The section on economic affairs will resume next week. Review of Political Events 20-24th January 2014- Loraine Mulligan · The European Commission published its proposals for a new plan to deal with climate change up to 2030. Currently there are binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and renewables for 2020. The new system would retain a binding target to reduce gas emissions by 40% by 2030 but the target of 27% for renewables would only be binding at EU level, rather than through specific national commitments. Environmentalists have accused Brussels of selling-out to lobbying from big players in the energy industry and it is also seen as a win for the United Kingdom which is seeking to develop nuclear and shale energy. The Irish government had made a submission on the importance of binding obligations for renewables. The final shape of the provisions is expected take over a year to emerge as the European Parliament and the Council go through the co-decision process. · Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt has been selected as the nominee for The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party to of be the next head of the European Commission, taking over from José Manuel Barroso. There had been speculation that Oli Rehn, the current Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, would be the group’s candidate. The Alliance of Socialists and Democrats will put forward Martin Schultz, current President of the European Parliament, for the position. The European Peoples’ Party (EPP) is due to decide who to run at a conference in Dublin in February. Political events 27-31st January 2014 - Loraine Mulligan MONDAY Eurogroup Meeting, Brussels On the agenda: recent developments in the Eurozone. TUESDAY Economic & Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), Brussels On the agenda: implementation of the Single Supervisory mechanism, presentation of the Presidency work programme, follow-up to the European Council meeting on 19-20 December 2013, implementation of the Compact for Growth and Jobs, implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact. Oireachtas Dail: Second stage debate on European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013 Fianna Fail Private Members motion re Health Service Executive Oireachtas Committees Discussion on Forestry Bill 2013 at Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Health (Sub-Committee) will examine 2014 health spending Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will examine an implementation update relating to The Action Plan for Jobs and a Commission report on the disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups. WEDNESDAY Oireachtas Dail: Department Motion re Freedom of Information Statements on HSE National Service Plan 2014 Second stage debate re Industrial Development (Forfas Dissolution) Bill 2013 Fianna Fail Private Members motion re Health Service Executive Oireachtas Committees Committee on Education and Social Protection will hear presentations from Forfas on Social Enterprise and from the Equality Budgeting Campaign. Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will consider the Central Bank Report on the Licensed Moneylending Industry - November 2013 Junior Minister Brian Hayes will address the Public Expenditure and Reform (Sub-Committee) on 2014 spending allocation for Office of Public Works THURSDAY Oireachtas Second & remaining stages re European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013 Second stage debate re Industrial Development (Forfas Dissolution) Bill 2013 Oireachtas Committees Public Accounts committee will examine Chapter 6 of the 2012 Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses; and spending for Public Works. FRIDAY Kind regards, Loraine Mulligan SIPTU Policy Research Unit [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 12:18:54 +0000