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European Globalisation Fund

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Questions (129)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

140 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the EU’s Globalisation Fund; his views on whether an expanded fund will be part of the EU’s 2014 to 2020 budget round; his position on the fund; if the proposed expanded fund will include provisions for citizens who may lose their job in the self-employed and agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33290/12]

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Written answers

The current European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) Regulation expires on 31 December 2013. On 6 October 2011, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a new Regulation for the period 2014-2020 to the European Council and European Parliament.

Substantive discussions on the Commission proposal commenced in the European Council Working Party on Social Questions in early 2012 under the Danish Presidency of the EU and are currently ongoing. Ireland is taking a full and active part in these discussions. A progress report on this dossier was presented to the EPSCO Council of Ministers on 21 June 2012. The current Cypriot Presidency of the EU is seeking to progress the dossier to finalisation if possible. If not, the dossier will fall to be progressed during the Irish Presidency in 2013.

Ireland continues to be a strong supporter of the EGF given the important contribution it makes to co-financing approved active labour market programmes in support of eligible redundant workers in this country.

It is not possible at this time, and given that discussions on the dossier are ongoing, to surmise whether, or in what form, the Fund will continue in 2014. However, Ireland is negotiating in Council on the basis that the Fund should and will continue.

The proposal to include both the self-employed and farmers in the scope of the new Regulation is a significant broadening of the existing position. Ireland is not opposed in principle to these elements of the proposal and together with their colleagues in the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, my officials will be seeking the most positive national outcome in the continuing discussions.

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