9412: NEW EU RULES FOR DRONE OPERATORS FROM 2020
Thursday 30 May 2019
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
Wednesday 29 May 2019
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
Tuesday 28 May 2019
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
Friday 24 May 2019
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
Thursday 23 May 2019
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
Wednesday 22 May 2019
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
Thursday 16 May 2019
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
Wednesday 15 May 2019
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
Tuesday 14 May 2019
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
Friday 10 May 2019
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
Thursday 09 May 2019
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
Wednesday 08 May 2019
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
Friday 03 May 2019
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
Thursday 02 May 2019
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
Wednesday 01 May 2019
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