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MORE AND MORE, decisions made in Europe impact the day-to-day lives of Irish people, but not many know how the system works.
The union represents 500 million people and employs around 37,000 people across the continent, mostly in Brussels, home of the European Commission and Parliament, though the Parliament splits sitting time with Strasbourg.
Many laws and directives passed in Europe affect Irish people. From farmers to consumers, EU rules on imports, trade and law are prevalent across Ireland.
However, the public perception of Europe is generally tinged with some cynicism, despite Irish adults feeling that the country has done well out of membership.
So, what is the EU?
The EU is a union of 28 sovereign member states.
It encompasses a number of agencies and bodies, but decisions are made through four separate bodies.
Its basic principles are around a single European market, with freedom of movement for goods, services, workers and capital.
The free movement of workers has become a contentious issue in the UK in particular, where the Conservative party is pushing for a renegotiation of their obligations to take in other members.
The European Council is seen as the most powerful arm of the EU.
It is where the policy direction of the EU is decided by the heads of state and government of each EU member. The council meets at summits and has its own permanent president, who is this man, Poland’s Donald Tusk:
The Council of Ministers is where ministers with the same portfolios meet to discuss issues both in the EU and abroad.
So, when you hear that Charlie Flanagan is meeting EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, he’s here.
They share legislative and budgetary power with the European Parliament, employ around 3,500 and has a rotating presidency that changes every six months.
Ireland held the presidency at the start of 2013, Italy holds it now and Latvia will take over in January.
The European Parliament is Europe’s directly-elected body. 11 Irish representatives, elected last May sit with 740 other MEPs from across European states.
The parliament employs 6,000 people and splits sitting time between Brussels and Strasbourg in France.
Its MEPs are aligned in groups, with the European Peoples’ Party, the Social and Democrats (S&D) and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in control.
The S&D’s Martin Schulz, a German politician, is the President of the Parliament. Another German, Klaus Welle, is the top civil servant or Secretary General.
The European Commission is responsible for proposing and enforcing EU laws, monitoring the treaties and overseeing the day-to-day running of the EU.
It is split into 28 Directorates General (DGs), each of which has a Commissioner. Each member state is entitled to nominate a commissioner. Ireland’s Phil Hogan is the Agriculture Commissioner.
Other DGs cover employment, energy, trade and justice among other things.
The Commission is housed in the Berlaymont building in Brussels and former Luxembourg president Jean-Claude Juncker is its president.
Ireland’s Catherine Day is the Commission’s secretary general.
So how do they make laws?
In a complex battle of wills between the various arms, essentially.
Because the proposals come from the Commission and are filtered through the Council before they hit the Parliament, the process can be slow, as the legislation is debated and rewritten.
This is the official path to legislation:
What does the EU do?
Effectively, Europe’s biggest job is governing the single market. This covers customs, monetary policy, conservation of fish, a common commercial policy and setting a budget each year.
For context, the EU budget this year is about €142 billion.
They also have a social mandate, aiming to “correct the most glaring inequalities in European society”. It adheres to its own Charter of Basic Human Rights and uses financial aid and legislation to do this.
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In fairness to Cameron at least he answers the questions unlike our so called leader who just deflects and blames everybody else.
I wouldn’t be a fan of Cameron’s, but he makes Corbyn look like he’s a phone-in tv show host addressing a leader.
Hopefully Corbyn can do better in future.
And breathes through his nose!
A politician with some principles and unity with the people he represents,our coalition should hang their heads.
Except if you explore his past.
Explain, OTV
I won’t – I just hope Corbyn isn’t just another Farage – gifted at appealing to a demographic but ultimately a fake.
I genuinely would like to see a strong, intelligent left of centre opposition in the UK. It would likely inspire Ireland to aspire to a similar standard, as we generally always do.
OTV, how is Farage a fake? Are you referring to the man in person, or the unfortunate amount of dross that he attracts?
I think we can categorically conclude that he is not like Farage
So OTV, you are basically throwing mud hoping something will stick and are afraid to out and out state anything concrete?
Class act,break from the usual $hite
He made a big mistake by not signing the anthem imo. It was unnecessarily divisive and not a good omen as it showed he doesn’t know how to pick his battles. It’s fine to be a republican, anti war, anti EU, but it’s not fine to be anti monarchy on anything WW2 related as the royal family, including the current Queen (who’ll could easily die soon, and he’ll be easy pickings if so) were central, comforting figures throughout that period.
Signing.
The words of the British national anthem speak of victory and glory, perhaps it is time to put the past into context and concentrate on the here and now for a change.
Gerry Adams regularly tweets asking people for their Leaders Questions to be put to Enda.
RTE were letting on today its a new concept.
Ironic, from the leader who cannot be questioned.
So does Enda.
One day, a man, with TWO pints in ONE hand, asked him how he’s going to pay for water?
Seeing as Corbyn has an interest in mental health eg skipped appearance on Andrew Marr show to attend a mental health fundraiser and also created a new dedicated Minister for Mental Heatlh in his shadow cabinet, hoping he can address some of the serious issues in that field, raised by Danish Dr Peter Gøtzsche (co-founder of the respected Cochrane Collaboration).
Ah iphone Joan what’s your position on this?
well kerry, this is all the fault of those people. those people that want to do do something great, but they have nothing, so we are going to give them nothing and its great, because those people appreciate getting nothing. and in the meantime we are going to enhance the middle class by taking more off them, because thats how they thrive and they want to give it to us. so yes we are a winning party
I’m afraid the sarcasm went over some peoples heads jenni.
joans answer…you can see corbyns below
‘Can i just say, i think its interesting that……….’
I just read that in my head in joans voice
thats to be expected al..it comes with the territory. I feel for them
I read it Joan’s voice first, and then Cameron’s. Practically indistinguishable!
*in Joan’s *
Whether you agree with his politics or not I think he seems to be a politician committed to his beliefs rather than in it for the paycheque, which is refreshing. However if and when the hard decisions come we will see if its all talk or not.
Hung so
Obviously didn’t se the report on his accepting pay rise to 125k and a new luxury car. He’s got his nose in the trough like most of politicians nowadays
Watched it earlier. Absolute unbridalled brilliance in motion. We should clone him.
What do you love most about him? Is it just the beard or it there more to it?
Jammin has a penchant for men in beards apparently
Silver-tongued men with beards, to be fair.
Joe Duffy will be worried
David Cameron will be loving this. Instead of having a proper debate all he has to do now is answer a couple of easy questions and wait for labour to start tearing itself apart.
Read the half article, or go to the media websites just to see how happy Cameron was about his approach. Unsettlet conservative party tonight..but they’re only 6 months in..they can learn a lot about filthy politics if they study our own gov carry on over the last 4 years.
P I think the point is, Cameron is usually smug and scornful at question time, but because these questions came from the public he couldn’t be seen to be his usual sarcastic, dismissive self. Great tactic by Corbyn
He is an impressive speaker and performer but he’s badly in need of a suit that fits him.
His history is also a poor fit with his rhetoric; he can always buy a new suit.
Corbyn won’t even see a general election as leader, he will be ousted before it – if labour had any sense they would of Elected David Milliband instead of his brother and they would be in power now.
Corbyn had hardly no women on his shadow cabinet and the one he has for rural affairs is an mp from North London who is a vegan. Really in touch with the country folk Jeremy.
Boris Johnson must be laughing know he will be PM after the next election!
George Osborne I think.
corbyn will definitely see the next election..he’s not putting up with any crap. I’d say he would even have words with our own so called makey uppy labour party. At the very least he’d tell the labour party to rebrand!
Is this the same Corbyn that invited Raed Salah to the parliament, they guy who has now been banned from the UK for his anti semitism, for saying that homosexuality is a great crime and for blaming Jews for 9/11?
The same Corbyn that contributed funds to Paul Eisen, holocaust denier?
The same Corbyn that calls himself a “good friend” of Ibrahim Hewitt, who has likened homosexuality to paedophilia?
The same Corbyn who spoke along side Dyab Abou Jahjah in the UK parliament, Abou, who called the 9/11 attacks “sweet revenge”, and called gays “aids spreading fa***ts? Abou is also banned from the UK.
The same Corbyn who is anti monarchy but now serves on the privy council?
Britain has a great future leader head of them, if that’s the case.
Is any of that actually true?
All true and verifiable.
“During a call-in with listeners on BBC Radio 4′s World At One programme, he said: “The idea that I’m some kind of racist or anti-Semitic person is beyond appalling, disgusting and deeply offensive”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-disgusted-claims-anti-6281250
Tony Blair could face trial over ‘illegal’ Iraq war, says Jeremy Corbyn ~
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/05/tony-blair-could-face-trial-illegal-iraq-war-jeremy-corbyn
He may have said that Aine, but his actions show very differently.
He mentions Ibraham Hewitt when he talks about Interpal (on a youtube video). He is hardly responsible for all his views and beliefs eg the one you mentioned above.
Interpal ~
From female-led exchange visits in the West Bank, to supporting the Russell Tribunal on human rights abuses against Palestinians, Interpal continues its advocacy projects to raise awareness of the worsening situation for Palestinians. Interpal’s aim is to continue to build a durable foundation for Palestinian human rights.
I never said he was responsible for the views of others, but he did describe Hewitt as a “good friend” – you judge a man by the company he keeps. Corbyn doesn’t bode well for a Britain that is changing daily.
Looking at the first article I think the whole anti Jew thing doesn’t really stand up. Anyone of us that believe Israel are wrong in their treatment of Palestinians could be called anti Semitic if it suited a particular agenda.
The other one is harder to explain away. He doesn’t sound like the kinda lad you’d forget too easily especially after he was banned from the UK. Then again so many meetings, so many lunches who knows.
Everybody, meet Jason, a tabloids wet dream.
Hi Jason I think you will fit in well here
The wild Left, who think they’ve just discovered the answer to all the world’s problems, seem to be catching up to reality.
Sort of like kids who want sweets and Xbox ll the time, when they come to realise sweets might not be good for you, parents have to pay for them, their ill sister needs the money or dad needs a bus pass to get to work and you can’t always have what you want.
Protest parties are generally built on ignorance and caricaturing their opponents as evil megalomaniacs.
Once put in a position of responsibility the protest party inevitably realises the simplicity they thought they were arguing about doesn’t exist and they need to think a little harder.
That said, no doubt AAA, SF/Eirigi and PBP are well qualified and experienced and have a grasp on reality.
And here’s the right-wing of the most powerful country in the world! I’ll take my chances on the Left thanks, enjoy the company of dumb hicks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm9m7zZPEl8
Hnging my flag on Bernie Sanders, he’s by far the best option.
He will be an interesting politician to watch. He will make or break the Labour Party. I fear it may be the latter.
It harks back to an interesting time in British politics when you had a clearly defined division between left and right.
Surprised For Connolly isn’t on here, again, gushing and wooing over Corbyn.
Perhaps he is overcome in shivering raptures of adoration and can’t bring himself to type for the trembling.
How easily he is led.
He’ll be along soon, no doubt.
Amazed you had time to remove yourself from the alter to Enda OTV and look elsewhere. Does this mean Enda’s mantra is running thin?
I’m apolitical. I just focus on what is best for Ireland.
You’re surprised that people have stuff to do in the evenings like put their kids to bed? Whoa, adult life is going to be a real eye opener for you.
Its always amazing that you have to wait for one commentor to say his piece before you can make your argument. why don’t you just say what you want to say? #fetishforforconnolly
OTV live streaming! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSXxGbH6Fq4
hope i didnt step on your toes there mate..
that was for fc…
@ Jenni: Yer grand. Real socialists don’t have toes.
@ Richard: Tried it myself once with a dead arm. The other mourners were furious!
Ha!
Well it certainly isn’t Fine Gael/Labour or Fianna Fáil, with their grubby politics of the last fifty years or so.
That was for OneTrueVoice.
They are all committed to their beliefs – which are easy to uphold in opposition, Different kettle of fish if elected.
Yous lot are a gas bunch, gotta love the right, right lot.
The left vote is growing more and more, not hugely, but steadily, and why? Simple really, we want everyone to be treated the same.
Now the conservatives about us want us all to be treated the same.. But differently…That’s the same as our government. The rich should be given more, and the poorest should be giving more.
Well enough is enough.
I’m worn out, exhausted and tired of trying to make everyday profitable. And when we get a gov rep like Corbyn, we’ll be doing ok.
Corbyns direct approach is undeniably refreshing in an era of spin but the reality is that the British electorate rejected a milder version of his politics in May. If Cameron is such an evil fascist stooge, why did people back him? Did the entire British electorate attend Eton? Or are a majority of British people really stupid? Or did they perhaps see him and his party as a safe pair of hands? No, it couldn’t possibly be that. There must be a right wing conspiracy involved.
have your say