February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Stephen McKinley
Ireland’s contributions to the European Union’s central fund will increase this year by 16 million euros.
But every other European Union member will get a cut in their contributions after the European Commission decided to return most of an exceptional E11.6 billion surplus from last year’s EU budget.
Each Union member has its economy measured against certain criteria, and then slotted into a "creditor" or "debtor" column. Poorer countries receive money from the pot to bring them up to the same level as other, richer countries, which pay into the pot every year. Ireland has only recently become a net contributor to the EU central fund.
Michaele Schreyer, the EU budget commissioner, said the E11.6 billion surplus reflected around E3 billion in extra revenues and about E8.5 billion in unspent programs.
On Wednesday, the UK, always a contributor nation, won a £2.73 billion reduction in its contributions to this year’s European Union budget.
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The issue is prominent in the June 7 referendum in Ireland on the Treaty of Nice. The treaty, providing for, among other things, an increase in member states, would dilute the amount of money available and increase payments by the richer countries, because almost all the new members would be less-developed Eastern European states.
The Irish government is urging voters to vote yes, in return for the generosity shown to Ireland since it joined in 1972.
Aer Lingus flap
Michael Foley’s temporary injunction against Aer Lingus in the sexual harassment disciplinary case has been thrown out by the High Court in Dublin.
Justice Carroll ruled that Foley’s contract with the airline had not been breached by the internal investigation. Foley’s attorneys had argued that he would not obtain constitutional justice and fair procedures and that his career would be destroyed. Carroll’s judgment added that in the event of the High Court, following a full trial, upholding Foley’s claims, she considered the payment of damages to him to be an adequate remedy.
Unemployment rises
May statistics show a second monthly rise in the ranks of the unemployed. More than 2,100 signed on for benefits, bringing the total seeking unemployment assistance to 141,600. This increases the unemployment rate from 3.6 percent to 3.7 in May.
But the rise in April was attributed to layoffs in meat factories and in the tourist sector because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.
The Irish National Organization of the Unemployed said that the jobs lost were from a wide range of job sectors.
INOU general secretary Tony Monks said the increase is worrying.
"An increase of 2,100 in one month is very substantial," he said. "If these figures develop into a trend, it will further question the government’s prioritization of actively recruiting workers from overseas."
He pointed out that 901 of the 2,100 new people signing on the register were affected by the foot-and-mouth restrictions.
New terminal
Belfast City Airport unveiled its new $25 million terminal last Sunday.
The 100,000-square-foot terminal has larger arrivals and departures areas than previously.
It has 20 check-in desks, fast-track business facilities, executive lounges, business and conference facilities, bars, restaurants and retail outlets.
In addition, there is now room for 10 aircraft outside the terminal, as opposed to the previous eight.
The new terminal marks how important the airport has become in the last decade.
Almost 50 percent of domestic air traffic flies in and out of the City Airport.
"We are delighted by the way everything has worked out and I am confident the public will like what they see," said airport director John Doran.
The airport did not qualify for any public funding and all the costs were footed by Bombardier ‘rospace, the Canadian parent company of Shorts, which owns and runs the airport.
The airport handled 1.3 million passengers in 2000, while its rival, Belfast International Airport, at Aldergrove, handled 3.1 million passengers.
More airport news
After officially opening a new Great Southern Hotel at Cork airport, Minister Mary O’Rourke announced that almost $70 million would be invested in upgrading the airport’s facilities.
O’Rourke said that the existing terminal would be expanded, and a new multistory parking garage would be added. Cork Airport had 1.7 million passengers in 2000.
Down Eco festival
Some odd inventions will appear at next Saturday’s Green Living Fair at Castle Espie in County Down.
The fair has become a popular annual ecologically friendly showcase, where local inventors display their creations.
Energy-saving devices and recyclable goods will be on display.
"We really want to make this fun, happy, relaxed," said trust spokesperson James Orr.
"There will be no preaching at the Green Living Fair. There will be lots of practical demonstrations of how we can all move toward a better greener and cleaner lifestyle."
Visitors will be able to check out Patrick Bloomer’s bicycle-powered music station.
Dunnes win
Dunnes Stores has won a tax wrangle in Dublin’s High Court. A tax inspector appealed against a decision that said Dunnes was entitled to deduct £400,000 interest on a £6 million bank loan from profits liable to tax was dismissed.
The inspector brought the appeal against a ruling of the High Court in November 1999 on a case brought from the Circuit Court. A Circuit Court judge sought the opinion of the High Court on whether he was correct in holding that the Ringmahon Company was entitled to a deduction of £435,764.
The High Court found he was correct. Ringmahon, an unlimited company, was a wholly owned subsidiary of Ringmahon Holdings Ltd., the ordinary shares of which were held by members of the Dunne family.