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FINE GAEL MEP Mairead McGuinness has said she is interested in becoming Ireland’s EU Commissioner.
Citing her years of work in Brussels, McGuinness has made clear her ambition to succeed Phil Hogan, who resigned as EU trade commissioner last week.
Hogan was among more than 80 people at a golf event in the west of Ireland, as the country tries to contain a new spike in Covid-19 cases and limit social gatherings.
McGuinness, who is the European Parliament vice-president, said she has been in the Parliament for 16 years.
“People understand what I do. I’ve risen to the position of first vice-president,” she told RTÉ.
“None of the achievements, which have been achievements for Ireland, were handed to me. They were worked hard for.
“I have great credibility in the Parliament and in the Commission and indeed in some of the global organisations and I work well with people.
“They say of me in the Parliament that I am fair but firm, and that’s exactly what I am. I am a very fair chair of the European Parliament but I don’t let people away with it, and I am recognised for that.
“It’s important to say that the job I do now is an important one, it’s one that I worked hard to get to. I work well with the president of the Parliament.
“The European Parliament probably doesn’t get enough attention here probably because we have the Irish parliament but as we look to the future, the role of the European Parliament and indeed now in selecting a commission candidate in and ratifying them is pivotal, and I think we should remember that.”
Discussions of who the Irish government will put forward to fill the role will continue this week after the EU called on Dublin to put forward a male and female candidate.
Other names expected to be considered include Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
Veteran politician Hogan faced deep disquiet from the Irish Government and intense scrutiny of whether his extensive movements around the country broke coronavirus regulations.
His resignation came a week after revelations of the golf dinner emerged.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she respected the resignation of Hogan, adding that she was “very grateful” for his “tireless and successful work”.
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Harris is completely useless. Is there any evidence that drinkaware provides misleading information?
Perhaps we will soon read about a website that cost more than any other website and receives no traffic.
@Wreck Tangle:
what a foolish little tool is Simon Harris !
Exactly what is he trying to achieve here ?
Trying to promote an image of himself as being tough, edgy and innovative most likely
In fact he’s anything but – the opposite in fact.
@Jazz Buckler: In all honesty, the man is a waste of a good underpants.
If we’re learned anything from the cigarette industry we should know that we can never trust the drink industry to have our health and best interests at heart.
The drink industry like the cigarette industry will always play down the risks and lobby against anything that will hurt their profits. They spend millions each year on lobbying.
They don’t care about how many peoples lives are ruined by drink, the countless staff hours wasted dealing with people who’ve drank too much pretty much every day of the week in A&E.
Drink is far too socially acceptable in Ireland, much of the harm it causes is ignored by the avg Joe.
@Barry: so do you honestly believe the goverment spin?????? Askabout alcohol
I suppose you yhink harris is doing a great job too
Where can I get accurate information on the government?
@jamesdecay: nowhere
Coming from the worst minister for health to don shoe leather that has to be a joke.
That man is a waste of oxygen.
Tuned into rte1 last night to get the news at nine. Was a little early and fair City was on. All in the pub having drinks and 1 woman slapped another cross the face. All before the Watershed. When are you Simon Harris going to deal with this indirect advertising of alcohol and ithe violence shown on this show??. RTÉ should receive a definition of watershed cause its taking no heed with this soap and thats just the Irish one. What bout the rest eastenders etc too ?
@C_O’S: You ok hun??
@C_O’S: there is no watershed in Ireland.
@C_O’S: Before the watershed are you serious. What the “children” can see in real life and on their phones is a hundred times worse.
All of the people were actors showing what can happen and telling a story.
Or would you rather have everyone totally unaware of the realities of life
He’s correct. Drink companies don’t make money reducing pint consumption. Same with cigarettes. Same old tricks, since the early 1900′s. Every single study on the matter of big corporations cosing up to any regulators results in increased product usage and poses a risk to our health, though none are more threatening than big pharma cash in our health sectors. When these two meet misinformstion, pseudoscience, drug usage and negative patient outcomes bloom https://www.bmj.com/content/326/7400/1189. We know this. The hyprocacy of the guy – so vocally concerned about misinformstion when 1/3 of his senior doctors are paid by big pharma. https://www.businesspost.ie/news-focus/how-doctors-and-hospitals-cash-in-from-big-pharma-edb1b5a0.
That information was dug up by brilliant reporting. Not given voluntarily, as it should be.
Don’t fully trust anyone with your health. Read a book and in times of bad health always get a second opinion from a doctor of a different leaning.
‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ what’s the difference?
@Annette Hunter: one is accidental (mis) the other has intent (dis).
@Annette Hunter: Simon Harris apparently
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/11/advisers-threaten-to-quit-public-health-england-over-drink-free-days-campaign – it sounds like Alcohol industry advertising re safe alochol drinking practices is advisable as tobacco companies advising re safe cigarette smoking practices
And the (dis) information we receive from the Depth of Health is to be trusted?
I’m asking the media not to use information from Simon Harris.
@Anna69xxa: thanks Anna , are those photos mis information or dis information -ive had a few beers over the xmas and am easily confused …..
Alcohol is hugely damaging to your health both mentally and physically, no matter how much its downplayed. This is coming from someone who drinks, and everyone who drinks who says otherwise or overstates the enjoyment and relaxation it offers ect is in denial about the harm.. I drank flip all this week, all because i drank a bit too much at the weekend and i felt like death the next day. The worst part is mentally, it messes with your moods because youre fighting a losing battle with tiredness and trying to get through the day, Its all self inflicted and i dont even drink that much, one bottle of wine a week on average is hardly going mad., but i think any alcohol messes with your entire system, i wish i could just do without it, but its become a weekly habit that i cant convince myself not to do
For the first time I agree with Harris. Media should be getting this information from an independent source and not something from the drinks company. It should be the same with drugs and gambling as well. Harris is still useless. How can a person whose only experience is making tea be made a health minister in charge of multi billion euro budget.
@John Smith Esq: I think we all know how Simon got his post -as with most FG appointments (particularly with Kenny) – for loyalty to the leader. Thats all that is needed.
@John Smith Esq: a independent source ie the government????????
Is simon suggesting we can’t trust the drinks industry?
Will this little whipper snapper ever go away!
have your say