Euro News

New law boosts rights of bus passengers PRIVATE and public bus operators across the EU will soon have to offer passengers compensation if a journey is delayed or if luggage gets lost or damaged, under a new rule approved by the European Parliament this week. MEPs in Strasbourg voted in favour of legislation due to take effect in 2013 ensuring similar rights for bus passengers as already exist for people who travel by air, rail and sea. Many of the new rules will not help Irish passengers as they only apply to long-distance journeys of over 250 kilometres, however, people with reduced mobility will benefit as their rights will be protected on bus trips, regardless of distance. The law will give disabled people the right of assistance at bus terminals and stops, including free transport of wheelchairs and other equipment, provided they make a request 36 hours before departure. While the law is being hailed as good news for the bus-travelling public, concern has been raised that it could add to pressure on private bus and coach operators. Speaking from Strasbourg, Northwest MEP Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher said while he welcomed any legislation to boost rights for passengers, especially those with a disability, there was a danger of overâ€â€regulating the industry. 'The increased costs involved, principally in insurance costs, could cause some operators to leave the market. In many cases there are no alternative public transport services available. I would have preferred a threshold of 300 kilometres instead of the current proposal of 250 km as this would have enabled Ireland to exempt all of the smaller bus operators serving remote rural areas, such as parts of Galway, Mayo, Clare and Donegal,' said the Fianna Fáil MEP. MEPs dismiss idea of common retirement age A PROPOSAL by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to introduce an EU-wide retirement age of 67 years has been rejected by the European Parliament. In a report supported by a majority of MEPs in Strasbourg this week, it was claimed that it would not be feasible to standardise retirement age, due to the different demographics of each member state. However the report, which focused on the problem of storing up pension  funds for Europe's ageing population, did not rule out the possibility of linking retirement age to life expectancy rates within each country. Speaking from Strasbourg, Northwest MEP Marian Harkin said it was clear that there was a 'massive gap' between the money currently being set aside across the EU for pension provision and the amount that will be required in fifty years' time. 'However we recognise that adequate and sustainable pension provision is primarily a matter for each member state, and there is no question of harmonisation of either pension plans or the age of retirement. Systems operating in each country differ widely from each other,' said the Independent MEP. Recent estimates by Aviva have shown that those retiring in Ireland between 2011 and 2051 need to save an annual average of €9,100 per person, in order to meet their expected income in retirement. Number's up for Higgins THE EUâ€â€WIDE emergency number â€â€ 112 â€â€ should be emblazoned on the side of garda cars, ambulances and fire engines, under a proposal put forward by Northwest MEP Jim Higgins this week. Speaking in Strasbourg on the occasion of EU 112 Day, the Fine Gael MEP noted Ireland's poor showing in the euro barometer results, which revealed that only 18 per cent of Irish people know that 112 is the European emergency number. 'It's alright calling 999 in Salthill or Sligo, but what would you dial in Ibiza, or Rome, or Malaga? In an emergency, people don't always think clearly, so the number should be out there in people's minds. Emergency vehicles are painted to stand out. Now let's paint the 112 number on them so it sticks in people's minds,' said Mr Higgins. 'We don't need expensive campaigns. Why not place in big digits ONE ONE TWO on the back of a fire engine? Can you imagine a taxi driver not putting his number on the roof, when he is in the business of call-outs?' In addition, Mr Higgins made the following suggestion: 'We could, as in other countries, introduce a new national number for when people need to contact the emergency services about something, but where it is not an immediate emergency,' he said. MEPs fight stigma of epilepsy NORTHWEST MEP Jim Higgins was one of several Irish MEPs who attended last week's launch of European Epilepsy Day in Strasbourg, aimed at  combating stigma, preserving dignity and reducing the treatment gap for people with epilepsy across the EU. 'We need to explode the myths surrounding a condition affecting 37,000 people in Ireland. The campaign focuses on generating more openness and knowledge about epilepsy, improving seizure first aid and addressing care issues for people with epilepsy,' he said. At present, Ireland has the worst ratio of consultant neurologists per head of population in the western world, at a dismal one per 259,000. Mr Higgins said the figures are a 'complete disgrace' and highlight Ireland's 'third world health system'. Brainwave â€â€ the Irish Epilepsy Association â€â€ has launched an awareness campaign entitled 'Crash', via its website www.epilepsy.ie, to inform people of how to act in the case of a seizure. Approximately 60-80 people die as a result of epilepsy in Ireland each year. About half of these deaths are due to SUDE (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Of these, 40 per cent could be prevented with better seizure control and access to services.