeting our commitments to family farming and the rural community. I

have also stressed the need for farm organisations across the EU to engage more effectively with MEPs.

The dramatic fluctuation in commodity prices is a powerful argument for the continuation of the Single Farm Payment post-2013. I believe we will have support payments post-2013, but there is huge division about the distribution of payments both within member states and between member states.

There is not widespread support across the EU for the continuation of these payments at historical levels. Ireland opted to fully decouple payments in the 2003 reforms and should not be penalised now for that decision. There is some debate about introducing a flat rate per hectare payment at member state level. There is also pressure from the new member states for an increase in the level of their payments. In addition, there is discussion about updating the reference period for calculation of the Single Farm Payment. Nothing is decided, but everything is on the table and Ireland needs to be strong and forceful in its defence of a centrally funded Common Agricultural Policy. I argue that change must be gradual, well-flagged and proportionate.

On rural development, the emphasis will be on water management, climate change and biodiversity. Firm details of a replacement scheme for REPS are eagerly awaited at farm level, but there is little doubt that the level of payment will be lower than that in REPS.

CaP Post-2013CoNfIdENCE amoNG farmErs aCross ThE EU Is aT a LoW EBB. ThE CoLLaPsE IN CommodITy PrICEs has sEvErELy hIT farm INComEs.

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: [email protected] Website www.maireadmcguinness.ie

Mairead with the new Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Parliament, Italian MEP, Paolo De Castro. Mr. De Castro is a former Minister for Agriculture in Italy and a professor of agricultural economics.

(Above) Mairead photographed with Pádraig Walshe, President of the IFA and the European farmers organisation, COPA .

(Above) At the Iverk Show, Co. Kilkenny, Mairead met with Eileen Foley, Eileen Phelan, Mary Flynn and Katheryn Quinlan.

supermarket PowerThe 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 on transparency in the food chain to curb the excessive power of the multiples.

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


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, Chief Executive of the FSAI.

druGs in irelandIreland 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 of drug-related deaths per million of population.

The report entitled, The State of The Drugs Problem in Europe highlights the ‘growing sophistication’ in marketing legal alterna-tives to illicit drugs (so-called ‘legal highs’) and describes the difficulties of ‘hitting a moving target.’

Banks under PressureThe EU Commission has sent out a strong message to bankers that it will not allow them to continue with business as usual while at the same time benefitting from taxpayer bailouts.

The Commission has already taken action to break up big state-rescued banks by forcing them to sell off parts of their operation.

I believe there has to be some pay back by the banks for the mess they have created as a result of poor business practices. They cannot receive bailouts and expect to hold onto all they have.

The move at EU level is sending shivers down banking spines in Ireland and elsewhere; and no harm in that!

thank youI would like to thank all those who supported me in my campaign for re-election to the European Parliament. It is a huge honour to have been re-elected in June last with a very strong mandate. I am very pleased to be able to serve the people of Ireland East for the next five years in Parliament.

With the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty the role and responsibilities of the European Parliament will be enhanced. This will bring with it an increased workload in Brussels, Strasbourg and in the Constituency. I relish the challenge!

Please feel free to contact me if there are issues you are concerned about.

news in Brief

This year, the Irish Food Safety Authority celebrated its tenth birthday with a major conference on food safety. The Authority has proven its worth in protecting and enhancing consumer protection in the area of food safety. Its work has also been important for food producers and the food industry.

Currently work is underway at EU level on food labelling. There is concern about the high fat and high salt content of some processed foods. Ways to address this with clear food labelling rules is underway, but disagreements exist over what system to use. Consumers need information that is clear and allows them to make informed choices about the foods they purchase. Food labels can be both confusing and hard to read. New labelling laws will hopefully address these twin problems and make it easier for us to understand what we are buying.

One of the major public health issues which the Committee is addressing is the information made available to us when we buy medicines. We are all familiar with the information accompanying medicinal products, but how often should this be updated and who is responsible for updating on adverse reactions to medicines? These issues are being debated currently in committee. The monitoring and reporting of adverse reactions to drugs and updating of consumer information are a vital part of this debate.

CLImaTE ChaNGEThis remains a big topic of debate and action. The Environment Committee is the lead committee on this issue and is monitoring the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference closely. Action to address climate change is required across all sectors. The EU's climate change package announced in 2008 aims to reduce green house gas emissions across Europe by 20 per cent by 2020 and increase to 20 per cent the renewable energy target.

On production of renewables Ireland is falling behind. As one of the countries with the greatest dependence on imported energy, this policy failure is regrettable.

Transport, industry and agriculture are all being called on to play their part in climate change mitigation, and it's only right that all industries should shoulder their fair share. It is important, however, that we do not try to address climate change within the EU agricultural sector by cutting production and allowing increased levels of third country food imports. This problem of "carbon leakage" is a real concern to farmers and the food industry. We need research to allow our agri-sector reduce emissions, without reducing production. We need a land use policy which allows for food and fuel production and for carbon sequestration. We need better management of our scarce resources.

Protecting our resourcesENvIroNmENT ProTECTIoN rEmaINs a KEy PrIorITy of ThE EU. aLoNG WITh my WorK oN aGrICULTUrE aNd rUraL dEvELoPmENT, I NoW sIT oN ThE ENvIroNmENT, food safETy aNd PUBLIC hEaLTh CommITTEE IN ParLIamENT. ThErE arE sTroNG LINKs BETWEEN ThEsE TWo KEy CommITTEEs.

Mairead with her Fine Gael Party colleagues in Europe; Jim Higgins MEP,

Gay Mitchell MEP, Head of Delegation, and Sean Kelly MEP

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

Budding reporters, Elliot Grace, Emma Keane and David O’Neill

interviewed Mairead as part of a 'Celebrating Europe' project organ-

ised by Meath Comháirle na nÓg

Mairead with Des Leadon, Head of Clinical Pathology, Irish Equine Centre, Naas and Shane O'Dwyer, Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association on a visit to the European Parliament.

David Walsh, Claire Ann Jones, Mossy Forde and Joan O'Connor

participating in this year's Freedom Drive in Strasbourg

Women for Europe members Niamh Gallagher and Michelle O'Donnell Keating advocating a YES vote to Lisbon with Mairead in the European Parliament, Brussels.

Visitor Group september 2009

Sitting it out at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with a group of students and teachers from Maynooth Post Primary School on a visit in September.

Mairead is delighted to welcome groups to the European Parliament, large and small. If you are interested in being part of a visitor group please contact

Emir in Mairead's constituency office on 041 685 4633


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