Archive for 2010
ROAMING FEES TO BE SLASHED IN EUROPE THIS WEEK
Posted on June 29, 2010 by Alan Kelly
This Thursday will see yet another reduction in roaming charges for Irish customers when travelling in Europe. Hopefully this will end the shameful practice of mobile phone companies giving 'bill shock' to their customers.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Consumer Affairs • Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour Party • European Parliament • Mobile Phone Roaming • charges • reduction • European Commission • roaming • Vodafone • O2 • travel • holidays • bill shock
EU COMMITTEE REPORTS ON GOVT'S HANDLING OF EU DELL MONEY
Posted on June 25, 2010 by Alan Kelly
The report submitted by the select group of MEP's who visited Limerick to examine the handling of the Dell EGF funds have confirmed all the issues I have highlighting.
The Government’s handling of the EU retraining money for former Dell workers has now proven beyond doubt to be shambolic.
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Alan Kelly MEP • Dell • EGF • MEP • Dell Redundant Workers • Limerick • Tipperary • Labour • FAS • European Commission
FARMERS VULNERABLE TO MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
Posted on June 21, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I am calling for a greater support system to be made available to farmers after a new study found that 57% of Irish farmers surveyed would not want others to know if they had a mental health problem
The results were found in the ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ survey, commissioned for the new mental health stigma and discrimination reduction campaign, See Change.
These figures indicate there is a still a very real stigma attached to mental health issues among Irish males and in particular those working in the agriculture sector.
For too long, Irish men have been afraid to discuss mental health, choosing to keep it behind closed doors.
Permanent link | Categories: Agriculture • Health • Alan Kelly • Labour • MEP • Farmers • mental health • stigma • See Change • survey • rural • agriculture
GOVERNMENT MUST NOT REPEAT DELL MISTAKES WITH WATERFORD CRYSTAL
Posted on June 14, 2010 by Alan Kelly
The European Parliament votes tomorrow on the allocation of funds for Waterford Crystal workers and I am calling on the Government to publish a detailed plan on how they will use the funding.
It is no secret that serious mistakes have been made by the government in dealing with the European Globalisation Funding for the former Dell Workers.
Permanent link | Categories: Education • Enterprise Trade & Employment • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour Party • Waterford Crystal • Dell Workers • EGF • European Globalisation Fund • mistakes • education • region • south east
ROAMING PRICES REMAIN TOO HIGH DESPITE VODAFONE VERDICT
Posted on June 08, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I welcome today's European Court verdict on roaming charges but the cost of roaming across Europe is still too expensive for consumers.
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Alan Kelly MEP • mobile phone roaming • Vodafone • European Court Ruling • Internal Market • consumers • expensive
GOVT PLANNING ON EU DELL FUND PROVEN TO BE SHAMBOLIC
Posted on June 08, 2010 by Alan Kelly
04/06/10 (left to right) Gerry Henchy, Dell Workers Association, Jan O'Sullivan TD, Eamon Gilmore Labour Party Leader, Denis Ryan, Dell Workers Association and Alan Kelly MEP at An Interview with Eamon Gilmore - event in Thomond Park, Limerick on Thursday 3rd June 2010
Following a series of meetings in Limerick on Friday June 4th, I am calling on the European Parliament's employment committee to appoint someone to liaise with the government over the handling of the EGF fund.
Permanent link | Categories: Dell • Limerick • Alan Kelly MEP • European employment committee • Dell Redundant Workers • MEP • European Globalisation Fund • EGF
PFIZER JOB CUTS RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT "SMART ECONOMY"
Posted on May 21, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I am calling on both the Irish Government and European Commission to support workers and find a replacement industry for Pfizer in Ireland.
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Alan Kelly MEP • Jobs • Unemployment • Closure • Smart Economy • Job losses • regional aid • funding
DWYER FAMILY DESERVE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO MICHAEL'S DEATH
Posted on May 09, 2010 by Alan Kelly
05/05/10 The family of Michael Dwyer, the young Irish man killed in Boliva meeting Alan Kelly MEP in Brussels. (left to right) Ashling Dwyer, Alan Kelly MEP, Caroline Dwyer. Photo Gary Fox
I am calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Tipperary native, Michael Dwyer in Bolivia.
An independent investigation into the killing Michael Dwyer is the only possible solution to this most serious issue.
Michael Dwyer was a loving and much loved son of the Dwyer family.
He was a loving, caring person who came from a multi-cultural background.
Last year he was tragically shot dead in Bolivia and the quality of the information emerging from authorities there is suspect.
Permanent link | Categories: Foreign & European Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Michael Dwyer • Dwyer Family • Bolivia • Independent Investigation • Brussels
ACT NOW OR PUT YOUNG FARMERS AT RISK
Posted on April 19, 2010 by Alan Kelly
17/04/10 Munster MEP Alan Kelly addressing the Labour Party National Conference at NUI Galway.
I took the opportunity during the Labour Party National Conference at NUI Galway, to highlight the grave situation facing farmers if the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is not addressed now.
The clock is counting down towards 2013, and with every minute that passes, the situation for Irish farmers becomes more critical.
Agriculture is at the very core of rural life in Ireland and CAP 2013 is critical to ensuring future generations of farmers do not turn their backs on the industry.
We must encourage young farmers to get involved and provide them with a viable career path in farming.
Permanent link | Categories: Agriculture • Alan Kelly MEP • Labour • North Tipperary • CAP 2013 • Common Agriculture Policy • Ireland • farming
€87k BILL FOR TIPPERARY CARER 'TOTALLY RIDICULOUS'
Posted on April 13, 2010 by Alan Kelly
I am appalled at the Governments treatment of a Tipperary carer following demands she repay almost €87,000.
The woman who has been in receipt of carer’s allowance for looking after her husband is now being asked to repay the money which the Dept of Social and Family Affairs are claiming she was overpaid.
Kelly said “It is quite simply beyond belief the way this lady is being treated. She was providing an invaluable service to the Tipperary community and she is being hit on all sides by a Government that clearly has no idea what is it doing.
Just last week we had billions being poured into the banks and here we have a horrible example of the blatant hypocrisy that exists in Ireland.
Permanent link | Categories: Social & Family Affairs • Alan Kelly MEP • Carer • Labour • North Tipperary
