2007 Press Releases
Ireland 'Punches Way Above its Weight in the EU' - Forum told
23.11.2007
Several Irish people who have served in leadership roles in the European Union told a session of the National Forum On Europe in UCC today (Friday, November 23rd 2007) that Ireland has had extraordinary influence in the European Union.
23.11.2007
Several Irish people who have served in leadership roles in the European Union told a session of the National Forum On Europe in UCC today (Friday, November 23rd 2007) that Ireland has had extraordinary influence in the European Union.
Former EU Commissioner David Byrne pointed, in particular, to the Irish initiative that led to Europe-wide controls being placed on the content and advertising of tobacco products. "This leadership in relationship to tobacco has been hugely important", he said. "There have been positive consequences for health across the European Union." The former Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection also said that the Irish government's initiative in banning smoking in public places had led directly to the ban being adopted in other Member States. Mr Byrne suggested that a similar move be spearheaded by Ireland in relation to alcohol. "Given that binge-drinking is becoming a Europe-wide problem, there is opportunity now for an Irish initiative in this regard", he said.
Former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, said that Ireland's economic turnaround through membership of the EU had been an inspiration to many small and medium-size states throughout the EU, "not least in Central and Eastern Europe". Mr Cox said the reasons for this success had been inadequately analysed and had been misunderstood. "Successfully exploiting market access to the rich European Single Market rather than the transfers of EU funds - helpful as these had been - is the key to understanding Ireland's economic success", he said.
Supreme Court Judge, Ms Justice Fidelma Macken, a former Judge at the European Court of Justice, said that Irish governments had always nominated people of very high standing to serve at the European Court. "In the last 10 or 15 years, Irish governments have decided to send out judges who are younger", she said, explaining that judges could return with plenty of time to serve again in the Irish judicial system, having gained valuable European experience.
Following the opening addresses, the Chairman of the National Forum On Europe, Maurice Hayes, opened the debate to Members of the Forum and to the wider audience. Among those who contributed to the session on the theme of "Ireland's contribution to the European Union", were Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche, former MEP John Cushnahan of Fine Gael, Patricia McKenna of the National Platform, Tony Brown of the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil Councillor, Alan Coleman, Councillor Brian Meaney of the Green Party, Sinn Féin Councillor Killian Forde, Seumas O'Brien of the Irish Farmers' Association and Michael Geary of Chambers Ireland.
The Forum session was held in the Devere Hall of UCC during a three-day Symposium on Europe, organised jointly by the Alliance Francaise Cork and the Institut Robert Schuman pour L'Europe.
The Reform Treaty, which is to be put to a referendum in Ireland, was also discussed at the event. In the coming months, the Forum will play a leading role in facilitating debate on the Treaty across the country, in the run-up to the referendum which the Taoiseach has said will be held during the first six months of 2008.
The National Forum On Europe was established by the Government and the political parties in October 2001 as an arena for free debate on the European Union and Ireland's role in it. In the last six years, it has held eighty-three plenary meetings and over sixty regional meetings and conferences.
571MMcS
Former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, said that Ireland's economic turnaround through membership of the EU had been an inspiration to many small and medium-size states throughout the EU, "not least in Central and Eastern Europe". Mr Cox said the reasons for this success had been inadequately analysed and had been misunderstood. "Successfully exploiting market access to the rich European Single Market rather than the transfers of EU funds - helpful as these had been - is the key to understanding Ireland's economic success", he said.
Supreme Court Judge, Ms Justice Fidelma Macken, a former Judge at the European Court of Justice, said that Irish governments had always nominated people of very high standing to serve at the European Court. "In the last 10 or 15 years, Irish governments have decided to send out judges who are younger", she said, explaining that judges could return with plenty of time to serve again in the Irish judicial system, having gained valuable European experience.
Following the opening addresses, the Chairman of the National Forum On Europe, Maurice Hayes, opened the debate to Members of the Forum and to the wider audience. Among those who contributed to the session on the theme of "Ireland's contribution to the European Union", were Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche, former MEP John Cushnahan of Fine Gael, Patricia McKenna of the National Platform, Tony Brown of the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil Councillor, Alan Coleman, Councillor Brian Meaney of the Green Party, Sinn Féin Councillor Killian Forde, Seumas O'Brien of the Irish Farmers' Association and Michael Geary of Chambers Ireland.
The Forum session was held in the Devere Hall of UCC during a three-day Symposium on Europe, organised jointly by the Alliance Francaise Cork and the Institut Robert Schuman pour L'Europe.
The Reform Treaty, which is to be put to a referendum in Ireland, was also discussed at the event. In the coming months, the Forum will play a leading role in facilitating debate on the Treaty across the country, in the run-up to the referendum which the Taoiseach has said will be held during the first six months of 2008.
The National Forum On Europe was established by the Government and the political parties in October 2001 as an arena for free debate on the European Union and Ireland's role in it. In the last six years, it has held eighty-three plenary meetings and over sixty regional meetings and conferences.
571MMcS