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LAST UPDATE | 17 Sep 2024
FORMER FINANCE MINISTER Michael McGrath has been announced as the new EU Commissioner for Justice.
“I have entrusted him with the responsibility to take forward the European democracy,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“He will also lead our work on the rule of law, anti corruption and consumer protection.”
She announced the new roles today after the decision was delayed due to formal processes that had yet to be done in Slovenia.
“The key message is that, wherever we come from, whatever our job title, we must all work together. We will have open debates. We are all independent in thought and action,” von der Leyen said.
While senior government sources have said they are happy with McGrath getting the justice portfolio, it is believed the government was eager for the former minister to be placed in finance-related portfolio such as economy, trade and competition.
However, von der Leyen said that about 20 countries had asked for strong economic portfolios.
Speaking today from the National Ploughing Championship in Co Laois, Taoiseach Simon Harris congratulated McGrath on his new role and said he spoke to both McGrath and von der Leyen last night.
Harris said the justice portfolio is a “substantial European role by any yardstick” and described it as a “vote of confidence” in McGrath from von der Leyen.
“He hasn’t just received a justice portfolio, he’s also received responsibility around democracy and the rule of law,” said Harris.
The Taoiseach added that the justice portfolio is also “very much welcome” given that it has expanded to include responsibility for consumer protection.
“He’s a very able and competent individual, and I’m proud that he is now our Commissioner designate,” said Harris.
In today’s reshuffle, Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis got the role of Economy and Productivity Commissioner. This is alongside a new portfolio of Implementation and Simplification.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Maria Luís Albuquerque will take on the Financial Services portfolio.
Von der Leyen was encouraging member countries to put forward more women to make up the bloc’s executive arm, but most – including Ireland – ignored her request for a choice between one man and one woman candidate.
Across generations.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) September 17, 2024
From all backgrounds.
With different experiences.
But all with one common goal: to make Europe stronger.
The structure of von der Leyen II Commission. pic.twitter.com/wBgIwIXc84
In a statement, McGrath said he was honoured to have been proposed for the role and called it a “vitally important one for Europe”.
“I look forward to engaging with the European Parliament ahead of the hearings for the new Commission in the weeks ahead.
“The portfolio is a vitally important one for Europe: protecting our democratic values, rule of law and the rights of our citizens is fundamental to the future development of the EU and of the single market.
“It is the first time that Ireland will hold this portfolio and is a recognition of our standing as a country with a strong democratic and open society,” he said.
“In addition to the core Justice elements of my portfolio, I am very pleased to be given responsibility for the protection of consumer rights across the EU.
“I welcome this opportunity to apply my skills to new areas of responsibility and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Government and by President von der Leyen.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin also congratulated McGrath on his appointment, saying he has no doubt he will serve “with great energy and diligence in this significant role”, which involved protecting the rights of consumers, the rule of law and tackling corruption.
There is still a long road ahead before the new commissioners can begin their work on new laws and enforcing regulation. The nominated politicians will have to survive two votes of confidence and a grilling by MEPs before they can get to work.
France’s Thierry Breton yesterday announced that he is quitting the European Commission, claiming EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had asked Paris to withdraw his candidacy for the incoming executive.
Today, France’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Séjourné was given the portfolio of Prosperity and Industrial Strategy as an Executive Vice-President of the Commission.
French President Emmanuel Macron had put forward Breton’s name, and his reappointment to a major role had been taken as a given.
“In the very final stretch of negotiations on the composition of the future College, you asked France to withdraw my name,” the internal market commissioner wrote in a letter to von der Leyen, posted on X.
“I am therefore resigning from my position as European Commissioner, effective immediately.”
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues in the College, Commission services, MEPs, Member States, and my team.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) September 16, 2024
Together, we have worked tirelessly to advance an ambitious EU agenda.
It has been an honour & privilege to serve the common European interest🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/wQ4eeHUnYu
“Over the past five years, I have relentlessly striven to uphold and advance the common European good, above national and party interest. It has been an honour,” he said.
“However, in light of these latest developments – further testimony to questionable governance – I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College.”
The 69-year-old was seen by Paris as a key counterweight to Berlin’s influence at the heart of the EU.
Asked about Breton’s resignation today, Taoiseach Simon Harris described him as a “friend to Ireland and a friend to many during the Covid vaccine rollout”.
However, he added that “internal matters in relation to who France nominates to the Commission is a matter for them”.
With reporting from AFP.
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It’s sad when your GP asks you to make your own way to the Emergency Dept when you are seriously ill, as you would be too long waiting for an ambulance.
Recently I had to do that and when I was admitted to the ED there were at least four ambulance crews waiting to get their patients admitted and therefore could not go out on other calls. The system is buckled, not working and needs sorting out!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: If you were able to get to the GP, why weren’t you able to get to the hospital? You obviously weren’t suffering from a stroke / heart attack / cardiac arrest / multiple traumatic injuries that the ambulance service is usually busy taking care of.
@stephen deegan: Actually I was suffering from an advanced state of one of the above!
My GP asked my partner to drive me to the hospital as the ambulance would take too long, which she did!! We were there in 15 mins….. The Ambulance would have been a lot longer!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: So is there any difference in whether you went by ambulance or drove the 15 minutes to the hospital? You obviously were admitted before those people waiting in the ambulances outside. My point is that most people think that you will be seen faster if you go by ambulance, which is a myth. All patients are triaged the same way as if you walked in to the ED, with the exception of life-threatening emergencies like those I mentioned in my previous comment.Those people waiting in those ambulances which were being held up might have been able to make their own way to the ED, therefore releasing a vehicle for true emergencies. Our system is being abused because of this ‘seen sooner’ myth and that’s why ambulances are delayed on getting to the incidents that they’re supposed to.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: I hope you’re recovered from your incident and are feeling better by the way.
@stephen deegan: I had a letter from my GP, which expedited mu triage, as I was a life threatening emergency. I was immediately admitted to the High Dependency Unit and ended up being hospitalised for a number of weeks. I am recovering at the moment, it’s a long process Stephen and I’m just glad to have come through it alive. Actually it was quite a frightening experience.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Get well soon.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: It’s also a joke when a GP tells patients to go home, pack and bag, and call an Emergency Ambulance . Happens daily and much worse.
@stephen deegan: Will do Stephen, thank you for your wishes!!!
@Michael Cummins: I didn’t even get the opportunity to do that Michael. We were told to go immediately. Which we did!!
@Michael Cummins: Agreed. Some GPs and out of hours services are well able to abuse the system.
If they followed the UK system and sold off old fleet to private companies or volunteer groups or public at auction instead of destroying them in scrap yard they could recoupe some monies back . Shocking to see the graveyard of fleet in offaly
Just fire more money at it. It’s the health service, the management will know how to spend it in a efficient way, using best practice and get value for money.
Ah sure we can just increase the health budget even more……what would those inept turkeys running it like 30 billion maybe. Heres an idea why dont they they use the money from the sugar tax to help sort out the issues with the NAS. Oh wait silly me sure they have no clue where that money is in the health service black hole. And these are the same HSE with the nerve to ask for more taxes to be put on certain foods when the only unhealthy thing that needs checking round here is where the current 24 billion budget is being spent and how much of it is going on the wages of management and admin
My 78 year old mother fell and fractured her hip in 3 places, she also has dementia. She lives about 2 miles from the ambulance hub and 1 mile from the CUH (Cork’s main hospital) It took 4.5 hours for an ambulance to arrive. Obviously we would have brought her ourselves, but we didn’t want to move her just in case and she was also in awful pain. The service she got when they did arrive was outstanding and very caring but to wait that long given the circumstances was an absolute disgrace. The paramedic crews are amazing, but horribly understaffed. Thankfully my mother has made a full recovery from the fall.
A service life of five years Is that correct, then who gets it?
@Dan Murphy: Read the earlier comments and you’ll know!!
@Dan Murphy: they give them to the travellers of course
If the figures are correct, that equates to just 1.62 calls per day, per Ambulance… hardly heavy going…..
Spend some of the apple money we got, problem solved!
@AphroBeat:
Stop the waste would be more like it.
This going one way by design. Privatisation. We can look forward to a much reduced service in the future if that’s the case. Dfb is a really brilliant service as is NAS. I really hope I am wrong about the privatisation..
Was any benchmarking done against private ambulance’s level of service and efficiency?
@Pat Redmond: Two different services, Pat. Private ambulance services are staffed mostly by EMTs (6-8 weeks clinical training) and are used for low-acuity hospital to hospital transfers. NAS has a transfer service, (which is also available for emergencies) AND the primary emergency service which is crewed by paramedics (3 year degree) and advanced paramedics (3 year degree and 2 year masters). Benchmarking for education standards between public and private would be impossible.
That is incredible, Ollie, Left to rot, what sort of dopes would do that. They could easily get ten tears from them, and then give them to Poor countries, That’s disgraceful.
OUTSOURCE IT.
Sell bicycle shed.
It’s pretty clear that the current government-controlled ambulance system is not fit for purpose and the waiting times keep climbing every year. Along with the HSE as a whole, we need to privatise the ambulance system and introduce an Uber-style app system where hospitals complete with one another for the business of consumers who need to order an ambulance. This would also enable to view the routine of the ambulance in real time and judge which one they wish to book based on their current location. People would then be able to book and pay for whichever one meets their budget. If you want a basic ambulance like Uber Economy, you can book from the selection available and if you have more money, you should be able to book a more luxurious and premium one like Uber Comfort.
have your say