Archive - February 2019

7385: EU DISCOVERS LARGE NUMBER OF MISLEADING E-COMMERCE WEBSITES

Be careful while buying goods or services online.

That's the main conclusion of a European Commission survey which found that 60 per cent of 560 sites examined were misleading consumers.

It reveals that 'special offers' on purchases were not authentic on 31 per cent of the sites, while 211 websites charged higher prices than originally offered by the time the consumer navigated all pages.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Dublin says the majority of sites surveyed were misleading in some way.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 19 seconds | Outwords: of the trader

7382: IRISH DIVORCE RATE STILL THE LOWEST IN THE EU

Ireland continues to have the lowest divorce rate in the European Union.

New figures from Eurostat for 2017 show that only 0.7 per 1,000 persons here formally divorced.

Marriage here is still above the EU average with 4.8 per 1,000 inhabitants compared to the EU average of 4.3.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Dublin says the figures show that marriage remains a popular institution in Ireland. 

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 18 seconds | Outwords: per thousand people

7384: EU RELAXES STATE-AID RULES FOR FARMERS IN CRISIS

There's good news today for struggling Irish farmers.

The European Commission is increasing the amount of funds that governments can use to support farmers without seeking the Commission’s prior approval to grant state aid.

In times of crisis, national authorities can currently distribute €15,000 per farm over a three year period. This figure will rise to €20,000 and in certain cases €25,000 per farm over three years. 

Higher amounts of state aid can still be granted by Member States as long as the Commission agrees that action is proportionate to the crisis and does not create an uneven playing field that would distort the single market.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission says this initiative will greatly help EU Member States to rapidly support their farmers in times of unexpected crisis.  

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: times of crisis

7383: CAPE CLEAR AND ARAN ISLANDS SELECTED FOR EU ENERGY PLAN

Cape Clear off the coast of Cork and the Aran Islands have been selected by the European Commission for a new clean energy initiative.

The two islands will develop a plan to become self-reliant by harnessing wind, solar power and sea waves.

24 other European islands inhabited by over 2,000 residents have been selected for the programme which will eventually benefit from EU funding.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Ireland says the initiative will see Cape Clear and the Aran Islands dramatically reduce their energy costs.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 19 seconds | Outwords: implement the Plan

7381: ECC ISSUE WARNING ON BOOKING FLIGHTS THROUGH THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Consumers booking flights through third-party websites are being warned to watch out for extra costs and to be aware that the cheapest option isn’t always the best - particularly with connecting flights.

The European Consumer Centre in Ireland says it has received complaints in relation to prices suddenly increasing at payment stage.

It also says that some sites do not allow time for connecting flights and sometimes the connecting flight isn’t even in the same airport.

Martine Nee of ECC Ireland says consumers have rights under EU law but need to be more vigilant when booking flights.

Interviewee: Martina Nee | Clip duration: 0 minutes 20 seconds | Outwords: always the best

7380: IRELAND CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND ITS EU 2020 RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS

Ireland continues to underperform in achieving its renewable energy targets.

Eurostat figures show Ireland is 5.3 per cent off its target for 2020 while Sweden, on 54 per cent, has exceeded its quota by four points.

Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, hydroelectric and bio-fuel.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Dublin says Ireland still has some catching up to do.

 

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 17 seconds | Outwords: behnd that target

7379: EU CODE OF CONDUCT SEES SIGNIFICANT CLAMPDOWN ON HATE SPEECH

There's a been a huge improvement in the removal of hate speech on high profile digital platforms.

The latest evaluation of the EU Code of Conduct shows that I.T companies are now assessing 90% of flagged content within 24 hours.

Among the companies signed up to the Code are Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Youtube.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Dublin says popular social media outlets are working with the Commission to prevent online hate speech.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 20 seconds | Outwords: in May 2016

7378: EU BRINGS NEW MEASURES TO ENSURE GENUINE MEDICINES ARE BOUGHT ONLINE

There's good news this week for people who purchase prescription medicines within the EU.

The European Commission has brought in new rules to ensure that such purchases are genuine.

Grace Bolton is Head of Press with the European Commission in Dublin.

She says that bar code technology and new seals will ensure that the consumer gets exactly what is purchased.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 20 seconds | Outwords: the real deal

7376: IRISH WOMEN HAVE THIRD HIGHEST HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE EU

Irish women have the third highest 'healthy life' expectancy in the European Union according to new figures from Eurostat.

Irish women are in the fullness of health up to 69.8 years of age while Irish men are seventh on the EU table, maintaining good health up to 67.3 years.

Sweden comes out on top where men and women live a healthy life up until the ages of 73.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Ireland says Irish women and men are way ahead of the EU average figure.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 17 seconds | Outwords: of 64 years

7375: IRELAND IS AT BOTTOM OF EU ORGANIC FARMING LEAGUE TABLE

Ireland, at 1.7 per cent, has the second lowest rate of organic farming in the EU, according to new figures from Eurostat.

There are just under 2,000 organic farmers in Ireland and we are above only Malta and Iceland, who share bottom position in the EU league table.

Organic agriculture is a system of farming that aims to produce quality food in a manner beneficial to the environment and to wildlife.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Dublin says our low rate sees us lag behind countries like Romania and Bulgaria.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 15 seconds | Outwords: to organic farming

7377: NEW EU GROUP TO EXPLORE CYBER-BULLYING

Today is EU 'Safer Internet' Day.

To mark the occasion, the European Commission has announced the creation of a new Expert Group on Child Safety Online to help improve co-ordination and co-operation between EU Member States and propose actions to keep children safe when using the internet.

Grace Bolton of the European Commission office in Dublin says the new Group will focus on ways to protect children from access to harmful content and from online advertising directed at children.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 17 seconds | Outwords: knows no boundaries

7374: NEW EU-JAPAN DEAL GOOD NEWS FOR IRISH FARMING

A new international agreement which comes into effect today will make it easier and cheaper for Irish farmers and food producers to export to Japan.

The new EU-Japan Trade Deal will see the removal of charges on all exports of certain dairy products and beef.

Japan is Ireland's 4th biggest trading partner outside the EU with over 500 Irish companies exporting there.

Tim Hayes of the EU Commission says this development will be a major boost for Irish agriculture.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: for Irish farmers