kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
two months ago as mr simpson mentioned we proposed a common eu definition of serious injuries. this is a very important step forward. this will allow us to carry out the necessary cost benefit analysis and then choose the most effective ways to reduce injuries.
it is very diffficult in an oral question to try and bring everything together in one issue but there is certainly an issue with vulnerable road users.
but of course members opposite whose seats are now radically empty will probably tell you the cost the cost the cost!
mr simpson you mentioned the fact that we needed some concrete measures in relation to vulnerable road users.
would you agree that there could and should have been in this document something about cyclists and heavy goods vehicles with some concrete measures particularly to do with lorry cab designs so that drivers can see cyclists and pedestrians nearby much more easily and the need for mandatory
these projects range from the dignity initiative in which the dublin employment pact and the immigration council of ireland worked with european partners to attempt to raise the quality of services delivered to victims of sex trafficking to helping establish and promote the pan european one hundred and sixteen thousand hotline for missing children. it is vital that the union continues to support the good work carried out by these organisations and similar organisations all around europe.
under the approach outlined the commission aims to develop the best possible synergies between three activities combating violence gender equality and the rights of the child.
i want to stress that the new programme remains open to all entities all member states and third countries and all types of projects and activities that have been supported and are receiving funding under the daphne iii programme.
let me answer directly the question that has been posed under the new programme all the current daphne objectives and activities will be supported and the budget in this new programme is compatible with the budget that was available up to now.
this includes for example the need to improve dissemination of results and the geographic spread of projects.
the new structure of the programme will help the commission to improve the programme's management and to address more efficiently deficiencies as identified in the mid term evaluation of the daphne iii programme which are also noted in the report.
participants will benefit directly from improved management of the programme because procedures will be easier faster less bureaucratic more uniform.
in this sense i personally strongly support the report and the actions we take in this area.
the approach of the commission under the multiannual financial framework focuses on simplification flexibility and eu added value.
it was going to give europe the most successful competitive knowledge based economy in the world by the year.
we have forgotten that this was one of the great arguments we were given in favour of monetary union that it would boost employment throughout the eurozone. again how's that working out?
one thing we could do is stop destroying jobs with pointless intrusive pettifogging regulation to allow the entrepreneurs who are the real drivers of the economy to create jobs and employment.
we have had all these promises of job rich recoveries before.
even if i employ somebody in my office i am doing so with taxpayers' money which is being taken out of the private sector where it would have been used more efficiently.
we had one when i was a new mep it was the lisbon agenda do you remember that?
but tibet is a particularly egregious example of it.
for example a lot of people will be aggressively in favour of the rights of indigenous communities in poor parts of the world to be left undisturbed and yet will be aggressively in favour of immigration and multiculturalism in other parts of the world.
how extraordinary that having developed this idea of national self determination and exported it around the world we have turned out backs on it here in the continent it came from.
in this chamber we like to pat ourselves on the back for being on the side of democracy freedom and self determination but when we try to apply that same logic to the european union the doublethink kicks in.
mr president the right of every citizen to deal with brussels institutions in his own language is one of the few remaining signs that this is an association of nations rather than a single polity.
that said we are adopting if not in the literal sense something of a common language in the way in which we debate these matters in this chamber.
it restricts consumer choice not many consumers purchase specialist magazines or scientific publications.
i agree there should be a clear distinction between infant formula and follow on formula but not a virtual ban on advertising.
however i voted against amendment eighty six which seeks to severely restrict advertising of infant formula and follow on infant formula to specialist baby care magazines and or scientific publications. this is going much too far.
while member states may decide to further restrict advertising an eu wide ban on advertising infant formula and follow on formula with the exception of the magazines i mentioned is not proportionate.
well this is one of the ways of dealing with the democratic deficit.
i regularly update citizens and interested groups on the ongoing consultation processes because i believe they are a very useful tool.
but it is really important that citizens can communicate in their own language.
for example it is very important that irish speakers can communicate with the commission in their own native language.
if you are big lobby group or a big ngo a short space of time is enough to get involved in a consultation but for ordinary people who do not have the same resources at their disposal consultation periods need to be longer.
there are products for those trying to lose weight as well as those trying to gain weight. customers deserve a choice but they also need to understand what they are buying and consuming.
this report calls for clearer and simpler rules for the labelling of so called diet products.
i hope that when member states implement this legislation it will lead to a reduction rather than an increase in red tape.
the new legislation should also facilitate rather than prevent small and medium sized companies from accessing the market.
consumers need clear information and companies need simple rules to allow them to compete effectively.
mr president it does seem odd given what is happening outside this chamber the bank runs the economic crisis that we are spending time talking about major accident hazards involving dangerous substances but then it occurred to me that there is a certainly grisly aptness in this report.
the most dangerous substance of all turned out to be the euro!
i do not mean that in a literal sense while i understand that some people did have an allergic reaction to the particular kind of alloy used in the coins even i am not going to try and turn that into an argument against the single currency.
what happened was that our leaders so taken with their dream of political union disregarded all of the economic danger signs with the calamitous consequences that we can see around us today poverty preventable deflation emigration despair and the prospect of endless tax rises all because we were so in love with this dream
outside the european parliament in brussels there is that statue of a female figure holding aloft the euro sign as a symbol to the greatness of the currency.
years from now when there is tumbleweed blowing through that part of town and the european parliament is in ruins archaeologists will find its vast and trunkless legs of stone and see the inscription on the pedestal look on my works ye mighty and despair'.
it is time we moved towards a market based approach.
mr president one of the sad things about the reaction of many politicians here in the eu to the financial crisis is that while they complain about austerity there is actually no alternative plan.
austerity is very important to make sure that never again do we fall into the trap of spending more money than we have coming in but at the same time it is important that we look at measures that boost growth and make sure that we can create the jobs for people right across the eu.
we really need to continue to boost the single market and welcome the proposal for a single market act ii which would reduce more barriers between member states and actually tackle some of those professions and industries which have been allowed to hide behind protectionism. let us give our businesses and companies a larger marketplace give them a platform for the global stage;
the truth is that if we use an inspiring title like that then we have to make sure that we deliver that it is real. in that context it is very important that this morning we voted to back an investment package which is to create sustainable jobs because i believe this sends a clear message to citizens that we are now seriously attempting to rebalance the current austerity approach with a europe wide pact for investment and jobs.
i also know that when irish citizens voted for the fiscal compact that they were expecting such an investment pact as part of the overall package.
i believe that the call in this resolution to upskill workers and retrain them is one where there is european added value and in this context i would strongly call on the council to remove the blocking minority as far as the continuation of the european globalisation fund is concerned and to leave that instrument there to upskill redundant workers.
and help address the major societal challenges of our time.
mr president in the committee on industry research and energy there has been a shared conviction from all sides that the budget priorities must reflect the strategic goals of eu two thousand and twenty and we are glad that the committee on budgets has also supported this position. for our committee there have been three particular priorities. first the need for fp seven to be fully implemented in order to stimulate competitiveness and sustainability
no money should be diverted from fp seven i repeat no money and this is a shared view of the committee.
number two in the current economic situation we need to support smes and all programmes that have proven their value for smes.
we have to review the language regime and limit the number of languages for translation of documents in preparatory stages and we have to scrap the house of european history which is a prestige project out of place and will become the white elephant of the european parliament for which citizens will despise us.
together with my colleague geoffrey van orden i recently launched a paper in the framework of our think tank new direction to cut the budget of the parliament over the years by.
the european parliament should lead by example but does not have any record of austerity. on the contrary its budget has been increased to over eur. one six billion. until recently cuts in the budget of the european parliament were regarded as an anti european act but in current conditions it is a pro european act.
we have requests for payments.
therefore we cannot endorse the position of the council to limit payments in the framework of inflationary adjustment.
this is simply not workable under the present restraints of heading.
as for the priorities they are the same. we endorse the priorities reinforced by parliament.
mainly the margins but it is also asking for the flexibility instrument in heading one a and in heading four more than requested by the commission.
we are facing a shortfall of payments in research and development and in other areas already this year. two thousand and eleven as for the administrative budget i think what has to be appreciated is the effort of the largest body that is the commission to freeze nominally and not ask for any more posts.
we have presented information for the budget procedure on where we can get funding of up to eur two billion savings where lines have been insufficiently implemented. when we move into conciliation with the council we are going to have to focus very clearly on those lines where we can identify that we are spending money inefficiently and unwisely.
it is a blatant disregard of the hardship suffered by the taxpayer when the countries in crisis need to cut back on spending and the donor countries are being asked to dole out ever growing transfers.
they are using the intergovernmental method and are keen on maintaining their primacy and supremacy in shaping european affairs.
is anybody paying attention to our debate here?
there are two aspects to it.
the ecr supports investment in the future but prudent budgeting would require commensurate cuts in other items whenever there is a significant increase in clearly defined priority areas.
despite stern warnings there are futile attempts again to increase payment appropriations by almost.
the only positive sign on the horizon is the fernandes report which is to be commended for foreseeing long overdue cuts in spending on translation and interpretation freezing general expenses travel costs etc.
second to insist on an increase of more than four in commitment and almost five in payment appropriations is flying in the face of european public opinion in times of severe austerity in most member states and extreme austerity in some of them.
mr president in an act of contempt towards many member states that are having to implement tough austerity measures the european commission came up with a.
this increase given the countries' shared predicament naturally could not be accepted by the council but they still allowed for a two increase which i find unacceptable.
the justification for the increase is the need for investments to take the eu out of the crisis.
why do we need to put more money into failed projects like galileo which is costing the taxpayer eur twenty two million?
i have no doubt that with more work with further analysis of our spending in this parliament we can go further and make even more savings.
we have also called for a comparative study of the european parliament's budget comparing our budget with perhaps member states' parliaments and the congress in the us.
mr president the civil liberties justice and home affairs is of course happy to receive a tiny bit more for the area of civil liberties justice and home affairs as proposed by the commission at least because we believe that this area is a very important one for our citizens for their liberties for safeguarding their rights across borders and for building a european citizenship.
but of course we also want to do our share in saving money.
we believe that before drawing up new programmes or prolonging existing ones a thorough evaluation of the existing programmes should be carried out and we should very much follow the lessons learned.
however it does not make sense to create new agencies or give new tasks to existing agencies if we do not have a financial basis for that.
and euromed innovation entrepreneurs for change.
the second intends to incubate and spread business activities in north africa through mentoring and partnerships with eu entrepreneurs. the members of my committee clearly saw the benefits of these projects and it is my sincere hope that the eu council
it can be used to take money from farmers and then redistribute it to a small number of farmers with limited selection criteria.
depending on the scheme put in place it can also lead to some farmers being put at an unfair competitive disadvantage.
mr president in my experience within northern ireland voluntary modulation has been very divisive for farmers.
that can provide microcredit of up to eur twenty five zero for smes and those who would not normally have access to credit from the banks.
while i recognise and understand that this is a matter for member states to deal with i nonetheless think they need to look at this issue.
i also want to mention the progress microfinance programme which is also mentioned in the report.
firstly the issue of social security in my own country and indeed many others i am aware that if you are an entrepreneur and you go out of business you do not have any social security entitlements whereas those you have employed do. so it is no wonder that women in particular are cautious about setting up their own business.
i quote the chairman of our national asset management agency frank ryan who controversially questioned the auditing role of accountants in the run up to the collapse of banks which were transferring billions of bad and doubtful loans to an asset management agency.
he said that it was hardly credible for auditors to say that it is not their responsibility to draw attention to significant risks that may become evident in the course of audits such as for instance the extraordinary concentration of risk that developed at a number of irish financial institutions between two thousand.
mr president this is a useful and important report because our businesses need raw materials but i would suggest that one of the key raw materials that has not been discussed in this report is land.
one of the growing concerns globally is the issue of land grabbing where major global powers buy land in the developing world which perhaps has negative consequences for those who are living there and their dependants.
i think the issue of land availability and land use is crucial within the european union but it is also crucial for the developing world and for europe's development aid policy.
mr president this report is useful as it sets out very clearly the situation of women approaching retirement age but it does so in a way which may ghettoise the subject and therefore fail to bring it into the wider public discussion.
for that very reason if this report highlights the matter it will have done a good job.
i do not think that there are easy solutions.
mr president the very definition of insanity is to repeat the same action in the hope of different outcomes.
in their response to the recent financial crisis the eu's leaders remind me of nothing so much as that scene in the simpsons where homer carries on electrocuting himself by repeatedly trying to snatch back his beer can from some electric cables.
the problem of the euro was excessive integration trying to push countries with different needs into the same currency.
so we have responded with more integration fiscal and economic union.
the problem was excessive debt so we have given them more debt forcing these loans on to people who cannot pay their existing liabilities. the problem was a bloated state at national level so we have bloated the state further at european level shovelling more and more of the medicine into the mouth of the patient who was sickened by it in the first place.
in the process we have sold our future to some pretty unpleasant autocracies around the world.
talking of an earlier run on the banks my countryman jonathan swift wrote a baited banker thus desponds from his own hand foresees his fall they have his soul who have his bonds;
'tis like the writing on the wall.
we have in ireland the credit review office which is suggesting that while there is a problem with credit supply there is also a problem with demand from enterprises which are fearful of actually taking on extra debt.
when businesses look for credit they are not being refused but the process is taking so long and there are so many delays and so much bureaucracy involved in applying for loans that very many of them literally do not push through the loan application.
while therefore there is no official recognition that they have been refused credit in effect the process itself within the banks makes this a credit refusal so i would require that we do further analysis of it because if we do not have credit neither men nor women can be entrepreneurs.
they do not require recognition of marriages or registered partnerships concluded in another member state.
these new rules also complete the programme on mutual recognition of decisions in civil and commercial matters adopted by the council on thirty november two thousand and fill an important gap in the field of union family law.
these rules will provide international families with legal certainty and will reduce the costs associated with proceedings when things go wrong.
and of course the enhanced cooperation system always remains open to other member states to join if and when they feel ready to participate.
i trust that more will join.
how can we tolerate a situation where parents cannot sit next to their children's hospital beds after they have had an accident just because they have crossed borders?
and how can we tolerate families losing their property rights just because some member states still do not understand that family and couples and love know many different forms?
rainbow families and same sex couples can no longer be treated like second class citizens in the european union.
we deserve full rights and equal protection.
we want to be free to move within the european union to work and to study wherever we want and to be protected from discrimination.
to date international couples at their most vulnerable moments in their personal lives that is upon the demise of a spouse or partner or the dissolution of their marriage or partnership have been burdened even further by complex legal rules regulating which courts could determine issues relating to their property regimes and which law should apply.
often after obtaining a decision on divorce separation or dissolution of a partnership the couple have needed to institute separate and distinct proceedings in another jurisdiction to have issues related to their property regime determined.
couples will enjoy simplified procedures so that if they are involved in divorce separation or succession proceedings it will be the same court ruling on these proceedings that will determine issues related to their property regimes.
couples will no longer need to institute proceedings in different states and get embroiled in complex legal issues to obtain justice.
the commission must include sugar cane in its strategy in order to address this artificial shortage.
mr president last year sugar prices hit a thirty year high. the eu is facing a sugar shortage in spite of a global sugar surplus.
because of the mismanagement of the sugar regime cane sugar refineries across europe are under threat.
the commission must ensure a level playing field to protect jobs.
these shortages are unnecessary and the commission is to blame.
in spain.
this is a scandal waiting to happen.
however it is paid into the private accounts of members there are no audits carried out and no one knows what happens if there is a surplus in those accounts.
parliament has called for transparency; parliament has called for the secretary general to bring forward recommendations for new procedures.
i ask you mr president to put pressure on the secretary general to do what parliament has requested of him and to bring forward procedures to ensure that this money is spent entirely transparently.
the purpose to which that money should be put is clearly stated in the rules.
i believe this raises questions in terms of compliance with eu law and i will question the commission in that regard.
mr president in the process of switching over from analogue to digital tv transmission in ireland a number of isolated regions in rural cork kerry tipperary waterford and limerick will be blacked out by the so called free digital television service saorview according to current coverage planning.
mr president since the brutal massacre of oil workers and their supporters in zhanaozen kazakhstan in december last year the human rights situation has worsened even further. brutal repression and intimidation are being used against anybody who speaks out against the farcical show trials of the thirty seven people supposedly responsible for the tragic events in zhanaozen and indeed anybody who speaks out against the authoritarian nazarbayev regime.
this important victory shows the potential power of the working class.
this is seen in the victorious strike of thousands of workers in the copper mining company in zhezkazgan.