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Fines for people The European
who leave their county UK Pushing Through New Parliament has voted in IRISH
for non-essential rea- favour of approving
sons are being consid- Mairead McGuinness’
ered by the Government, Withdrawal Bill Would Be appointment as EU EXAMINER
according to the Commissioner for
Taoiseach. Financial Services. |
Micheál Martin said a ‘Monumental Failure’ MEPs voted by 583 in
group of high level offi- favor and 75 against her October
cials have met and that appointment in a secret
the issue is under con- ballot.
sideration: “The over- Ms McGuinness faced 7th,
sight group met this questions from MEPs last 2020
morning, we’re looking week over her suitability
at the whole area of for the role, after being
fines for example in nominated by the Irish
terms of traffic and so Government following the
on like that.” resignation of former
It comes amid reports Commissioner Phil Hogan
that Tánaiste Leo in the wake of the
Varadkar proposed a “Golfgate” scandal.
system of graduated The Economic and
fines - which could Monetary Affairs
include €50 penalties Committee in the EU had
for not wearing face three hours to ask ques-
masks and €200 penal- ttempts by the British that agreement. Coveney added. tions of Ms McGuinness in
ties for leaving your Government to push “When we signed off on a “The gap between what the an attempt to assess her
county - to his party on Athrough plans to over- Withdrawal Agreement and in UK Government is promising suitability for the financial
on fishing and what the EU
parallel with that a political
ride parts of the Brexit
Tuesday night according divorce deal would be a declaration, the ambition from mandate is in terms of negotia- services portfolio before
to the Irish Times. “monumental failure of poli- both sides was to have a very tion is really, really wide. I voting on the matter took
Sources present at the tics and diplomacy.” comprehensive partnership don’t believe the EU will final- place.
Fine Gael parliamentary Foreign Affairs Minister agreement that involved multi- ize a future agreement on trade Fine Gael MEP Deirdre
party meeting said Mr Simon Coveney said that if the ple things, including trade on a without an agreement on fish- Clune said she will make a
Varadkar told TDs and UK allowed the issue to end up level playing field,” Mr ing. These are two very real good appointment: “What
came out to me when lis-
Senators that the previ- in court it would be a “folly”. Coveney said. problems.” tening to the hearing was
ous system of €2,500 The EU and the UK have “It’s quite clear that in many He told the committee that the fact that she is a mem-
fines for those who clashed over the British of those areas we are not get- while he believes the outstand- ber of parliament, she is
break Covid-19 regula- Government’s Internal Market ting a permanent and compre- ing issues can be resolved, a directly elected by the peo-
tions was seen as dra- Bill, which led Brussels to hensive agreement on a future new reality will take effect ple in the North West
conian, and that a sys- threaten legal action if it does relationship. from the end of the transition Midlands, so she has a
tem of graduated fines not ditch the plan to break “The focus is on getting a period. real sense of what people
should be considered parts of the international agree- core agreement on trade and New Brexit legislation is also on the ground want and
instead. ment. what is required to do that, and due to come before the expect from the European
However, a Mr Coveney, who appeared then put in place contingency Oireachtas in the coming Institutions and I think
Government spokesper- before the European Union plans in a number of other weeks. that’s very important.”
Affairs Committee, said he
The Withdrawal of the
areas that may not be perma-
son said the Government does not believe it will reach nent but will give us certainty United Kingdom from the In her opening state-
has no immediate plan that point. in the medium term. European Union ment before the committee
for a new system of fines “I think the British “If, at the end of a transition, (Consequential Provisions) Bill last week, Ms McGuinness
for breaching public Government would see the we don’t have a trade deal then 2020, which was published last outlined her vision for the
health guidelines though folly of that approach but hav- we have significant conse- month, consists of 21 parts role should she be con-
“all options are under ing said that we have difficult quences because the default under the remit of 11 ministers. firmed as Commissioner.
review.” issues to overcome,” he told arrangement will be that the Mr Coveney told the com- “A new digital finance
The spokesperson the Oireachtas committee. EU and the UK will have to mittee that the number of strategy that stimulates
added that fines are He said there is “no justifica- trade on the basis of WTO Government ministers innovation while being
already in place for tion” for the Bill and said it is a (World Trade Organization) involved in the legislation alert to the risks. A fair
breaches of public health negotiating tactic that has back- rules and conditions which shows the “stark” effect Brexit financial system with zero
regulations such as fired on the British may involve tariffs and quo- will have on Ireland. tolerance for money laun-
organizing a public gath- Government. tas.” He said some areas are tech- dering,” she said.
ering: “The law already Mr Coveney said it is clear He also warned that the sec- nical and legal, while other “A strong financial sec-
provides for fines of from the ongoing negotiations ond barrier is around fishing. parts of the legislation provide tor that supports Europe’s
He said that a fisheries
€2,500 for breach of between Brussels and the UK agreement was to be in place reassurance to communities. place in an ever uncertain
Mr Coveney added that the
that the best-case scenario is
some laws like organizing getting a very basic trade deal by mid-summer, however that legislation also requires co- world. And above all else,
a gathering or not wear- that avoids tariffs and quotas. has not happened. operation from the British a financial system that
ing a mask on public He said there are two major “The position on fishing has Government in areas including underpins a more inclusive
transport.” C obstacles to overcome to get hardened on both sides,” Mr healthcare provision. C society.” C

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