News

28 March, 2007

de Brún Calls on European Parliament to support new impetus for peace

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Speaking today in Brussels Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún welcomed this week's developments in the Irish peace process and called on the EU to continue to support the Good Friday Agreement. View More

28 March, 2007

McDonald keeps up pressure for EU action on ship workers

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Mary Lou McDonald MEP again spoke out in support workers in the Maritime sector. She reminded MEPs that "re-flagging has been used to sack workers, to pay low wages for uncertain working hours and conditions, and to avoid labour regulation in the country of ownership." View More

22 March, 2007

"Do more to promote Irish" Europe tells the British government

Sinn Féin MEP, Bairbre de Brún has welcomed the Council of Europe's warning to the British Government that it must do more to meet its obligations to protect and promote the Irish language. View More

15 March, 2007

Bairbre de Brún welcomes new power-sharing government in Palestine

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Bairbre de Brún MEP has called on the EU to lift its embargo on Palestine and work closely with the new power-sharing government in Palestine, whose Ministers are expected to be announced today. View More

14 March, 2007

MEPS overwhelmingly approve report on Maritime Labour Convention

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, today welcomed the overwhelming vote in favour of her report on the ILO Maritime Labour Convention at the European Parliament, saying that the Convention was the most important set of rules that has ever been developed in the maritime labour field. View More

14 March, 2007

De Brún briefs MEPs on election outcome

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Bairbre de Brún MEP has briefed MEPs at a meeting of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament on the outcome of the Assembly elections and the prospects for political progress in the coming weeks. View More

14 March, 2007

Report to EU Parliament on working conditions in maritime industry

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

This is a report which was brought before the European Parliament by MEP Mary Lou McDonald last night. It will be voted on in the parliament today. View More

13 March, 2007

McDonald presents major report to EU Parliament working conditions in

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald, speaking at the joint press conference in Strasbourg with Vice President of the European Commission Jacques Barrott and Commissioner Vladimir Špidla, said that the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, represents the “most significant and progressive legal code for seafarers since the Merchant Marine Act of 1920”. View More

13 March, 2007

Inequality needs tackled: de Brún

Bairbre de Brún MEP

"Inequality between men and women is as real as ever and must be tackled head-on by all in power" according to Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún View More

12 March, 2007

McDonald to present major report to European Parliament on working conditions in maritime industry

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald will present a major report to the European Parliament on Tuesday in relation to working conditions and entitlements for men and women involved in the maritime industry. View More

8 March, 2007

McDonald Report on Maritime Labour

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

On 24 January, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted a report by Mary Lou McDonald MEP that paves the way for EU member states to adopt the International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention. The Convention aims to guarantee decent living and working conditions on board vessels. View More

2 March, 2007

McDonald urges Governments to take their heads out of the sand

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

The Spring Council is the annual gathering of Presidents and Prime Ministers of EU member states to discuss social and economic issues. This year’s meeting, which takes place in Brussels on 8-9 March, looks set to almost completely ignore the “social” part of its remit and focus on its programme for competitiveness, driving down salaries and undermining workers’ rights and conditions – otherwise known as the Lisbon Strategy. View More

2 March, 2007

de Brún addresses Ard Fheis

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Bairbre de Brun MEP, proposing on behalf of the Ard Comhairle motion15 on Palestine and speaking in support of motion 16 on the Basque Country. View More

2 March, 2007

Sinn Féin submission on Irish language act

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Speaking today after handing in Sinn Féin's proposals on the Irish Language Act which was promised by the British government at St Andrews, to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún said: View More

1 March, 2007

de Brún wary on passenger name records

Bairbre de Brún MEP

Bairbre de Brún has expressed unease at any future deal on personal data sharing between the EU and the US Government. The European Parliament debated the issue in February’s session, where the majority of MEPs also had concerns. View More