Latest news with #MarkDuffy
Wall Street Journal
10-08-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Our Aluminium Is a Boon to American Workers
Mark Duffy writes that 'Canada's Aluminum Subsidies Hurt the U.S.' (Letters, July 28). But let's review the numbers. Each year, Canada exports 2.7 million tons of aluminium to the U.S., a process that consumes 40 million megawatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the output of at least four Hoover Dams. With the U.S.'s deregulated energy market, producing the same volume domestically would be prohibitively expensive—especially today, as data centers compete for the same power supply. That only four of the original 23 U.S. aluminium smelters remain has little to do with Canada and everything to do with the effects of energy deregulation in the 1980s. Canada remains the U.S.'s most secure and reliable source of aluminium because our industry reinvests hundreds of millions annually into world-class operations powered by low-cost hydroelectricity, a strategic advantage that U.S. industrialists have recognized for decades.
BreakingNews.ie
18-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Restrictions on vape products will reduce appeal to teenagers, senator says
Action to regulate vaping products will help reduce their appeal to young people and help protect the environment, a Fine Gael senator has said. Senator Mark Duffy, who raised this issue in the Seanad on Wednesday with Minister John Cummins, said new legislation would be a significant step for protecting young people's health across Ireland. Advertisement Currently, a one-off registration system exists for tobacco, but not for nicotine inhaling products. 'We've all seen the growth of vape shops across the country, and parents are concerned about how this is impacting their children," he said. 'The variety of flavours and bright packaging on vaping products is clearly aimed at making these products more attractive to our youth. 'It's a cynical move to get them hooked, with vape companies targeting younger and vulnerable individuals with colourful, flavoured products designed for maximum appeal. Advertisement 'The proposed bill, drafted by my colleague Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, addresses some of the major issues with the sale of vape products. Newsagents will be required to hide vape products in the same way as tobacco, and there will be an advertising ban in all shops where these products are sold." Duffy said it will regulate these products to reduce their appeal to young people, with restrictions on colours and imagery to avoid bright, "cartoon-covered" packaging, a ban on toy-like devices, limits to basic flavours, and a ban on single-use vapes. 'Currently, a one-off registration system exists for tobacco, but not for nicotine inhaling products, which has led to unregulated sales in sweet shops, butchers, phone repair shops, and fast-food takeaways. "The new system will require annual license applications with compliance declarations, alongside increased penalties for offenses, including suspensions and revocations for repeat violations. 'This legislation is really welcome. The growth of vape shops in Ireland has been rapid, and this regulation responds to the concerns of so many parents and families."
Euronews
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
"Brussels, my love?" EU extends temporary protection for Ukrainian ref
This weekend, we are joined by the Irish Senator Mark Duffy, the Spanish/Dutch MEP Raquel García Hermida van der Walle and the French MEP Fabrice Leggeri. The panel discuss how the Dutch government collapsed due to internal tensions within the coalition over migration policy and squabbles surrounding a 10-point anti-migration plan pushed by far-right politicians Geert Wilders. Raquel García Hermida van der Walle said Wilders could not govern. "He has done what he has been doing for the last 20 years, which is using migration as an excuse to hide his own party's or his own ministers' incompetence and inability to deliver on the promises that they made to citizens", she said. Fresh elections will take place in October. The panel also discussed the millions of Ukrainians that live in the European Union today, three years after Russia's full-scale invasion. Thanks to the EU's Temporary Protection Directive, they were given residency, access to healthcare and education. This week, at an EU Council meeting in Luxembourg, the 27 countries voiced their support for a proposal to extend the temporary protection for the more than 4 million Ukrainians until 4 March 2027. "It's a good example of what refugees, real refugees, are or should be", Fabrice Leggeri said. Finally, the panel reflected on the acute housing crisis across Europe. According to Eurostat, house prices have gone up by 48% in the EU. In Ireland and Lithuania, it is even worse. Mayors from all across the board this week called for urgent EU action and a coordinated housing strategy. Senator Mark Duffy from the West of Ireland said any support 'from Europe' was very much welcome. "The regeneration grants were backed and supported by Brussels, and that has been a very positive intervention and if we can replicate that in other areas to increase supply, then that is only a net gain for everyone who is looking to solve this problem", he said. Watch "Brussels, my love?" in the player above.
Irish Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Vape shops selling Dubai chocolate and Prime energy drinks branded ‘a new low'
An emerging trend in which vape stores have begun to sell highly sought-after sweets, drinks and snacks, including the viral Dubai chocolate bar , has been described as a 'new low' for the industry. The shops have started to stock food items rarely seen in mainstream grocery stores, usually labelled as 'American candy' or 'American snacks'. This is alongside the sale of trending food items and drinks often boosted in popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok , including the now-famous Dubai chocolate bars and Prime energy drinks . Chris Macey, director of advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation , which has long called for restrictions on vapes, believes the development could 'normalise vaping in the eyes of children'. READ MORE 'Pairing sweets and vapes as though they are similar tasty treats represents a new low for an industry whose business model depends to a large extent on addicting as many young people as possible to nicotine,' he said. Mr Macey said the issue suggests a need to examine regulation of the promotion and sale of vapes in conjunction with sweets and 'other products aimed at children' alongside the 'brightly coloured' facades of vape stores. Fine Gael senator Mark Duffy, who described the move as 'predatory', said it has 'proliferated across the country'. Mr Duffy, who previously raised the issue in the Seanad after one such store opened in Ballina, Co Mayo, hopes to introduce a Bill this year to amend existing legislation and 'break up the association between vapes and things that generally attract children and young people'. 'If you just took out vapes and replaced it with cigarettes, you have cigarettes and candy. It's not a good look,' he said. 'I've had so many concerned citizens highlighting this. People take great offence to it in the community because of concerns for their children.' Mr Duffy said a landlord in Westport had terminated the lease of one such newly opened store late last year after public backlash. 'We need to have legislation that does not rely on the goodwill of a landlord but tackles it at source,' he said. Many stores also sell vaping products and jellies containing hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that health officials have warned can induce psychosis . While several owners of vape stores selling popular food items did not wish to speak to The Irish Times, one said he has 'definitely' seen an increase in customer numbers since he recently began to do so. Asked if the move might be enticing younger people into the stores, he said: 'No, not really. We don't sell them to younger people. We check their IDs.' He added: 'Other shops, like Spar and Centra, have vapes as well, and they're selling ice cream to kids.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
American Primary Aluminum Association Applauds President Trump's Announcement of a 50% Tariff on All Foreign Aluminum Imports
WASHINGTON, May 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA), today applauds President Donald J. Trump for taking strong and decisive action to raise the tariff rate on foreign aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. The tariff will come into effect on Wednesday 4th June. "We applaud President Trump's historic announcement that he will impose a 50% tariff to stop the flood of foreign aluminum imports," remarked Mark Duffy, President of the APAA. "For decades, subsidized foreign producers have hollowed out domestic aluminum manufacturing. Under President Donald J. Trump, we finally have a strong leader who is fighting to rebuild domestic manufacturing and protect thousands of American aluminum jobs." About the American Primary Aluminum Association: The American Primary Aluminum Association advances the interests of America's primary aluminum industry and its workers through the Aluminum Now campaign. APAA is registered and incorporated in Washington, DC and operates as a non-profit trade association. For more, please visit: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE American Primary Aluminum Association Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
