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Sinn Féin MP Órfhaith Begley has called on the Irish government to immediately make the emergency Pandemic Unemployment Payment available to workers who work in the south but live in the north.
The West Tyrone MP said:
"While many people are now starting to return to work following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions there are still workers who live in the north but work in the south who have been unable to return to work. Yet they are still not able to access the Pandemic Unemployment Payment put in place by the Irish government.
"I and my colleagues had raised this issue with the Irish government, highlighting the dichotomy that these workers pay tax in the south but were denied from accessing this emergency benefit.
"At the time the Irish government claimed it could not make the payment available to workers who live in the north. However, my party colleague Chris MacManus MEP has received confirmation from the European Commission that there is no barrier to the Irish government making the payment available to these workers.
"Affected workers were left to claim Universal Credit payments in the north which were significantly lower than the amount of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
"I am now calling on the Irish government to immediately make this payment available to cross-border workers who have lost out as a result of this decision. They should reimburse the difference between the Universal Credit Payment and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in line with the commitment that citizens in the north would never again be left behind by an Irish government."
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has said that funding for Mental Health and addiction services in Derry committed to by the British Government in the New Decade New Approach document must be delivered.
The Foyle MLA said:
“The British Government’s promises, in the New Decade New Approach document, ring hollow as the funding for additional projects remains unfulfilled. This is unacceptable.
“Northlands addiction centre provides a vital lifeline and means of supporting individuals, families and communities to start to recover from addictions, not only for Derry city but the wider north west.
“Sinn Féin recently secured cross party support for an amendment calling on the Minister of Health, who has responsibility for the provision of addictions services, to bring forward a detailed plan for mental health and addiction as a result of COVID-19.
“I was deeply disappointed that there was no mention of addictions or addiction services within the Mental Health Action plan published by the Minister of Health in May.
“It is vital that the Health Minister Robin Swann commissions a needs analysis to identify the level of need for addiction services in the north.
“I am convinced the analysis will show that significant need is there and that investment in addiction services across the north, such as those provided by Northlands, is required to meet that need.”
Sinn Féin's Environment Spokesperson, Philip McGuigan MLA, has called on Environment Minister Edwin Poots to open his eyes to the reality of climate change and fulfill his responsibility to deliver a Climate Change Act.
The North Antrim MLA was speaking following the publication of new climate predictions by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The WMO announcement points to a significant increasing likelihood that we will breach 1.5 degrees celsius of global warming in at least one of the next five years.
Philip McGuigan MLA said:
"In 2015 the international community resolved to keep global average temperatures at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels, for the rest of this century.
"Today's WMO announcement shows there is a rising possibility that we will first break the 1.5 degrees celsius limit within only the next five years. This could be devastating.
"We are not facing climate breakdown in the future, we are facing it now.
"At this stage, any delay and deflection of meaningful and radical climate action is a denial of the scientific evidence and an abdication of responsibility.
“Minister Poots needs to act now. He needs to stop dismissing the need for a Climate Change Act and set out clear plans for decarbonisation.
"I am calling on Minister Poots to acknowledge the irrefutable climate science and act immediately to put in place a Climate Change Act with legally binding carbon budgets and sectoral targets."
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has today welcomed the publication of an implementation plan to deliver the recommendations from the Gillen Review into serious sexual offence cases and called for its full implementation.
The Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson said:
“I welcome the publication of this Implementation Plan which I and Sinn Féin have been calling for since the Gillen report was first published in May 2019. I am deeply concerned, however, that to date only 11% of the report's recommendations have been implemented.
“This is a slow rate of progress on what is a priority issue.
"There are major problems with the criminal justice system including how sexual offence trials are conducted with victims being let down by the system for too long. Victims deserve better.
“Sexual crime is among the most heinous of crimes and can often leave a long-lasting traumatic impact on the victim. Reporting a rape or sexual assault can be an extremely difficult experience which can add to the trauma.
“For those who do report to the police, the victim can often be subject to a humiliating and traumatic experience both in and before the courtroom.
“The publication of this Implementation Plan must now ensure that the rapid implementation of the remaining recommendations is an urgent priority for the Justice Minister and her partner agencies so that we can modernise our criminal justice system in a way which no longer fails victims of sexual crime.
“I particularly would like to see urgent action in the development of Remote Evidence Centres, better protections for child victims, and increasing awareness about consent and dispelling rape myths.
"I will continue to ensure that these issues are at the top of the Justice Minister's agenda.”
EU confirm to Sinn Féin that Covid payment can be paid to cross border workers - Chris MacManus MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has revealed details showing that EU regulations do not prevent a Member State from granting a benefit if entitlement for such benefit arises from its legislation. He said Fine Gael could no longer hide behind the EU as an excuse of not being able to make the Pandemic Unemployment Payment available to all workers regardless of their residence on the island.
“We have received confirmation from the EU Commission that the decision to block 6-county residents working on the southern side of the border from accessing the Covid payment was made solely by the Fine Gael caretaker government and not as a result of any EU restriction.”
The Sligo based MEP was speaking following the Commission’s reply to a recent written question.
“This is a deeply disappointing revelation. It’s insulting to treat thousands of people who contribute so much to our economy and society with this level of contempt in a pandemic. This is partitionist behaviour from a party that tries to call themselves the ‘United Ireland’ Party.” said MacManus, “In December 2017 Leo Varadkar told residents in the north; ‘You will never again be left behind by an Irish Government.’. It didn’t take him and his party long to renege on that promise”
“Fine Gael were hiding behind EU regulation when in reality they just lacked the political will. Residents from the six counties who work in the 26 counties should not be financially disadvantaged and should have been taking home the equivalent of €350 between payments in both jurisdiction. Is it wrong to demand equity for all Irish citizens?”
MacManus concluded: “This decision made single-handedly by the Fine Gael caretaker government is damaging lives as we speak. People who have been forced out of employment due to the pandemic are suffering when that government hid behind EU rules that don’t exist.”
“I am calling on the new government to reverse the decision and back pay all workers in the State regardless of where they live on the island as a matter of urgency. For northern based workers this can be done by topping up payments already received.” ENDS
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Full details of written question and answer below
Question for written answer E-002256/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Chris MacManus
Subject: Payments for cross-border workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
With regard to EU regulations on frontier workers accessing unemployment benefits and similar emergency payments linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, can the Commission confirm that while EU law stipulates the responsibilities of Member States, it does not preclude a Member State from choosing to provide payments of this nature to frontier workers resident in a different State or in
agreement with another Member State where applicable?
ENE-002256/2020Answer given by Mr Schmit on behalf of the European
Commission(18.6.2020)
The Regulations on the coordination of social security systems 1 do not provide for a harmonised social security system in the EU, but for the coordination of national social security schemes 2 . Therefore, it is up to each Member State to determine the details of its own social security system, including which benefits are provided, the conditions for eligibility, how these benefits are calculated and what contributions should be paid.
As regards unemployment benefits for frontier workers, these Regulations lay down the rules for determining which Member State is competent to pay the benefits when the frontier worker becomes partially or wholly unemployed 3 . As a result, the frontier worker will be entitled to all the benefits related to unemployment provided by the competent Member State
(whether this is the Member State of residence or the Member State of previous employment), including any emergency payments linked to the COVID-19 pandemic if these fall within the scope of the Regulations and address the risk of unemployment. The Regulations do not place a responsibility on the non-competent Member State to provide any benefits related to the
same risk; however, the Regulations do not to prevent a Member State from granting a benefit if entitlement for such benefit arises from its legislation 4 .
Finally, as regards emergency payments not falling within the scope of the Regulations on the coordination of social security systems, as per Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 5 , frontier workers should have access to the same social and tax advantages granted by the Member State where they work as those granted to national workers.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has called on government to provide a capital fund that would facilitate the reopening of disability services to give people living with intellectual disabilities and families caring for them a much-needed break.
Deputy McDonald and Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability Pauline Tully TD echoed appeals from Inclusion Ireland to provide funding for service providers to either search for bigger premises or make modifications that would enable them to reopen with increased capacity.
Speaking today, Teachta McDonald said: “The HSE yesterday issued a guidance document in respect of the reopening of day services for people with disabilities closed for more than three months since Covid-19 restrictions began.
“This has resulted in more and more families caring for loved ones at home, which has led to great stress and lots of additional challenges.
“Inclusion Ireland described the 72-page document as non-committal on timelines, and highlighted numerous issues in respect of staffing and capacity.
“They say this will put further pressure on those with intellectual disabilities and their families.
“I spoke with Inclusion Ireland CEO Enda Egan today. He reaffirmed that it is crucially important that daycare services for people with disabilities get back up and running - at full capacity - very quickly, adding that families around the country are at burnout level.
“He highlighted that there are now four ministers with a brief extending across issues relating to people with disabilities. He has appealed for a capital fund to be put in place to allow service providers to search for bigger premises or to make modifications that would enable them to accommodate more people.
“He also pointed out that this is available to schools and older person services.
"The government must commit to this and bring some clarity to families struggling at this time, and my colleague Deputy Pauline Tully will continue to highlight this issue until a resolution is found.”
Sinn Fein spokesperson for Culture, Arts and Sports Sinead Ennis MLA has today welcomed the decision by Minister for Communities Carál Ní Chuilín that the arts and culture industry will be given an extra £33m in funding to help the sector.
Sinead Ennis said:
"As we begin to get back to some sort of normality, we know that the arts and culture sector will be one of the last sectors that return to normal.
"Theatres, museums and libraries have been closed and many will continue to remain closed for the next period, therefore this timely funding increase will be invaluable to the sector.
"Culture and the arts are at the heart of our communities so we must ensure that we protect them during this period in order to allow them to continue to create, perform and entertain society into the future."
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on Fianna Fáil to scrap the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) as it hasn’t reached its targets or delivered any genuinely affordable homes.
Deputy Ó Broin said:
“Today I am publishing a piece of research that shows that the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) has failed to deliver any affordable housing.
“The €200m LIHAF scheme was launched in July 2016 as part of Rebuilding Ireland.
“It was promoted as a tool to unlock residential development in need of infrastructure funding and in return deliver more affordable homes.
“Four years later, despite having a target to deliver 20,000 homes by 2019, only 11% of the targeted homes have been delivered, just 2,162 units.
“8,000 of these promised new homes were meant to be more affordable units. Only 12% of these have been delivered, only 925 homes.
“Of the so-called affordable units delivered in Donbate, a three bed cost reduced unit was on sale for €380,000, at the higher end of the Department of Housing’s 2018 projections.
“In Ratoath in Meath a 10% LIHAF reduction was applied to ten units. A three bed home was on sale for between €281,490 and €299,250. This so called cost reduced units are still unaffordable for people accessing the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
“It is clear that LIHAF has failed to deliver any real affordable dividend and that many of the developers did not need this funding and could have used their own resources.
“If the €200m from this fund was invested as a rolling fund in the direct delivery of affordable homes by local authorities instead it could have delivered up to 3,000 genuinely homes to date with more to follow.
“The new Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien in opposition in July 2019 called for the fund to be reviewed because the slow delivery of homes 'raises serious questions around the effectiveness of the fund and its operation'.
“Minister O'Brien should scrap this fund at the earliest opportunity and re direct the funding into the direct delivery of affordable homes.”
Sinn Féin Leader in the Seanad Niall Ó Donnghaile has called on the new Irish Government to implement the longstanding promise given to the people of the North, that their MPs would be given speaking rights in the Dáil.
Speaking in the Dáil Chamber, where the Seanad is sitting today, Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said;
“The people of the North were given a commitment that their MPs would have speaking rights in the Dáil; in the context of the ‘Shared Island’ aspect of the Programme for Government, we should ensure that our Oireachtas is shared and opened up to elected representatives from across the island of Ireland.
“As Ireland continues to navigate through the uncertainty of Brexit and the COVID-19 crises, as well as planning for the future of our country, it is vital and would be of much benefit to have the representatives of a huge section of the population, including in debates and the democratic discourse, here in Leinster House.
“Given the recent failure to nominate anyone from the Six Counties to the Seanad, it would make up significant ground and send a clear message that Micheál Martin is serious about working collaboratively across Ireland, if this long-standing Fianna Fáil promise was fulfilled.”
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Childcare Catherine Kelly MLA as urged the Minister of Education not to repeat past delivery failures on childcare during the Education Committee meeting yesterday.
Speaking the West Tyrone MLA said:
“Childcare must be a central component to our economic recovery from covid-19.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and more people return work, increased childcare places will be needed and providers must be supported as they reopen their premises.
"The last childcare support scheme was too slow and much too complex. The support scheme had failed to efficiently deliver the financial support which was made available to childcare providers.
“I took the opportunity at yesterday’s meeting of the Education Committee to urge the Minister not to make the same mistakes of the past and to urgently get this new package of financial support out to the people who need it.
"I welcome the reassurances by Minister Weir to the committee that this new support scheme will be more accessible than previously.
"However, its fundamental details are unclear in terms of the support scheme, including who has been commissioned to oversee it and the date that it will be rolled out.
"The Minister needs to provide urgent clarity to the sector and to parents on the new support package."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane has called on the new Minister Health Stephen Donnelly to establish without delay an expert panel to review the British report into the use of pelvic mesh/sodium valproate.
The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review in Britain published its report “First Do No Harm" yesterday and Deputy Cullinane has urged the Department of Health to use its findings as the basis of addressing those affected by the same issue in Ireland.
Speaking today, Teachta Cullinane said: “We are calling on the Minister for Health to immediately set up an expert panel to review the British report for use in the Irish context.
“This expert panel would evaluate the British report and its recommendations, and to report back to the Minister in a short timeframe.
“The recommendations of the expert panel would expedite the process, rather than engaging in a lengthy, multi-year process when the groundwork has already been covered in the British report.
“Doing so would ensure that those negatively affected across the island would get the result that they deserve without the pain of having to wait many more months looking on as Britain deals with the issue.
“The actions of Government in London are in stark contrast with the slow pace of Fine Gael over the last number of years, who have sought at first to dismiss the complaints of patients before reluctantly stopping mesh implants.
“Previously, Minister Donnelly claimed he could not understand why his predecessor Simon Harris did not set up an independent inquiry, despite the fact that Fianna Fáil were providing the Confidence and Supply Agreement that allowed Fine Gael to look the other way.
“We are now also calling on Minister Donnelly to ensure that women negatively affected by pelvic mesh have easy access to removal surgery.
“For the immediate and long-term well-being of those affected, Minister Donnelly needs to ensure that care packages and supports are made available.
"The Department of Health and the HSE should also conduct a report into ‘Women and the Health Service’ on the back of this to ensure that women’s needs and wants are being met.
"One of the problems that the British report highlights is the lack of listening to and delivery on the needs of women by the health service.
“We are now calling on Minister Donnelly to back up his words with action, and take the necessary steps to address the needs of those affected.”
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has welcomed confirmation from the Executive that funding for the Magee Medical School is ring-fenced allowing the project to move to the next stage.
The Foyle MLA said:
“Confirmation from the Executive that funding for the medical school at Magee University is ring-fenced is great news for the city.
“This will allow the University to press ahead and recruit staff and students for the proposed opening date of September 2021.
“It will also enable Ulster University to move to the next stage of the General Medical Council process, with their visit to the Magee campus later this month.
“The delivery of the graduate entry medical school will not only enable us to produce doctors to serve our local communities, it will be an important economic driver for the whole North West Region.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the measures announced by the British Chancellor are a boost to the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The party's economy spokesperson said:
"Sinn Féin has consistently made the case that further interventions are necessary to support businesses to reopen and recover.
"The measures announced today by the British Chancellor will go some way to helping businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
"The temporary reduction in VAT until January 2021 will be a boost to hotels, restaurants and attractions, while the 'Eat Out to Help Out' discount scheme will be a welcome support to hospitality businesses.
”Sinn Féin has proposed a voucher scheme to support the hospitality and tourism sectors and I would urge the Economy Minister to explore the potential for such a scheme to support businesses across the wider tourism and hospitality sectors.
”The Economy Minister should collaborate closely with her counterpart, the Minister for Tourism, in the south, Tourism Ireland and other representative bodies to support tourism across the island by encouraging people to holiday in Ireland this summer and give local businesses the best possible chance of recovering."
Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has called on the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon to explore extending the rail line in the north west, in order to tackle regional inequality and address significant gaps in the island’s rail network.
The Foyle MLA stated:
“Although the Derry rail line leaves much to be improved, passenger numbers have been increasing year on year, reaching 3 million journeys in 2018-19.
“Rail has a huge part to play for our island moving forward, in terms of improving connectivity and in providing a sustainable alternative to car travel and tackling carbon emissions.
“More immediate upgrades such as the ‘phase 3’ improvements for the Derry to Coleraine line are highly anticipated and should be delivered as soon as possible.
“However, we should also be engaging in long-term planning in order to address the stark disparity of the rail network in the north west, compared to other parts of Ireland.
“This is demonstrated by the fact that of the 54 stations in the six counties only three are situated west of the Bann.
“I pointed to the example in Scotland where in recent years they have expanded a previously closed rail track from Edinburgh to the Scottish border with great success.
“At the committee meeting today I called on the minister to look at exploring ways to extend the line to places such as Letterkenny and Strabane to address the glaring lack of infrastructure in the north west and building a real all-Ireland rail network.
“Although we are in a period of uncertainty with great challenges ahead, we also need to be planning for the future, and this should include delivering a public transport system that truly serves the whole island.”
The Sinn Féin health spokesperson said:
"The chief medical and scientific advisers to the Executive have advised that people travelling from Britain to the north present the greatest risk of spreading COVID-19.
"To date, the rate of the extent of COVID-19 and, tragically, the death toll from it has been much higher in Britain than here in the north as a result of the early and stringent steps taken by the Executive to ensure the safety of the public.
"There is no doubt we are now in a better place than we were at the height of the pandemic, due to the heroic actions of our health and key workers and the wider public, and we cannot jeopardise that now.
"The Executive is due to discuss this when it meets tomorrow but, as has been the approach taken to date, all decisions must be made on the basis of what is best for the north and the absolute need to protect people here from the further spread of COVID-19.
"We have all worked hard and sacrificed in the fight back against COVID-19 and we cannot afford to do anything that would expose people here to any unnecessary risks of the spread of this pandemic."
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central Thomas Gould has today called on the new government to re-establish a once-off grant in cooperation with Age Action Ireland and the Irish Red Cross to assist vulnerable elderly people during the pandemic.
Teachta Gould said:
"In April of this year Age Action Ireland, in cooperation with the Irish Red Cross, launched the Covid-19 Hardship Fund. This was an excellent idea aiming to provide a once-off support for the elderly to purchase necessary resources for their physical and mental well-being during the pandemic.
"Over 21,000 applications were received. With €103,000 fundraised, only 453 applications were granted. This was not Age Action Ireland or the Irish Red Cross’ fault. They petitioned the Department of Social Protection to provide assistance in meeting this demand. It is a disgrace that these calls were ignored and instead many vulnerable elderly people were left with no additional financial support during this difficult time.
"I have spoken with representatives from Age Action Ireland and they have expressed their deep frustration at this. Many of these applications were from people who relied on external supports, such as day-care centres which are still not open while others required technology to assist in maintaining social and familial relationships.
"Samaritans Ireland revealed that, in April, they agreed an MOU with Alone as many Alone volunteers were feeling 'overwhelmed by the levels of emotional distress' expressed by callers. It was also revealed that from the 9th March – 28th June ALONE has received 25,291 calls from older people and made 119,079 calls.
"Elderly people are most at risk from this virus. For too long now, they have been overlooked and discarded by governments and now they are suffering in isolation. We need to lend a helping hand to this vulnerable cohort and support this once-off payment.”
Sinn Féin has today published the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2020; to protect workers and stop tactical redundancies, in light of the unfair treatment of Debenhams workers.
Speaking as she launched the Bill today, Teachta O'Reilly said:
“The treatment of Debenhams workers has been frankly appalling. The company is walking away from its responsibility to staff and away from any form of constructive engagement with unions.
“The workers believe that the intention of Debenhams is to asset those stores and funnel the profits back into its British operation leaving their workers here high and dry. They have balloted for industrial action and places pickets on the stores to prevent stock being moved out.
“These workers have been campaigning for a fair and just settlement for more than two months now. They have been abandoned by Debenhams and are left with only basic state supports instead of the negotiated agreed redundancy rate. That is wholly unfair and unacceptable.
“We have been here time and time again – Clerys, La Senza, Paris Bakery, and now Debenhams.
“The reality is, companies can only engage in this behaviour because successive governments have let them do so through their failure to legislate to protect workers.
“Workers’ and Trade Unions have been seeking legislative protections for many years, but every time they seek legislative protection, they have been told by successive governments that they must wait.
“Wait for a report – wait for another investigation – wait for the Minister to read the report – wait for implementation.
“The time for workers’ waiting is over.
“Today I am publishing the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2020. This will provide protections for employees in collective redundancy situations in which the employer is insolvent.
“This will provide additional protections for workers by closing legal loopholes which allow companies to enact tactical redundancies.
“I am urging all parties to do the right thing and support this Bill, so that Debenhams workers can receive the fair treatment they deserve.”
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has called for the emotional well-being and mental health of children and young people to be prioritised when schools return.
Speaking after a sitting of the Education Committee, the Foyle MLA said:
"Today at the committee we heard from the National Children's Bureau on their work in relation to the development and implementation of a new emotional health and well-being framework.
"I welcomed the good work that they have done on this framework and in the current context of COVID and the impact it has had on children and young people it is clear that this must be finalised and implemented by the Department of Education as a matter of urgency.
"Children and young people have endured months of disruption, some will have been at home in difficult family circumstances so it's crucial that the mental health and well-being of all of our young people is prioritised above all else once schools return in August.
"I also challenged the Education Minister on the failure to implement the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act to date. Bullying is a huge cause of mental ill health amongst children and young people so I welcomed the Minister's commitment that this would be progressed as quickly as possible."
‘Major Insurers in Ireland Defying Euro Regulator’ - Chris MacManus MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has revealed that the EU insurance regulator EIOPA (the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority) has confirmed to him that insurers across Europe are continuing to pay dividends despite Covid19 and in the face of a strong recommendation from the regulator. Amongst those named as ignoring the regulator received by MEP MacManus are AXA and Allianz, two major insurers in the Irish market.
MacManus said:
“In correspondence received by my office EIOPA have confirmed to me that of 73 insurance groups, 28 have paid out dividends on the first half of 2020. Only one of the biggest 5 insurancegroups in Europe have actually suspended dividends, the other four have paid out in some form or another,
Only 3 of the 73 have actually announced a cancellation due to Covid in line with the EIOPA recommendation.
These are shocking figures. They are sickening quite frankly given the struggle facing workers and small businesses, some in the face of insurers refusing to pay out such as on interruption of business polices or motor insurers still charging huge fees despite of the huge drop in claims as the roads were empty for weeks and months of the year.
When every driver or business in Europe pays their insurance this year there is a huge chance that they will be paying part of it simply to pay a dividend the regulators say shouldn’t be paid out at all. Unfortunately, consumers are used to this arrogance from the insurance sector.
In April EIOPA stated that insurers should suspend “all discretionary dividend distributions and share buy backs aimed at remunerating shareholders. This suspension should be reviewed as the financial and economic impact of the COVID-19 starts to become clearer.”
We now know due to my correspondence that most insurers are simply ignoring this recommendation. It is not only a moral issue. The regulator’s approach is based on making sure insurers have enough reserves and not engaging in a race for dividends that endangers the entire system.
The relevant National Competent Authorities (NCAs) or EIOPA must be empowered to make these recommendations binding in the interest of consumer protection. I will be writing to the Central Bank of Ireland to ask them to look at this issue and I will be raising this issue in the European Parliament.” ENDS
