DOCSLIB.ORG

The Sunday Times

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Sunday Times 3- page hurlIng Free champIonshIp InsIde! prevIew YourfamilY guideto HiddeNgemS aFter thIs tour oNtHeWild INSIdE we’re really done atlaNtiC WaWaYY SPORT fleetwood mac|culture No 9,950 | MAY 24, 2015 ¤3 (inc Vat) | NI £2.50 Ireland says yes to gay marriage The day we all Two-thirds of turned pink huge turnout with pleasure back reform Sarah McInerney leader, arrived directly from Stephen O’Brien and Katherine Zappone, the sen- the George, a nearby gay bar, Sarah McInerney atorwholostaHighCourtcaseto IT WAS the day that even where TV3 was filming the have her CanadiaN marriage to Donegal said yes. “I can’t believe Vincent Browne show. “Great THE Irish people have backed Ann Louise Gilligan recognised it,” squeaked the Sinn Fein TD atmosphere down there,” said same-sex marriage by a by the state, said Ireland Pádraig Mac Lochlainn as his Martin. “A nd the Eurovision majority of almost two to one remained a Catholic country county went greeN on the big hasn’t even started.” after the highest referendum after the vote but Irish people screen in thecourtyard of Dublin As queues formed on the turnout in over two decades. had become “welcoming and Castle yesterday afternoon. street outside to gain access to Only 22 years after homo- generous Catholics, offering A cheer went up from the the courtyard, Simon Harris, sexual “acts” were decriminal- theirowNvoiceto interpretwhat 2,000-strong crowd, and ministerinchargeoftheOfficeof ised, Ireland became the first justice and equality means”. rainbow flags waved in the air. Public Works, surveyed the country in the world to intro- Diarmuid Martin, the arch- “I was so afraid we’d say no scene with satisfaction. “I might duce gay marriage by popular bishop of Dublin, said the social again, just the fear of letting have a party like this every vote. Only one constituency — revolution referred to by everyone down,” said Mac weekend,” he said. Roscommon-South Leitrim — Varadkar had beeN going on for a Lochlainn, brushing tears from Finally, just before 7pm, the voted “no”, as a massive mobili- while and the Catholic church his eyes. electoral map went almost sation of young voters over- needed “a reality check”. All around him, emotions entirely greeN for a “yes” vote. turned the country’s traditional While Roscommon-South were running high. Alan Kelly, Just Roscommon-South Leitrim urban-rural split on social Leitrim was alone with its “no” environment minister, said he gleamed red for “no”. issues. vote, 51.5% to 48.5%, Dublin was wearing a tie that had beeN The courtyard crowd roared, Wellwishers from around the South East woN the liberal brag- giveN to him by a gay friend who rainbow flags dancing in the air world included Sir IaN McKillen, ging rights with the highest had died suddenly. “He told me above their heads. In the depths JKRowling,SalmanRushdieand “yes” vote in the country at to wear it on a special occasion,” of Dublin Castle, a select group of Stephen Fry, who noted that 74.9%, three points higher than said Kelly. “Today is a special invited guests gathered for the Oscar Wilde would be smiling in Dun Laoghaire, its traditional occasion.” official declaration. his grave. Ellen DeGeneres, the rival on social issues. Shortly before 6pm, Leo Var- As the returning officer chatshow host, tweeted: “Ire- Joe Biden, the US vice-presi- adkar, Fine Gael minister, announcedIrelandhadvotedyes land did it! The first country to dent, tweeted that America wel- arrived to huge cheers from by a margin of 467,307, the small legalize marriage equality by comed Ireland’s support for the crowd, who began chanting crowd erupted. Eamon Gilmore, popular vote, but they won’t be equality. Joan Burton, the tan- his name. former Labour leader, who the last! What an incredible aiste, said a “rainbow move- Varadkar, taken aback, championed the holding of a accomplishment.” ment” had helped to create “a ducked into the nearest building marriage referendum, stood The Irish comedian Graham rainbow nation”. before emerging sooN after- quietly among them, his face Norton said: “The journey the Eoin Ó Broin, a Dail candidate wards to wave to the adoring pink with pleasure. country has made during my for Dublin Mid West, said Sinn crowd. He was immediately col- “Today, Ireland is a nation lifetime leaves me so very proud, Fein found little difference in lared for an interview by an NBC shining brightly,” said Jerry happy and amazed.” voting intention betweeN the TV crew, one of many of the Buttimer, a Fine Gael TD. Leo Varadkar, the health social classes, but older voters, internationalmediacoveringthe “Theday,what it means,isinde- minister who came out as gay particularly men, were more event. scribable.” earlier this year, declared the inclined to vote “no”. David Norris, a life-long gay He was interrupted by result “a social revolution” and a Nationwide, the turnout was rights campaigner, stood on Aodhan O Riordain, a junior display of “enormous leader- higher than for the Good Friday the stage and raised his arms. minister, who kissed him firmly ship” by the young people of agreement vote exactly 17 years “Liberté, égalité, fraternité,” he on the cheek before walking off, Ireland but added that he had no ago. called out, as the crowd roared grinning broadly. plans to marry. From the “no” campaign, its approval. The declaration was simply A total of 1,949,725 people Mothers and Fathers Matter was Milling among the people was confirmation of a result that was voted — a turnout of more than first to congratulate its oppo- Andrew Scott,anactorinhitBBC clear almost as sooN as the boxes 60%.Therewere 1,201,607votes nents but said the group was TV series Sherlock. “I don’t have were opened. At 9.10am in the in favour of the proposal, about proud to have giveN voice to the avote anymore,butIcamehome RDS count centre in Dublin, 62.3%. one in three Irish people in this yesterday to rally the troops,” he Kevin Humphreys, a Labour “I have never seeN the likes of campaignnotrepresentedby the said. “It sends such a strong junior minister, was happy to it,” Varadkar said. “Huge num- political establishment, the message about Ireland, that it is call it. bers of parents in their forties mediaor theinstitutionsof state. an accepting place.” “It’s done,” he said. “I’ve just and fifties being urged by their Senator RónáN Mullen, one of A couple of minutes later, beeN looking at the Pearse Street Elin Adler and Helen Gallagher, wrapped in a rainbow flag, celebrate the overwhelming vote in favour of the marriage equality teenagers and adult children to just four Oireachtas members to Micheál Martin, Fianna Fail Continued on page 2 uu referendum outside Panti bar in central Dublin. Thousands thronged the streets after the ‘yes’ result became clear vote yes.” Continued on page 2 uu Kenny considers Hint of Fianna Fail revival Holmes ‘aimed 1.5-point USC cut as Aylward closes on seat for suicide pact’ ENDA KENNY is planning to ratesisamoreexpensive option John Mooney award-winning food business cut the universal social charge for the government, but Niamh Lyons out of the mix, saying trans- appointment as EU agricul- it was always strong-leaning under an alias. The story (USC) by at least 1.5 percentage KeNNy’s plaN to go beyond a 1% fers from Sinn Fein and Renua ture commissioner was Fianna Fail, so it’s not partic- GARDAI believe that Julia prompted the PSNI to seek the points in the October budget, cut will put Michael Noonan’s FIANNA FAIL looks poised to candidates would be key in somewhat overshadowed by ularly surprising as things Holmes, the fraudster who was Irish force’s help to track her morethandoublingtheincome €750m envelope for tax cuts win the Carlow-Kilkenny deciding the winner. the same-sex marriage refer- start to normalise in the founddeadinCoLimerickwith down, with a view to initiating tax relief middle and lower under pressure. by-election, which should However, at the count endum and many of the usual country and the economy her partner Thomas Ruttle, extradition proceedings. income earners got in the The USC cut will be more silence critics of Micheál centre in Kilkenny’s Cillin political issues were not fully that you are going to find that had spent weeks trying to con- Detectives suspect Ruttle budget,writesStephen O’Brien. palatable to Labour than a cut Martin’s leadership. Hill, the seat was described as aired during the campaign. people will go back to pre- vince him to join her in a sui- resisted Holmes’s suicide plan. The taoiseach took Labour in the 40% tax rate as it would Counting continued late “Bobby Aylward’s to lose” by HogaN asked the “decent” vious patterns,” he said. cide pact before the two The lives and death of Julia by surprise last month when he apply to those earning above last night but the party was a senior Fine Gael strategist. people of Fianna Fail to lend Lucinda Creighton noted eventually died on an Holmes, Focus, page 9 announced plans to cut the 7% €17,577. The top income tax confident of victory for its Aylward said he was “cau- Fine Gael their vote at the 2011 that her party Renua was unknowN date in April. top USC rate in the budget, rate only affectsearningsabove candidate Bobby Aylward. tious but optimistic” about general election, allowing the just four days old when the Holmes wrote a series of let- rather than making a further €33,800. He polled 18,572 votes in his prospects, insisting that party to capitalise. Now it writ was moved for the ters last March outlining how reduction in the 41% income A one point cut in the mar- the first count, announced “win, lose or draw, the lead- appears at least some of that by-election and expressed the couple wished to be buried, LOTTERY NEWS 2 tax rate.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Our Taoiseach Really Needs a Lesson in Checking His Privilege
    Irish Examiner 12 Opinion Friday, 20.10.2017 Our Taoiseach really needs a Established 1841 Abortion law lesson in checking his privilege URELY there was someone Dr Peter Boylan, left, warned of deaths Early vote somewhere, a man even, and Prof Sabaratnam Arulkumaran willing to point out to the Taoiseach that he’s big has little time for our official abortion time storing up trouble with Irish approach. Pictures: Gareth Chaney/Collins women the way that he’s going on. undermines Take one woman, me for instance, sitting for hour after issues. The Harvey Weinstein affair hour watching the Oireachtas com- has been gripping the Western mittee on the Eighth Amendment, world, showing that even the where eminent medics, with world’s richest and seemingly most work to date decades of experience at the front- powerful women, can fall prey to line of obstetrics, make clear the the most horrendous sexual viol- absolute disservice that has been ence. If you’d a lick of political THE all-party Oireachtas committee examining Ireland’s done, and continues to be done, to sense you wouldn’t need a brand abortion law took many people by surprise when it voted Irish women. new communications unit overwhelmingly against retaining the Eighth Amendment In the background bubbling to realise this is a particularly sen- to the Constitution in its present form while still having five away is another box in the teeth for sitive topic at present; that it’s not weeks of debate on the issue to run. women — the controversy over the best optics to be getting all the In doing so, the Committee on the Eighth Amendment to pensions impacting an estimated best boy toys when it comes to the Constitution, as it was formally known, has made itself all 35,000 females who took time out showing yourself in the best light, but redundant.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Activity Report 2020 European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland Europe House 12-14 Lower Mount Street Dublin D02 W710 Tel
    The European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland Annual activity report 2020 European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland Europe House 12-14 Lower Mount Street Dublin D02 W710 Tel. +353 (0)1 6057900 Website: www.europarl.ie Facebook: @EPinIreland Twitter: @EPinIreland and @EPIreland_Edu Instagram: @ep_ireland © European Union/EP, 2021 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Contents Contents 3 Top Posts and Tweets in 2020 34 Top Content Highlighting MEPs’ Work 36 Introduction 5 Top Content on Cooperation with other Members of the Organisations and MEPs 39 European Parliament for Ireland 6 Top Content Produced by EPLO Dublin 40 Remote Plenary Sessions 7 Strategy 41 Social Media Data Overview 41 Outreach Activities 10 Cross-border activities 13 Activities for young people 42 Regular newsletter 17 European Parliament Ambassador School Campaigns 18 Programme (EPAS) 42 International Women’s Day 18 Euroscola 44 Charlemagne Youth Prize 19 Information visits to Europe House Europeans Against COVID-19 19 in Dublin 45 European Citizen’s Prize 21 Blue Star Programme 45 Lux Audience Award 21 Other youth activities 46 Sakharov Prize 21 Back to school 47 Bridge the Pond initiative 48 Other information activities 22 Annexes 43 EP grant programme Annex I - Ambassador Schools for information activities 24 Academic Year 2019-2020 49 Media 25 Annex II - Ambassador Schools Journalism students and the EP 25 Academic Year 2020-2021 50 Europeans Against COVID-19 26 Annex III - Schools representing Ireland at Commission hearings and
    [Show full text]
  • Defence Forces Review 2020 Defence Forces Review 2020
    Defence Forces Review 2020 Defence Forces Review 2020 ISSN 1649-7066 DISCLAIMER The material and views expressed in these papers are those of the authors, which have been subject to academic peer review, and do not indicate official approval of the Defence Forces or the Department of Defence. Published for the Military Authorities by the Public Relations Section at the Chief of Staff’s Branch, and printed at the Defence Forces Printing Press, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7. © Copyright in accordance with Section 56 of the Copyright Act, 1963, Section 7 of the University of Limerick Act, 1989 and Section 6 of the Dublin University Act, 1989. 1 Launch of the Defence Forces Review In conjunction with an Academic Seminar Dublin City University, 3rd December, 2020 Defence Forces Review 2020 Preface “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” (Harry Truman, US President 1945 – ‘53) Building on the success of last year’s Review, launch and positive reaction 2020’s Review is themed ‘The global island: Strategic implications for Irish defence planning in the evolving geopolitical landscape.’ This is a pertinent topic in light of the Defence Commission proposed in the 2020 Programme for Government, which is set to look at “the medium- and longer term defence requirements of the State…” The Defence Forces Review provides a forum in which contributors can present their research and facilitate discussion on a wide range of defence-related matters for the benefit of the wider Defence Community in Ireland and beyond. Sadly, due to Covid 19 restrictions we will be unable to have a normal launch of the Review.
    [Show full text]
  • CALENDRIER Du 7 Au 13 Septembre 2015
    European Commission - Weekly activities CALENDRIER du 7 au 13 septembre 2015 Brussels, 4 September 2015 CALENDRIER du 7 au 13 septembre 2015 (Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine) Déplacements et visites Lundi 7 septembre Agriculture and Fisheries Council, in Brussels. European Parliament plenary session, in Strasbourg (07-10/9). Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Étienne Davignon, former Member of the European Commission. Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria; and Mr Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Mr Andrus Ansip delivers a keynote speech at Bruegel annual meeting, in Brussels. Ms Cecilia Malmström hosts the trilateral EU-Russia-Ukraine talks about the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, with Mr Pavlo Klimkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Mr Alexei Ulyukaev, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, in Brussels. She also receives Mr Oliver Paasch, Minister- President of the German speaking Community of Belgium; Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Parliament of the German speaking Community of Belgium; and Members of the Parliament of the German speaking Community of Belgium. Mr Neven Mimica receives Mr Philippe Dessoy, President of the European International Contractors; Mr Neven Mimica and Mr Christos Stylianides inaugurate the Exhibition "Beyond Ebola – helping children build their lives", in Brussels. Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Papua New Guinea (7-11/09): participates in the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. Mr Karmenu Vella receives Mr Inger Andersen, Director General of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis receives Mr Urmas Kruuse, Minister of Rural Affairs of Estonia; Mr Jānis Dūklavs, Minister of Agriculture of Latvia; representatives of the Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union (CLITRAVI).
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to the 30 Dáil for Anti-Poverty Groups
    European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland Guide to the 30th Dáil for Anti-Poverty Groups ‘EAPN Ireland is a network of groups and individuals working against poverty and social exclusion. Our objective is to put the fight against poverty at the top of the European and Irish agendas’ Contents Page Acknowledgements 2 Introduction 2 The Parties 4 Dáil Session Guide 5 A Brief Guide to Legislation 7 Dáil Committees 9 The TD in the Dáil 9 Contacting a TD 12 APPENDICES 1: List of Committees and Spokespersons 2: Government Ministers and Party Spokespersons 1 Introduction This Guide has been produced by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland. It is intended as a short briefing on the functioning of the Dáil and a simple explanation of specific areas that may be of interest to people operating in the community/NGO sector in attempting to make the best use of the Dáil. This briefing document is produced as a result of the EAPN Focus on Poverty in Ireland project, which started in December 2006. This project aimed to raise awareness of poverty and put poverty reduction at the top of the political agenda, while also promoting understanding and involvement in the social inclusion process among people experiencing poverty. This Guide is intended as an accompanying document to the EAPN Guide to Understanding and Engaging with the European Union. The overall aim in producing these two guides is to inform people working in the community and voluntary sector of how to engage with the Irish Parliament and the European Union in influencing policy and voicing their concerns about poverty and social inclusion issues.
    [Show full text]
  • A Round up of the Main Financial Stories of Interest from the Weekend Papers. 9Th December 2019
    @CantorIreland Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland A round up of the main financial stories of interest from the weekend papers. 9th December 2019 Pages 2 - 4: Press Summary Page 5: Links to Our research publications and market insights https://cantorfitzgerald.ie/ Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland Ltd (Cantor) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland Ltd is a member firm of the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange Weekend Press Summary Saturday 7th of December 2019 Sunday 8th of December 2019 The Saturday Irish Times Sunday Business Post Following Providence Resources’ CEO, Tony O’Reilly Jr., Varadkar won’t support FF-led minority government if FG gets announcement that he was to step down from his position, Peter more seats Hamilton looks at the history of the company which traces its roots Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has privately warned that he will not to 1981. The board has initiated a process to identify a new chief support a Fianna Fáil-led minority government if Fine Gael wins the executive and O’Reilly will work with the board until January 2020. most seats in the upcoming general election. It comes amid growing speculation in Leinster House about an early A group of European Union countries is calling for a wider net general election in the spring if the current Brexit logjam is resolved to be cast when listing tax havens and to consider imposing stricter by the outcome of the British general election this Thursday. sanctions for those countries that facilitate tax avoidance. In September the IMF included Ireland and the Netherlands in a list of More Maximum Media podcast hits were inflated if world leading tax havens.
    [Show full text]
  • South Leinster
    BROKEN PROMISES COST LIVES. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL LEGISLATE FOR ABORTION. WILL YOU SPEAK UP FOR LIFE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE? Never a Need for Abortion The majority of Irish people are against abortion. That’s long been a problem for the abortion industry. So now abortion campaigners want to use fear to attack our pro-life laws. They falsely claim that abortion is needed to save women’s lives. But that’s simply NOT true. Here are the facts: ► It’s a fact that abortion is never necessary to save the life of a mother - and leading Irish medical experts have already publicly confirmed this fact: As Professor John Bonnar, the Chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told a Dáil Committee; “It would never cross an obstetrician’s mind that intervening in a case of pre-eclampsia, cancer of the cervix or ectopic pregnancy is abortion. They are not abortion as far as the professional is concerned, these are medical treatments that are essential to save the life of the mother.” ► Ireland, without abortion, is one of the safest places in the world for a mother to have a baby, according to the United Nations. ► If a mother develops a life-threatening condition in pregnancy, such as cancer or an ectopic pregnancy, they will always be treated, even if that treatment causes the unintentional death of the baby. That’s the situation in Ireland where abortion remains illegal. We should protect our pro-life laws - because they protect both mother and baby. Why Terminally Ill Children Have a Right to Life Sadly, some parents are told that their baby may not live for long after birth, or might not make it to birth at all.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Order Paper) 6 DÁIL ÉIREANN
    (Supplementary Order Paper) 6 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 12 Feabhra, 2008 Tuesday, 12th February, 2008 2.30 p.m. GNÓ COMHALTAÍ PRÍOBHÁIDEACHA PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Fógra i dtaobh leasú ar Thairiscint : Notice of Amendment to Motion 28. “That Dáil Éireann: — accepting that the current system of assessment for children with autism is inadequate; — noting the co-author of the report of the Government Taskforce on Autism has suggested the Department of Education and Science policy on education for autistic children is misguided; — considering that the lack of a suitable appeals process leaves parents with no option other than to pursue education services for their children through the courts; — acknowledging the Government’s delay in implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) to provide appropriate education services for children with special needs; — noting the Government’s refusal to change its policy to consider funding for new ABA centres despite a clear demand for ABA services countrywide; and — considering the Government’s failure to improve coordination between education and health services in supporting children with special needs despite promises in the Programme for Government 2007 to do so; calls on the Government to: — lay any evidence before the House which supports the suggestion that the current system of education provision for autistic children is suitable for all children, even those with moderate to severe autism who have been recommended one-to-one attention; — make specific
    [Show full text]
  • EU NEWS YOU CAN USE European Commission in Ireland
    If you cannot see this newsletter, read the online version. EU NEWS YOU CAN USE European Commission in Ireland In this issue - 30 July Top News Calls for Tender/Proposals Other news Competitions Agenda Public consultations Job opportunities Top News EU Commission steps up fight against child sexual abuse, drugs and illegal firearms The European Commission has launched a five-year strategy to improve the fight against child sex abuse as estimates show one in five children in Europe to be victims of some form of sexual violence. The Commission this week also adopted new five year action plans on drugs and on firearms trafficking. The action plan on drugs will focus among other things on increasing awareness raising of the adverse affects of drugs and on addressing drug related harms through access to treatment, risk and harm reduction, and a balanced approach to the issue of drugs in prisons. The action plan on firearms trafficking will focus among other things on reinforcing law enforcement to stop traffickers and on stepping up international cooperation. Read more... European Commission secures EU access to Remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 The European Commission this week signed a contract with pharma company Gilead to secure EU access to Remsedivir - the first treatment authorised against the coronavirus in the EU. This will ensure treatment from early August for approximately 30,000 patients in the EU and the UK with severe coronavirus symptoms. The Commission's Emergency Support Instrument will finance the contract, worth a total of €63 million. The Commission is also preparing a joint procurement for further supplies of the medicine, expected to cover additional needs and supplies as from October onwards.
    [Show full text]
  • How Ireland Voted 2020 Michael Gallagher Michael Marsh • Theresa Reidy Editors How Ireland Voted 2020
    How Ireland Voted 2020 Michael Gallagher Michael Marsh • Theresa Reidy Editors How Ireland Voted 2020 The End of an Era Editors Michael Gallagher Michael Marsh Department of Political Science Department of Political Science Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin Dublin, Ireland Dublin, Ireland Theresa Reidy Department of Government and Politics University College Cork Cork, Ireland ISBN 978-3-030-66404-6 ISBN 978-3-030-66405-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66405-3 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifcally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microflms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifc statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.
    [Show full text]
  • Relaunching the Transatlantic Trade Agenda: a European Perspective
    Atlantic Council EUROPE CENTER ISSUE BRIEF Relaunching the Transatlantic Trade Agenda: A European Perspective JANUARY 2021 EMILIE BEL Executive Summary With $1 trillion in two-way trade in goods and services annually, the EU-US relationship remains key for the prosperity of both sides of the Atlantic.1 The European Union (EU) has always considered the United States a privileged partner with shared values; however, Europeans have suffered from the Donald Trump administration’s unpredictability and transactional approach. The election of Joe Biden offers a window of opportunity to restart the discussion. European institutions have already extended a hand, notably by publishing in December 2020 an ambitious proposal for a new EU-US partnership2. Europeans are ready to build a positive trade agenda—but on a balanced basis. However, the clocks will not wind back to 2016. The global balance has changed, and a new partnership is needed. Trade policy is not just about trade agreements and tariffs, but also reflects technological, security, and geopolitical challenges. Beyond a trade agreement, this paper underlines that a true geopolitical and economic partnership is necessary to address systemic issues. By analyzing the lessons learned from the failure of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations and drawing on interviews with European officials, this paper recommends adopting a step-by-step approach that pays greater attention from the start to the concerns of public opinion—notably, on climate change—the diversity of European sensitivities, and the need to rebuild trust progressively. Relaunching the transatlantic trade agenda can follow three routes, which are not mutually exclusive, including The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center conducts research and uses real- 1.
    [Show full text]
  • How Have Irish Parliamentarians Adapted to the Age of Web 2
    How Have Irish Parliamentarians Adapted to the Age of Web 2.0? Neil Collins University College Cork, Ireland/ Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan Yu-Wen Chen University of Helsinki ABSTRACT This study explores the engagement of members of the Irish lower parliamentary chamber, the Teachta Dála (TD), with Web 2.0 technologies. Content analysis is employed to evaluate TDs’ websites. While conducting the website-feature analysis, the authors look at three dimensions of each TD’s website: information content, interaction tools and politician’s activities on the web. The authors find that Irish parliamentarians embed themselves online mainly to catch up with the trends in the cyber age. Websites allow them to market themselves and increase visibility. But given that the offering of information is the prime aim, their usage of the Internet is still largely based on the paradigm of Web 1.0. A more accurate way to depict this phenomenon is that Irish politicians’ Internet usage is actually in the mode of Web 1.5 in which some interactive and participatory space is generated with the idea that the cyberspace should encourage citizen participation. Keywords: Web 2.0, Website-feature Analysis, Ireland, Teachta Dála (TD) pre-print version INTRODUCTION In 2010, Lilleker and Jackson evaluated the impact of Web 2.0 on the UK General Election of that year. They found that British political parties are underachieving with regard to maximizing the interactive potential of Web 2.0 to encourage participation by the electorate. This is in contrast to Obama’s campaign in which citizen participation “in the forms of sharing and acting as an advocate online” through offering feedback to the campaign was encouraged (Lilleker & Jackson, 2010, p.
    [Show full text]