I attended Chairperson meeting of European Affairs Committees in Tallinn, Estonia from Sunday 

The chairwomen and chairmen of the EU affairs committees of the EU’s parliaments come together to discuss current issues. The conference began on Sunday, opened by President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor (SDE) and Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center). The attending representatives got an overview of the priorities of Estonia’s first EU council presidency.

The main topics of the Plenary Meeting are the future of the EU, the role of national parliaments, the development of digital single market, the external dimension of migration, and the security issues.

Senator Terry Leyden addressed COSAC Meeting of European Union today in Malta on the topic"Outcome of the United Kingdom on Brexit Referendum -State of play. This meeting was addressed by Mr.Michel Barnier,Chief Negotiator for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom and Ms.Danuta Maria Hubner,Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Union.

Senator Leyden who is Vice Chairman of European Affairs Committee and Leader of Irish Delegation from Dail and Seanad to COSAC Conference in Malta from Sunday 28th.May to Tuesday 30th.May 2017.

In the course of his address Senator Leyden welcomed recent visit of Mr.Barnier to Joint Session of Dail and Seanad on 11th.May 2017 and is knowledge of the position of Ireland regarding 500 KM.border with UK and Good Friday Agreement.I also welcome views of Ms.Hubner and her awareness of the need for a see seemless border between Ireland and U.K.

Senator Leyden stated that the people of U.K.were  misled by fake news on 23rd.June 2016 when they voted for Brexit to leave the European Union now the final negotiated Agreement should also go before the United Kingdom in a Referendum to either approve or remain in European Union.

In conclusion Senator Leyden said we in Ireland and the European Affairs Joint Committee on European Affairs will closely monitor the negotiations lead by Mr.Michel Barnier on behalf of the
European Union.

End.

Issued from Malta by Senator Terry Leyden.

Wednesday, 23 November 2016: Senator Terry Leyden has called on the Leader of Seanad Eireann to arrange a debate on consumer rights after being changed €5.50 for a call to 11811 recently & appealed to RTE to refrain from promoting shopping north of the border

Senator Leyden believes other people are also victims of this company and feels the charges are excessive.
" I bring to the Leader's attention that people ring 11811 for directory enquiries. The charge is €2.74 for that call, but Pure Telecom, an Irish company with two directors whom I will not name and which was ripping me off, is charging €5.50 for that privilege. That is a rip-off. That is a 100% increase. I am saying to consumers, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."

Senator Leyden went on to issue a warning to people who receive "cold Calls" from this company & others offering switching deals
"I am saying to consumers to be wary of such cold calls coming in and making the subscriber an offer to change electricity provider, telephone provide or buy this or that."

Senator Leyden finished his sppech in the Seanad by appealing to RTE to refrain from promoting shopping north of the border
"I also appeal to RTE broadcasters to refrain from promoting shopping north of the Border. They should remember who is paying the licence fee. We south of the Border pay €160 per year for that honour. These great offers north of the Border are a myth in most cases but those going up there think otherwise. They should also check their insurance cover that they are insured to drive north of the Border because, whether we like it or not, they are leaving the State. I do not like it but they are technically, from an insurance point of view, leaving it."


These are the kinds of issues I will bring to the attention of consumers. The Consumer Association of Ireland and the National Consumer Agency should wake up. They are not doing the job they were set up to do. We have to do their job now in this House. I will continue to do so, now that Fine Gael has decided to drop the rip-off Ireland campaign.

Link to speech in Seanad éireann 

Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden also criticised RTÉ this afternoon, describing the plan to outsource children's programmes as a "retrograde step".

He said "children's programmes are very important", saying "they are highly regarded and the quality has been renowned".

"We go back to Wanderly Wagon, Bosco, The Den, Zig and Zag. Bosco actually created jobs in Roscommon where it was made.
"You can influence a nation through its children so if you take that influence away and outsource it to Britain or the USA to save money it is a poor reflection."
Mr Leyden was also critical of the Oireachtas Report programme for not covering all of the Oireachtas equally, saying it had ignored the Seanad. In a statement tonight, RTÉ said it remains "committed to providing coverage of the Oireachtas as a key element of our public service remit.
"As part of ongoing reviews of our services, we are currently looking at the best ways of providing television and online coverage of the important work of the Oireachtas to the widest possible audience, particularly in the context of changing patterns of media consumption in Ireland

http://bit.ly/2fZ2P3V

Senator Terry Leyden has urged people to consider applying for a British passport once the UK leaves the EU. He said people should "not be ashamed" to apply if it meant easier access to the UK.

A person born in the Republic before January 1949, with a parent born in Ireland before March 1922, was entitled to a British passport.

Apply Online: passportapplication.service.gov.uk/ips-olc/

Legislation
The United Kingdom's Ireland Act 1949 came into force on 18 April 1949 and recognised the end of the Irish state's status as a British dominion, which had been effected under the Irish Republic of Ireland Act 1948 brought into force in 1949.
​
Section 5 of the 1949 Act conferred Citizenship of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) on any Irish-born person meeting all the following criteria:[8]

• was born before 6 December 1922 in what became the Republic of Ireland;
• was domiciled outside the Republic of Ireland on 6 December 1922;
• was ordinarily resident outside the Republic of Ireland from 1935 to 1948; and
• was not registered as an Irish citizen under Irish legislation.

If a person was born in the Republic before January 1949, with a parent born in Ireland before March 1922, there are entitled to a British passport.

Senator Terry Leyden, Vice Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and Head of Delegation to COSAC Meeting 13th - 15th.November 2016, Bratislava,Slovakia  addressed COSAC Conference after Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Mr. Robert Fico spoke on topic "State of Play of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union"

Senator Leyden informed the conference of the concerns in Ireland arising from decision of UK on 23rd.June 2016 to leave the European Union. "We in Ireland share a 499KM border with United Kingdom and we have €1.2 Billion Trade every week. No other European Union Country is so affected and we seek an open Border between Ireland & UK". He invited Delegates to visit Ireland next year to view reality of Brexit and the open Border on movement of people,goods and services.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY SENATOR TERRY LEYDEN FROM CONFERENCE CENTRE IN BRATISLAVA CASTLE,SLOVAKIA.


Photo Stream from the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143153559@N08/sets/72157674834746902

What is COSAC?
COSAC (fr. Conférence des organs spécialisés en affaires communautaires) unifies European Affairs Committees of national parliaments of EU Member States, as well as Members of the European Parliament.

Plenary COSAC meetings are held twice a year and each national Parliament is represented. Each plenary meeting is prepared at a preceding separate meeting of the EU Affairs Committee Chairpersons (usually at the beginning of the Presidential semester).

I posed the following question to President of France, Francois Hollande as he addressed Council of Europe today, 11 October 2016
"On my own behalf and Irish Delegation Failte,Welcome President Hollande. We in Ireland are deeply concerned of the economic impact of Brexit on Ireland, having a 499 KM Border with United Kingdom and €1 billion euro trade in goods and services every week.
We are the only Country in Europe with a border within Ireland with UK. Would you Mr.President support Ireland having representative at negotiations between European Union and U.K to protect our vital economic interests.

http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/Records/2016/E/1610111000E.htm

      Mr LEYDEN (Ireland, Spokesperson for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) – On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Irish delegation and my ALDE colleagues, I say fáilte – welcome – to President Hollande. We in Ireland are deeply concerned about the economic impact of Brexit, as we have a 499 km border with the United Kingdom, and €1 billion in trade in goods and services every week, and are the only country in Europe with a border, within Ireland, with the United Kingdom. Mr President, would you support Ireland having a representative at the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom to protect our economic interests in this regard?

      Mr HOLLANDE* – Brexit was a decision made by the British people and now, of course, that has to be fully respected and implemented. I had hoped that the negotiations would start quickly, but Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, prefers to put them off and open the negotiations in March, and we respect that. There can be no negotiations between now and then. As of March, the European Commission together with the European Council will be able to engage in negotiations that determine the conditions under which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. Obviously, certain issues directly affect Ireland and that will have to be taken into consideration by European Commission negotiators, in close consultation with the Irish authorities. Having been to Ireland – I visited Dublin recently – I have made it clear what the situation is and what rules will need to be applied. At present, the United Kingdom is an integral part of the European Union, but when the negotiations start, what you said will have to be taken into consideration.