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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has travelled to Brussels for a special meeting of the European Council today.
Joining him is Dara Murphy, TD, Minister of State for European Affairs.
The main focus of the meeting between the EU leaders will be the election of the new President of the European Council and the appointing of the new High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is tipped to replace Herman Van Rompuy as President, while Federica Mogherini is a favourite to take over the foreign policy role.
A longer-shot is Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, probably best known for her selfie with Obama.
Ukraine
But the Heads of State and Government will also be meeting on external relations issues, including developments in Ukraine, the Middle East and the ebola virus in West Africa.
They are meeting for talks as accusations rain down on the Kremlin that Russian combat troops are fighting inside Ukraine, with fears growing that Europe may soon face a full-scale war on its eastern borders.
It has only been five weeks since EU states toughened their sanctions against Russia, but the EU is under pressure to once again up the stakes.
“Such behaviour cannot remain without consequences,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday amid the reports by NATO that “well over” a thousand Russian soldiers were waging war in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Russia to take a different path and if it did not, “then she should be in no doubt that there will be further consequences.”
Ukraine’s embattled government has openly asked the EU to help militarily, and the plea, which has virtually no chance of being satisfied, will be relayed to the summit by Romanian President Traian Basescu.
Last minute guest
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is a last-minute guest at today’s talks, invited to share the latest developments after one-on-one meetings with Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
Juncker calls for more women
The EU is effectively led by a trio and filling out the group is the already named Jean-Claude Juncker.
The former Luxemburg premier will replace Barroso and is in the process of filling posts for the next Commission with nominees provided by each member state.
Juncker’s main problem is the lack of women. Barroso’s outgoing Commission has nine women and so far governments have sent Juncker only four, including Mogherini.
Lawmakers in European parliament, who must ratify his choices, have warned they would oppose a college of European commissioners with fewer women than today.
- Additional reporting - © AFP, 2014
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There should be a debate on immigration. It is being swept under the rug by mainstream media..
@Patrick Mulkerrin: and all the candidates who ran in June on the alleged immigration issue got less than 1% support.
@Johnny Wilson: that was local not national, different ballgame. Immigration issue is a massive issue and needs managing. Only fair to see what each party would do to improve on current dire situation before we vote.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: obviously not if no one is bringing it up- except some Journal commentator- hardly representative of anyone
@Sean Hayes: do you not actually believe it’s an issue ?
@Sean Hayes: bad rage bait
@Patrick Mulkerrin: All have their heads buried in the sand, thousands still arriving weekly, it’s unsustainable as we don’t have the Housing or Public Services, it’s not going to end well, massive social division & anger on the ground. People understand Immigration & the need for a structured system, but what we have at present is a mess.
Yes we need to stop SF moving pedos to this country
@Patrick Mulkerrin: it’s pretty simple ” we are full”
I really don’t think the voting people of Ireland want to hear about sport in fairness
@James Carolan: what about casement park. I work hard and my taxes go to pay for a stadium up north. Really pisses me off.
@Alan: it’s not though. Btw, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of funding Ireland already provides to the north, which you’re clearly unaware of.
@James Carolan: Go to Oriel Park and tell me that
@Eoin .h: I’m talking about what might happen. Would rather see the money going into school sports facilities. Let commercial enterprises take care of themselves. As for GAA, dont get me started
@James Carolan: I do. For starters any politician who wants to spend our tax money to build a stadium in Northern Ireland wouldn’t get my vote
@Ger Whelan: wow, it’s that much of a red line issue for you? I doubt that’s been registered on the doors for the last two weeks
@James Carolan: Agreed. Sport is important to the lives of many people but realistically is not a national election issue.
@Social Guy: as an aside: can we have the old comment functionality back please? Getting bounced out of the comments when commenting is VERY annoying. The new format is very poor. There doesn’t seem to be any benefit to it.
Why waste a cent on nordies
@Social Guy: sport is more important than housing dole parasites
@Alan: That the GAA is a brilliant organisation that makes and saves millions for the irish exchequer.
I would like to ask them a couple of questions
Kilmore Celtic fc from Coolock founded in 1990 still have no facilities toilets etc we have 14 teams underage girls boys 18 boys 17 girls senior men’s team we really need all weather facilities badly which would be used seven days a week keeping kids out of trouble FAI have a lot to answer for they do nothing shocking
How come bohemian fc can come into Coolock and take over Oscar Traynor road development centre when lease clearly states local needs non profit all councillors and TD were well aware of this and done nothing for local clubs kids need sports so bad
Seriously like we don’t have enough problems to be worried about who is going to maintain the football pitches
@thanks for the beautiful music christy rest in pea: Go to Oriel Park park anx come back to me
They’ll debate about sports but not on the issues that actually matter, like immigrations, taxes and the national debt. Maybe because none of the parties have any sort of answer to those issues in question.
Jesus wept
Bread and circuses
Fantastic idea, put it on a channel that isn’t free to air
Wouldn’t it be more useful for the electorate to know the identity of the alleged Russian spy referred to as Cobalt if he/she is running for the Dail.
Wouldn’t it also be more useful to the electorate to know the identity of the person allegedly standing for election, but not for any party, who allegedly is/was under investigation by the Gardai for allegedly assaulting her/his/their sister, an assault that allegedly involved hair pulling.
A debate to deflect from the real issues, Matt Cooper wont have a debate on issues like Immigration, Housing, Law & Order or Cost of Living, too close to the Political classes. No clear lines of separation between Mainstream Media & Govt & the voice of the people is not being heard. Radical change needed, vote radically so we get rid of Govt & their media buddies.
Could be an interesting watch
Ireland holds its breath with anticipation
have your say