Archive - May 2019

9412: NEW EU RULES FOR DRONE OPERATORS FROM 2020

The European Commission is to tighten the rules on the use of drones.

From next year, drone operators across the EU will have to register with national authorities.

Drones will not be allowed fly higher than 120 metres or fly near people, and EU countries will be able to define so-called "no-fly zones" such as airports or city centres, where drones will not be allowed to fly.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Ireland says the measures are necessary to prevent disruption at busy airports.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 18 seconds | Outwords: at all times

9413: NEW CIGARETTE TRACEABILITY MEASURES LAUNCHED

New measures aimed at reducing the sale of illegal tobacco have come into effect across the EU.

From now on, all cigarette packs produced in, or destined for, the EU market, will have to carry a traceability marking or "unique identifer." 

This means all product movements will be recorded from the producer to the retail consumer.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Ireland says the new measures will clamp down on revenue loss and ensure quality cigarettes are sold.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: than normal cigarettes

9411: NEW €100 AND €200 NOTES COME INTO CIRCULATION

New €100 and €200 bank notes come in to circulation from today, Tuesday.

The notes contain new in-built holograms which will make them more difficult to counterfeit.

The new notes are also the same dimensions as €50 paper.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission says they should also fit in to wallets and purses easier.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 18 seconds | Outwords: your wallet easier

9410: HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY PRICES REMAIN EXPENSIVE IN IRELAND

Ireland recorded the fifth highest increase in household electricity costs in Europe during 2018, according to new figures from Eurostat.

Cost increases were highest in Cyprus, where they rose by 19.6 per cent last year. Household electricity remains cheapest in former Soviet bloc countries that are now members of the EU.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Ireland says that household electricity costs in Ireland are the fourth highest among the 28 EU Member States.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 14 seconds | Outwords: Lithuania and Bulgaria

9408: TEN IRISH LOCAL AUTHORITIES WIN FREE EU WI-FI GRANTS

Ten local authorities around Ireland are to roll out Wifi4EU hot spots in the coming months.

In total 22 WIFI hotspots will be funded in Galway, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Westmeath and Wicklow.

Under the scheme, the successful local authorities will receive EU Commission grants worth €15,000 each to install wi-fi transmitters in public urban areas.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Ireland says once installed, members of the public in these areas will be able to access high quality free wi-fi.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 20 seconds | Outwords: free quality wi-fi

9409: IRELAND RECORDED HIGHEST INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLD GAS PRICES IN 2018

Ireland had the highest increase in household gas prices in the entire European Union during 2018.

New figures from Eurostat show that prices here increased by 17. 3 per cent last year.

In Croatia, household gas costs fell by 2.5 per cent while in Germany, the cost decreased by 0.2 per cent.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission Office in Ireland says when the average cost per unit is taken into account, Ireland is the 8th most expensive country in the European Union to purchase household gas.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 15 seconds | Outwords: is the cheapest

8409: MOST YOUNG IRISH PEOPLE LEAVE HOME AT 26 YEARS OF AGE

The average age at which an Irish person now leaves home to live independently is 26 according to figures from Eurostat.

The figure is slightly above the EU average of 25.6 years of age.

Sweden records the youngest average age at which people leave their parents' home - 18.5 years old.

Grace Bolton from the European Commission office in Ireland says young Nordic people lead the way when it comes to independent living.

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

8408: CAP PUT ON PHONE AND TEXT COSTS ACROSS THE EU FROM TODAY

There's good news for people who make regular phone calls to other EU countries.

From today (Wednesday), consumers calling from their country to another EU Member State will pay a maximum of 19 cent per minute plus VAT.

The cost of sending text messages will be frozen at six cent each plus VAT.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Dublin says the move is aimed at reducing telecommunications costs within the European Union. 

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 21 seconds | Outwords: incurring excessive charges

8410: BREAKING NEWS EUROPEAN COMMISSION INVESTIGATES COMPETITION WITHIN IRISH CAR INSURANCE MARKET

The European Commission is investigating potential irregularities in the Irish car insurance market.

It is examining whether Insurance Ireland is preventing continental insurance providers from accessing the database of information used by Irish-based insurance companies.

Grace Bolton of the EU Commission office in Ireland says if continental companies are facing unfair barriers, these need to be remedied so that Irish motorists can chose between a wider range of insurance providers, most likely at more competitive prices.

Interviewee: Grace Bolton | Clip duration: 0 minutes 19 seconds | Outwords: based, insurance providers

8407: ONE IN EVERY SIX EU JOURNEYS MADE IN 2017 WERE BY AEROPLANE

New figures show that one in every six trips made by EU residents in 2017 was by aeroplane.

The figures from Eurostat reveal that 218 million journeys were in the air that year.

82 per cent of the journeys were for non-business reasons while the remaining 18% of air trips were for business purposes.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Ireland says de-regulation of the aviation industry is bringing great benefits for EU citizens.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: three nights abroad

8405: IRISH EU CONSUMER RIGHTS REMAIN UNCHANGED UNTIL BREXIT OCCURS

The European Consumer Centre is reminding people in Ireland that their rights remain unchanged if they purchase items online from the UK until Brexit formally occurs.

These rights include refunds, replacements or redress in the event of deceptive or faulty online purchases.

The comments come as today May 9th marks Europe Day, the date on which France and Germany commenced what evolved in to the European Union.

Martina Nee of ECC Ireland says as long as the UK remains in the EU, existing consumer rights will not be adversely affected.

Interviewee: Martina Nee | Clip duration: 0 minutes 17 seconds | Outwords: and cancellation policies

8406: IRISH ELECTRIC CAR OWNERSHIP AMONGST THE LOWEST IN THE EU

Ireland continues to have one of the lowest rates of electric car ownership in the EU.

New figures from Eurostat show that electric and hybrid car usage here is fourth from bottom out of 28 EU States.

Sweden tops the league table at 2.4 cars per 100 while Irish ownership is just under 0.2 per cent.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Ireland says we have a long way to go to catch up with our European counterparts.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: coming up the tracks

8404: IRISH EMPLOYMENT RATE AHEAD OF EU TARGET

The rate of employment for Irish people, aged 20 to 64, rose above 74 per cent in 2018.

The Eurostat figure puts Ireland well ahead of our 2020 target of 69 per cent. 

80.3 per cent of Irish men and 68.1 per cent of Irish women were at work in 2018 while the EU average was 73.2 per cent last year.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Dublin says the Irish economy is continuing to grow at an impressive rate.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 16 seconds | Outwords: are going well

8402: IRISH 18-YEAR-OLDS OFFERED CHANCE TO WIN FREE RAIL TICKETS

The European Commission is offering Irish 18-year-olds the chance to win free DiscoverEU rail tickets to travel around Europe as individuals or as a group.

The tickets can be applied for online through the European Youth Portal from today until May 16 and applicants will have to answer six quiz questions. Winners will be drawn at random and must use the tickets between August 1st next and January 31st 2020.

Tim Hayes of the EU Commission office in Dublin says this is a wonderful opportunity to travel around Europe but says only the rail ticket is free.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 20 seconds | Outwords: and 31 days

8403: WIDESPREAD IRISH APPROVAL FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

83 per cent of Irish people would vote to remain in the European Union if a referendum took place tomorrow.

That's one of the main findings of a recent European Parliament poll.

EU membership is most popular in the Netherlands where 86 per cent of people would vote to remain in the EU and least popular in the UK where 45 per cent would do so.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission office in Dublin says Irish people are more than content with the benefits of EU membership.

Interviewee: Tim Hayes | Clip duration: 0 minutes 17 seconds | Outwords: leave the EU