Mairead McGuinness Fine Gael MEP

A busy weekend for Young Fine Gael. Well done to all involved in the National conference held in Tullamore. I was delighted to be part of the opening of the event on Friday night and to join with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny on Saturday.
Congratulations to the organisers and all those who spoke and took part in the event.

Positive indications for the Irish economy emerged last week in a confident government assessment of the EU-IMF bailout and budgetary reform to date. The latest ‘Letter of Intent’ sent to the EU authorities, and copied to the IMF, says that the government “met or bettered all the programme targets and milestones” associated with the last review of progress.

The general government deficit for 2011 is estimated to have been below 10% of GDP – well under the 10.6% bailout programme ceiling. Meanwhile, significant progress on financial and structural reform is continuing, as part of the commitment to achieve a 2012 primary deficit target of 8.6%.

Real economic growth resumed last year, with an estimated increase of 1%, and further export-led improvement is expected this year. Yields on government debt are falling – which is crucial in preparing for the management of our public finances following the bailout programme.

These are just some of the key points made in a detailed document presented in response to the fifth review, conducted last month.

Growing positivity was further evident in Taoiseach, Enda Kenny’s comments, coming after his attendance at a major forum in New York where he lobbied 100 executives and investors to put Ireland at the top of their business list.

As we progress our fiscal reforms and restore international confidence in Ireland, it is vital that we plan for recovery and for economic growth aided by foreign direct investment.

Intellectual property rights
During last week’s session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the ACTA agreement which aims to raise global standards of enforcement of intellectual property rights, dominated talk in the EPP Group, to which Fine Gael is aligned.

Intellectual property is Europe’s main raw material, but there is a problem with protecting it outside the European Union. This damages our companies and destroys jobs. The EPP Group believes protecting intellectual property is vital to Europe’s economy. Some 200 billion Euros worth of counterfeited and pirated goods are estimated to be available on the world markets!

That said the issue is not without controversy. In recent weeks, the ratification process of ACTA has triggered a Europe-wide debate and MEPs have received a lot correspondence on the issue, mostly, but not exclusively, expressing concern about restrictions to internet freedom.

As I write, the Commission has decided to refer the ACTA agreement to the European Court of Justice.

It is planning to ask Europe’s highest court to assess whether ACTA is incompatible – in any way – with the EU’s fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information or data protection and the right to property in case of intellectual property.
The Court’s decision will independently clarify the legality of this agreement and provide certainty for Members States who have yet to ratify ACTA.

Pension reform proposals
Another issue expected to generate much debate is the European Commission’s discussion paper on pension reform proposals.

The EU’s population is growing older. Currently, 16% of Europe’s population is aged over 65 and this figure is expected to double over the next 50 years.

Ensuring Europe’s citizens have a sustainable retirement income is an EU priority. The financial and economic crisis has aggravated and amplified the impact of the severe trend in demographic ageing, as well as highlighting worrying inadequacies and insecurities in relation to some existing pension schemes. This is why the Commission has drafted some ideas for reforming the pensions sector.

I am acutely aware of the hardship and distress that follows the collapse of pension funds, having chaired the European Parliament’s Inquiry into the near-collapse of the UK-based Equitable Life Assurance Society which affected a large number of Irish investors.

Equitable Life is finally beginning the process of making payments to eligible policyholders but it has been a long and arduous journey to achieve compensation for those who lost out. More details about the Equitable Life Payment Scheme are available here.

Health claims
It was “Pancake Tuesday” this week and I hope everyone enjoyed tucking into the much-favoured dish!

As a member of the Parliament’s Environment, Health and Public Safety Committee, I am currently reviewing draft legislation that relates to health claims about food and food products.

When we see ’supports your natural defences’ or ‘calming’ on the front of food and drink packaging – can we trust that product inside backs up the claim?

That’s an issue that MEPs on the committee are focussing on: how reliable are ‘health claims’?

Protecting consumers from misleading health claims – those that don’t have a scientific basis – is important. However, there is much concern that some of the claims, which have been tested on behalf of the Commission, have been rejected despite significant scientific evidence in support of their efficacy. It is claimed that that the level of evidence being sought (clinical trials) is not appropriate for food.

Of those tested so far, some 2,500 ‘general function’ health claims have been rejected while only 222 claims have made it on to the approved list. This issue still needs careful scrutiny.