Write a commentLocal Newry Drama Festival, committee members Pat and Maureen Grant were recents guests of MEP Jim Nicholson at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The couple were on a River Cruise on the Rhine taking them through Holland, Germany and Switzerland and when they docked in Strasbourg the spent the day at the European Parliament, as guests of the MEP.
Jim’s Personal Assistant, Ben McCabe took them on a tour of the Parliament Buildings and they attended a Plenary Session in the Chamber, chaired by European Commission President, Jean Claude Junker. The parliament was debating the state and future of the European Union.
As Maureen commented "Two days previously, the 27 Heads of State (or Government), minus the U.K., had met informally in Bratislava. The Parliament discussed the way forward for the European Union, following the E.U. Commission President Jean-Claude Junker’s annual “State of the Union” speech the previous morning.
"The Commission discussed Ireland’s Tax Deal with Apple - a deal which enabled Apple to pay substantially less tax than other firms over the years. This was debated in Plenary Session, in the presence of Competition Commisioner, Margrethe Vestager. The Commission decided that Ireland should recover the 13 billion euro in illegal tax.
"It was a most interesting and enjoyable day."
