Alan Kelly MEP
Alan Kelly MEP
Crisis or Opportunity? - CAP Conference 2010
I am hosting a conference entitled "Crisis or Opportunity? The future of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Rural Economy". It will take place on Friday, March 26th at 10.00am in the Tipperary Institute's Thurles Campus situated on the Nenagh road.
IFA President, John Bryan, ICMSA Vice President Eddie O’Callaghan, MEP’s and Representatives from the EU Commission will address the conference. It will include a panel of experts from both Europe and Ireland discusses the future of the CAP and its implications for Ireland.
It is the aim of the conference to bring all stakeholders together to identify a common strategy in the renegotiation of CAP and the Single Farm Payment. The conference will allow for full interaction between all the stakeholders to give their input on the future of CAP.
The conference is open to all to attend and is free of charge. To come along on the day you can register by one of the following methods.
- Text the word REGISTER and your name to 086 7737724
- Phone 067 34190
- Email office@alankelly.ie
Permanent link | Posted in Agriculture
EU Competition Commissioner Needs to Investigate Supermarkets Activities
Following recent media reports about the use of "hello money" and "placing money" by supermarkets on suppliers, I am calling on both the European Commission and the Irish Competition Authority to investigate allegations that Irish suppliers are being asked to pay sums of up to €500,000 in order to have their products stocked in Tesco stores.
In recent years I have become increasingly concerned by the power of the large multiples in Europe and their effects on both food producers and consumers. It is clear that companies such as Tesco have little interest in Irish farmers, Irish food producers or Irish consumers. Their sole interest lies in lower prices paid to farmers and producers and reduced choice for shoppers. The allegations as reported this morning if true, are further proof of this.
Permanent link | Posted in Agriculture • alan kelly • food • agriculture • competition
A Big Week for Former Dell/Mid West Workers as EGF Starts Rolling
This is a huge week for the former workers in Dell, Banta, Flextronics, Irish Express Cargo and the other companies that were closed as a result of the Dell pullout of Limerick in January 2009. On Wednesday morning I met with the EU Commissioner for Employment, Mr. Andor and got assurances regarding the flexibility of the EGF scheme that can be used for job placement, training and starting your own business. These are the three key pillars under which workers can used their share of the €2.8 million that was allocated to them.
On Wednesday night there was a mass meeting of workers in the Strand Hotel in Limerick. At this meetin the Government appointed representatives answered questions regarding how to access the fund under those three pillars. There were at least 800 people in attendance. I came back from Strasboug to attend the meeting and update the workers on the meeting with Commissioner Andor and his officials.
Permanent link | Posted in Dell • EGF • Mid West • alan kelly
Meeting Commissioner Andor
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 | Posted in Commissioner Andor • Dell • EGF • alan kelly • Mid West
