Documents

The NESC Secretariat, at the request of the The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is undertaking analysis to inform the development of Irish climate change policy. The NESC Climate Change project includes the development of potential policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, transport, heat in buildings and renewable energy supply; and, a basis for a national transition to a low-carbon future by 2050. The work will be completed by 31st December 2012. An interim report was submitted to the Minister at the end of June 2012, and can be viewed via the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government website. (The NESC Secretariat, at the request of the The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is undertaking analysis to inform the development of Irish climate change policy. The NESC Climate Change project includes the development of potential policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, transport, heat in buildings and renewable energy supply; and, a basis for a national transition to a low-carbon future by 2050. The work will be completed by 31st December 2012. An interim report was submitted to the Minister at the end of June 2012, and can be viewed via the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government website The NESC Secretariat, at the request of the The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is undertaking analysis to inform the development of Irish climate change policy. The NESC Climate Change project includes the development of potential policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, transport, heat in buildings and renewable energy supply; and, a basis for a national transition to a low-carbon future by 2050. The work will be completed by 31st December 2012. An interim report was submitted to the Minister at the end of June 2012, and can be viewed via the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government website (http://www.environ.ie/en/PressMedia/)

The Opinion states that, though the Council supports the aim of encouraging the housing rental market, the bill should be part of a broader political strategy for housing, coordinated with the various competent tiers of government. In its view this policy should be agreed upon with the social partners and should clearly establish objectives and priorities, bringing together the various measures and instruments in a coherent and integral way.The text adopted by the plenary session states that the Council regards housing as a basic social right, which means that public policies promoting and facilitating access to housing, whether owned or rented, are vital instruments for social cohesion and integration, especially in situations such as the current severe crisis, with great impact on housing.

The dominance of the West is declining with the emergence of such economies as China and India, and the economic balance of power is shifting eastwards. Because emerging economies grow more rapidly, wealthy nations are losing their advantage in terms of prosperity. But a trading nation such as the Netherlands can also profit from the growth of prosperity elsewhere in the world. It is not a “zero sum game”. In this advisory report, the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands makes suggestions for a broad policy agenda that has the potential to lead to a fair, sustainable form of globalisation. It also explains how the Netherlands can benefit from this process. This will, however, require Dutch policymakers at national level to create an attractive business location climate and to make the adjustment processes easier for citizens, employees and enterprises. In addition, the Netherlands must use its influence in international circles to steer the process of globalisation in a fair and sustainable direction, working through such channels as economic diplomacy and by concluding trade agreements as well as treaties and conventions within such bodies as the OECD, the ILO, the World Bank and the IMF. International rules are decisive for the growth and distribution of prosperity in the world. Ultimately, the aim is to arrive at a better balance between the economic, social and ecological interests of present and future generations.

High quality public services demand much more than minimum compliance with rules and regulations. For human services, such as eldercare and disability, we need to use regulation and standards that focus on performance and outcomes.

At the end of 2011, the European Commission presented two complementary proposals intended to help consumers resolve disputes with businesses without needing to have recourse to the courts. One proposal is for a directive regarding the alternative resolution of consumer disputes (“ADR”); the other is for a regulation regarding the online resolution of such disputes (“ODR”). The Commission considers that both consumers and businesses will benefit from these measures because they will enable them to resolve disputes quickly, simply, and effectively without recourse to the courts. This can increase consumer confidence where cross-border transactions are concerned, and thus promote the operation of the internal market. In the present Advisory Report, the Committee for Consumer Affairs (CCA) of the Social and Economic Council (SER) responds to a request for advice from the Dutch Government. The CCA is made up of members representing consumers and businesses, as well as independent experts. In Section 2, the CCA provides a general review of the matters concerned. In Section 3, it deals with specific components of the proposals. Section 4 deals with the ODR regulation.

The organisations which shall be eligible to nominate orelect one person to represent them on the Committee shall be from thefollowing sectors of activity within civil society:(a) consumer affairs; (b) health, elderly and pensioners; (c) gender equality; (d) professions; (e) youth and students; (f) sports; (g) agriculture, rural and fisheries, (h) environmental protection and improvement,including the protection of animals, culture, arts and nationalheritage;(i) persons with disability;(j) education, social and community advancement;(k) local councils; and(l) other voluntary organisations which are enrolledwhich are not represented and which do not participate in any ofthe above sectors of activity within civil society.

Contributions on early retirement and pseudo early retirement benefits – Draft royal decree modifying the royal decree of 29 March 2010 implementing Chapter 6 of Title XI of the law of 27 December 2006 containing various measures (I), concerning social security contributions and deductions on early retirement benefits, benefits complementary to some social security benefits and disability benefits – Follow-up to opinion No. 1,798 – Opinion No. 1,799