Ireland

Ireland sets 10-per-cent target for electric vehicles by 2020

IrelandDublin - The Irish government announced Wednesday a target of 10 per cent of all vehicles to be electric by 2020.

Making the announcement on RTE state radio, Communications and Energy Minister Eamon Ryan of the Green Party said the ultimate target was "to switch our transport system off oil."

The plan was to have 40 per cent of vehicles electrically powered by 2030, he said.

Ireland is one of the most oil-dependent countries in the world, said Ryan, whose portfolio also includes natural resources, adding that it was well suited to switch to electric vehicles because of its size.

Northern Ireland politicians break political deadlock

IrelandLondon - The main parties in the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland ended five months of political stalemate in the province Tuesday by agreeing a deal that maps out the road ahead for a completion of the peace process.

First Minister Peter Robinson, who also leads the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and his deputy, Martin McGuinness of the Catholic Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, said regular meetings of the executive, or cabinet, would resume on Thursday.

Irish likely to approve Lisbon treaty in new referendum

Ireland FlagDublin - There was a strong chance that the Irish public could accept a revised version of the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum, a poll released Monday showed.

The TNS mrbi poll by the Irish Times daily found 43 per cent of respondents favoured the European Union's reform treaty if Ireland and the European Commission revised its declarations on neutrality, abortion and tax.

Thirty-nine per cent said they would vote against the treaty and 18 per cent were undecided.

Foreign Minister Micheal Martin on Sunday said the government would decide whether it would hold a new referendum before the December 11 EU summit.

Ireland to decide in coming weeks on new EU referendum

Ireland to decide in coming weeks on new EU referendum

Czech leaders downplay Klaus anti-Lisbon meeting in Dublin

Prague/Dublin - Czech leaders Wednesday sought to downplay Czech President Vaclav Klaus' meeting with Ireland's leading opponent of the Lisbon Treaty, which spurred a diplomatic row ahead of the Czech Republic's EU presidency.

"I find it legitimate when someone presents his opinion. And I respect it even if I have a completely different view," said Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who supports the EU reform pact.

Czech Vice-Premier for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra said that "one dinner can't undermine the Czech presidency, which the government has responsibly prepared for two years."

Scantily clad Ryanair airhostesses land charity calendar in trouble

Ryanair closes base in eastern SpainMelbourne, Nov 12 : Irish airline Ryanair, known for being a low-cost airline, recently landed itself in trouble when its latest charity calendar was branded sexist.

The calendar only had pictures of scantily clad female cabin crew, which made the airhostesses look more like page three pinups than plane staff.

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