The European Parliament has reached a sensible and workable decision on the ‘Sunshine Directive’ by taking out references to natural radiation or sunshine from the proposals it passed in the Parliament, today, February 14th.

“The European Parliament, powerful though we may consider ourselves, cannot legislate for sunshine or rain across the 25 member states”.  This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin during a debate in the European Parliament when she supported the conciliation agreement.

“In Ireland right now partly due to our own inaction, we have a Nitrates Directive based on weather or rainfall and climate.  This is unworkable and Irish farmers are extremely and rightly angry.  At least on this Directive I believe we have struck a balance and we have avoided over-regulation and excessive bureaucracy.  We have come forward with a piece of workable and reasonable legislation that protects workers exposed to optical radiation in the course of their work, and we have left the issue of sunshine or natural radiation in the competence of member states”, Marian Harkin said.