Speech by Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP to the Roscommon / South Leitrim Fianna Fáil Conference - Saturday, May 8th 2010
The role of the European Union in supporting the Irish economy
Introduction
I am delighted to be here today in Roscommon to speak about the role of the European Union in supporting the Irish economy.
This week, Finance Ministers from the Eurozone agreed a financial package with the International Monetary Fund so as to stabilise the Greek economy. This decision will help safeguard the stability of the Euro area as a whole and this stability will benefit all Eurozone Member States including Ireland.
We should reflect and ask ourselves, where would Ireland be without its membership of the EU and the Eurozone?
The bottom line is that without our membership of the EU or our membership of the Euro-zone, we would be facing even greater difficulties and more acute problems in tackling the economic and financial crisis.
In particular, our membership of the Eurozone has proved to be a cause of great stability for the Irish economy.
You may recall that back in 1992, whole scale devaluation of European currencies including that of our Irish punt occurred because financial speculators played one European currency off another. The introduction of the Euro eliminated the possibility of this happening again.
Smarter, Cleaner and Greener Jobs
Notably, EU Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn has secured one of the top economic portfolios in the European Commission.
Within her portfolio, under the 7th Research and Technological Framework Programme for the period 2007 until 2013, Irish companies are drawing down over €1 million per week.
Under this initiative many of the beneficiaries are small to medium sized enterprises. We must properly develop new technologies, in order to bring to the market place new goods and services, if we are going to create smarter, cleaner and greener jobs for the future.
Industry and third level education institutions must work together in a spirit of partnership and co-operation in achieving these objectives.
I welcome for example the close ties between local industries and third level institutions such as Sligo IT and Athlone IT in pursuing innovative job creation strategies for the future and for the North West region.
If we are to deliver smarter, cleaner and greener jobs for the future, the provision of state of the art broadband infrastructure is essential.
The Europe 2020 Strategy and the Digital Agenda for Europe are two examples of EU policy in the area of broadband.
Under these initiatives, the European Commission will work with individual Member States including Ireland to ensure that all Europeans, including people living in rural areas have access to broadband.
The Common Agricultural Policy
Irish farmers, their families, rural communities and the Irish food sector will continue to benefit from close to €2 billion in EU transfers in direct payments, from rural development measures and from various market supports.
Some €1.3 billion will be paid to Irish farmers under the annual Single Farm Payment Scheme, with the remainder being paid through a number of co-financed Rural Development measures.
The importance of the CAP in supporting farm incomes and job creation in rural Ireland is immense.
The debate is already underway in Europe on budgetary priorities under the next EU financial perspective 2014 to 2021. This means seeking agreement on the policies that will receive EU financial support from the EU annual budget during this period.
These ongoing discussions between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Governments are due to be finalised in 2011.
I am deeply committed to ensuring that there is a very strong CAP after 2013 and to guaranteeing that a strong agricultural production base exists within Ireland and the European Union.
Ireland is a substantial net beneficiary from CAP spending. I am determined that the CAP will continue to support Irish farmers and rural communities so that we can all the face the future with confidence.
I also welcome the fact that the EU Agriculture Commissioner Daclan Ciolos will visit Ireland on July 12th to 13th next for discussions with the Irish government and key stakeholder groups concerning the future of the CAP.
The Irish Food Sector
There are 40,000 people directly employed in the Irish food sector. I am committed to ensuring that strong support is provided to promote Irish food products at home and abroad.
Agri-food exports are worth over €9 billion. Research and innovation is critical for our food industry to maintain its position at the forefront of the European and global marketplace.
It is essential that we respond to the needs of increasingly sophisticated and health conscious consumers. The consumer has a right to know the origin of a product being purchased and therefore we will be seeking to ensure that the necessary EU legislation is in place to guarantee the traceability of all meat products.
The Fianna Fail MEP's will be working very closely with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Daclan Ciolos, and with the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, on these very important issues.
Imports from South America
In 2007, Fianna Fáil MEPs led the campaign for the introduction of a ban on Brazilian beef imports coming into the EU marketplace.
The decision to impose a ban on Brazilian beef was rightly made on the grounds that the same rigorous rules and procedures which are in place for European beef producers must also apply to countries that wish to export their products into the EU marketplace.
It is essential that we remain vigilant. This week, the European Commission provided the green light for negotiations to begin on a trade agreement between the European Union and South America.
The beef sector must not be used as a bargaining chip for other economic sectors such as automobiles. Let us be clear, the prospect of low cost beef imports from South America entering the European marketplace would have serious consequences for Irish farmers and the food sector.
Transport
A volcanic ash cloud recognises no political or geographical boundaries and has highlighted the sheer immense power of Mother Nature.
As a result of the events of the past few weeks, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the EU governments are looking very closely at the aviation policies pursued by the EU.
The case is overwhelming for a common policy across EU airspace. It is essential that the role of the European Union is strengthened as a result of the crisis.
One of the biggest problems faced by the many stranded passengers was the added confusion caused as a result of contradictory statements by various airlines and national authorities.
The role of the organisation known as Euro-control, presently responsible for EU airspace must be strengthened. A Euro-control with teeth is required.
We need to implement what is known as the Single European Sky. This concept would streamline and simplify rules of access to the airspace over the EU.
The Declaration of Madrid on the Single European Sky adopted in February by the Spanish Presidency of the EU, established a roadmap to put in place this policy.
However, action is needed now. The Single European Sky concept must be implemented as soon as possible and Euro-control must be provided statutory powers as opposed to the co-ordination role it currently holds.
Support for Flooding
In conclusion, I would like to say a few words on the recent flooding which so badly affected Roscommon and Leitrim and many other parts of the North West.
The damage caused to homes, businesses, farms, roads and water supplies was considerable. The restoration cost is estimated in region of EUR 500 million.
In aftermath of the flooding, I met with the former EU Commissioner for Regional Policy to appeal to the European Commission to assist in a pragmatic and favourable manner.
I urged the Irish government to apply for support under the European Solidarity Fund, which was submitted on the 27th of January this year.
The application is still under review by the European Commission. However, I am hopeful that the government application for solidarity funding to help with flood relief will be favourably considered in Brussels.
In fact, I will shortly meet with the new EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Johannes Hahn to discuss the application for flooding relief.
Conclusion
The message that I want to leave you with today is that the European Union is of vital importance and plays a central role in our economic development and recovery. It also provides a forum for a collective and unified response to unexpected events.
The EU is playing a central role in supporting economic recovery in Ireland and I will continue to play a strong role in seeking the maximum support for Ireland and the North West region.
ENDS
