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NEWS
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Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 28 March, 2014
MAGEE
A LOOK AT WHAT OUR MEPS ARE SAYING
Stronger safeguards for personal data AN Ireland South MEP has overseen the major reform of the EU’s 19-year old rules on data protection, streamlining 64 existing laws across the bloc into one single piece of legislation. Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly has been shortlisted for MEP of the Year in the Digital Agenda for his work in drafting the European Data Privacy Law. Although the regulation cannot be finalised until after the next Parliament is elected, it marks a major step towards guaranteeing privacy for European citizens. One of the most important tenets of the package is the introduction of “explicit consent”, to protect people against the type of surveillance activities unveiled by whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.This rule would require any firm, search engine or social network to get permission from a national data protection authority before
disclosing personal data to a non-EU country. They would also have to inform the person concerned of the request. Commenting on the report, Mr Kelly said the law would affect every one of more than 500 million EU citizens across all member states and beyond. “We negotiated through 3,500 amendments and I am glad to have achieved my priorities of protecting children online, cutting down red tape for SMEs and ensuring that trust is maintained in the online world,” he said. The report, which was approved by an overwhelming majority of MEPs, also called for an increase in fines to be imposed on firms that break the rules on data privacy. Under the new regulation, those in breach of the law could face fines of up to €100 million or 5 per cent of global turnover, whichever is greater.
Former Greenpeace activist contests South constituency THE Green Party’s Ireland South candidate for the European elections is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, but the political arena may be her toughest battleground yet. Environmental activist Grace O’Sullivan is one of four contenders put forward by the Greens on the island of Ireland as the party strives to rebuild following its near-obliteration in the 2011 general election. Ms O’Sullivan spent ten years at sea and was a crewmember on Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace
ship which was blown up by French special forces in 1985. Luckily she was not on board when the attack happened. In a separate protest, the plucky activist climbed up the anchor chain of a Russian nuclear warship barefoot. Speaking to colleagues at a recent Green Party conference, Ms O’Sullivan said she continues to be prepared to go to “great lengths” to prove her dedication to the issues she wants to highlight. The mother-of-three
will face stiff competition from the three sitting MEPs in Ireland South, including Fianna Fáil’s Brian Crowley, Sean Kelly of Fine Gael and Labour’s Phil Prendergast. Sean Kelly will have two running mates in Fine Gael in Senator Deirdre Clune and TD Simon Harris. Mr Crowley, Fianna Fáil’s perennial poll-topper, will be joined on the ticket by Kieran Hartley. Other contenders are Liadh Ní Riada of Sinn Féin and Independent Diarmuid O’Flynn.
Troika “got it wrong” says MEPs FIVE Irish MEPs have blamed policies by the IMF, ECB and European Commission for growing levels of unemployment, poverty and emigration in bail-out countries. They were commenting on a report passed by the European Parliament following a four-month inquiry into the Troika’s activities in Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus. The text written by Spanish MEP Alejandro Cercas acknowledged that the Troika may have “saved economic accounts” in the four countries. However, he said it failed on numerous counts by condemning ordinary people to “misery and joblessness”. Among the Irish MEPs who endorsed the report were Labour’s Emer Costello and Phil Prendergast, Independents Marian Harkin and Nessa Childers and Socialist MEP Paul Murphy. Independent MEP Nessa Childers described the Troika programmes as a “merciless and cold-blooded social experiment,” which she claimed had breached the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. “I fear for the future of our small nation if
success is measured in cuts to essential services, cuts to social welfare and the perpetuation of low-paid employment,” said Childers. Independent MEP Marian Harkin said MEPs had been “marginalised” by the Troika programme. “We were standing on the sidelines, powerless to influence what was going on,” she said. Labour MEP Emer Costello criticised the “lack of democratic accountability” within the Troika, while her colleague Phil Prendergast called for the Troika model to be abolished and replaced by a European Monetary Fund. Mr Murphy was the most critical of Troika policies which he said had created a “humanitarian catastrophe”. However, he also condemned what he said were attempts by Irish Labour politicians to “absolve themselves of responsibility” for the drastic cuts to health, education and social welfare. “The best excuse they can come up with is ‘The Troika told us to do it.’ Did the dog eat your election manifesto too?” he mocked.
Fireworks on St. Patricks Day Eve 2014, in Dungarvan Harbour. [John Pelham]
Support for parents who have children with additional needs PARENTING is a big responsibility. It is often full of joy, but it can also be very hard work. It can be even harder work if your child has additional needs. All the usual things parents worry about can seem to get much bigger. Things like: • How can I get people to see that my child is a child first, not just a “disability”? • How can I make sure that my child gets what she or he needs? • What’s the best way to deal with health services, schools, community services and all the rest? • Who can help me and support me in all this? • How can I make sure I don’t get worn out from all the stress? Waterford Childcare Committee in association with the Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency will host an Information Evening at 7.30 p.m. in St. Brigid’s Family Resource
Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road,Waterford on Thursday, 27th March. It is planned to organise a Parent’s Support Network specifically for parents of children with additional needs and, this meeting will provide an important opportunity to discuss what supports are needed and how best to proceed. It is vital that we get input from as many parents as possible in order to establish an effective support group. The meeting will provide an opportunity to meet other like-minded parents. A parent from Wexford will talk about his experience as a parent, parent facilitator and about progressing disability services for children and young people. At this meeting, information will also be provided on the upcoming Empowering Parents Programme due to start at the end of April in Waterford. This highly successful training has provided parents of children with additional
needs with the information and skills to effectively advocate on behalf of their children and to get the services and supports that they need. The Empowering Parents Programme will support parents of children with additional needs, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to effectively advocate on behalf of their children. It won’t solve all their problems, but it will offer information and advice which will help to see things differently and to find ways of getting what parents and children need. Parents will meet others who are in a similar situation so there will be lots of opportunity for getting and giving real support. This course is free of charge for parents. The Empowering Parents Programme will: • Show parents new ways of thinking about a child’s additional needs and help to see new possibilities and ways of doing things
• Tell parents about their child’s rights, and how to achieve them • Explain who can help parents to get what is needed from public services and their local community • Help parents to build confidence and keep their spirits up! The Empowering Parents Programme will run for 6 sessions in St. Brigid’s Family Resource Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road,Waterford starting on Wednesday mornings from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Come to the information meeting and have a chat over a friendly cup of coffee in St. Brigid’s Family Resource Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road,Waterford on Thursday, 27th March at 7.30 p.m. For more information please call Rosemarie Cusack, Waterford Childcare Committee on 051-860444 or 087-9322311 or email rcusack@cccw.ie