Expense Allowance Abuse by MEPs (Alleged)

Hans-Peter Martin and RTL in the fight against alleged abuse of expense allowances:
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in Brussels earns approx. 14,700 euros per month (~£11,587), according to this RTL Report (in German with English subtitles). How much the MEPs have to work (or don't work) for their €14,700 is the subject of this on-site RTL investigation in Brussels. The video is about MEPs who sign in on attendance lists and then allegedly disappear immediately for their weekend.

Independent Irish MEP Kathy Sinnott appears in this video. She explains clearly that she has already been working seven hours up to seven o'clock. The Munster MEP warns him "Be very careful about using this and what you report about me". In actual fact Kathy Sinnott is not abusing the scheme. She explained clearly on RTE radio-in an interview with Myles Dungan- this morning that she can actually verify her claims to have worked up to seven o'clock.

Ireland: Provisional Licence Law Change -Noel Brett, CEO of the Road Safety Authority discusses implications

Embedded from RTE.IE

Click on player to listen to the full interview.
The law requiring learner drivers on a second provisional licence to be accompanied by a fully qualified driver comes into effect from midnight tonight.
The change in the driving licence system, announced by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey last year, affects up to 92,000 people.
Holders of all other provisional licences are already required to be accompanied.
Drivers may only get a third or later provisional licence if they can show that they have taken a driving test within the previous two years....(RTE )

According to Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio News At One programme Assistant Garda Commissioner Eddie Rock has stated that the guards " Will be applying the law in an appropriate and proportional manner".

Ireland- Marian Finucane and the differences between Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism

Listening to Marian Finucane on RTE radio this morning I was amazed to hear her state that there was very little difference between Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism. She was speaking in the context of Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism.

Whilst both religions have much in common there are some major doctrinal differences:

• In relation to the Eucharist most Anglicans believe in the doctrine of consubstantiation. Roman Catholics believe in Transubstantiation. Concerning belief in the Eucharist the Roman Catholic position is " that the substance of the bread and the substance of the wine are changed into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ [at the consecration]. It is not simply a symbolic change, but a real and actual change so that the Blessed Eucharist is truly an object of divine worship and that it is Christ Himself we receive in Holy Communion." This contrasts strongly with "what is commonly known as the 'black rubric' of the Book of Common Prayer which reads '... the sacramental bread and wine remain still in their natural substances and therefore may not be adored." [See catholicenquiry.com] However even within Anglicanism there are differences on the Eucharist.
  
• The Roman Catholic Church does not accept the validity of Anglican ordinations.
  
• Anglicans dispute Papal Authority.
  
• Both Churches differ on the Virgin Mary.
  
• The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments.
  
  

RTE Radio News Headlines-ommission of Olwyn Enright's contribution to Saturdayview

Today Saturdayview featured Olwyn Enright (FG), Jan O Sullivan (Lab) and Martin Cullen (FF). There was a very passionate discussion -expertly stewarded by Rodney Rice-on the breast cancer debacle at Portlaoise hospital and on the HSE in general. The role of Mary Harney featured also.

I was impressed with the contribution of both Olwyn Enright and Jan O Sullivan . They clearly articulated women's fears. As women they understand the terror of breast cancer. Martin Cullen spoke about restructuring the HSE. The contribution of Olwyn Enright was in my view her finest ever on either radio or tv.

Interestingly the news headlines -which followed the show -gave sizeable coverage of Martin Cullen's comments. There was a brief reference to Jan O Sullivan's contribution. No reference was made to views expressed by Olwyn Enright who represented FG the second largest party in the Republic of Ireland. Why?