The tobacco debate collapsed into chaos in the European Parliament when a Portuguese MEP physically attacked a Danish member in the chamber. It was the first time a member has attacked another in the parliament. The incident occurred when Mr Rual Miguel Rosado Fernandes, from Portugal, physically attacked Mr Freddy Blak. He subsequently apologised to Mr Blak, but referred to certain remarks which Mr Blak had made about him. Mr Blak apologised for the remarks.
Yesterday, the president of the European Parliament, Mr Jose Maria Gil-Robles, said: "For the first time a member of the European Parliament has attacked another member." He proposed that the parliament pass a vote of censure on Mr Fernandes, involving his immediate exclusion from the chamber and his suspension for two days. The House passed the vote of censure by 235 votes to 79 with 37 abstentions.
A CALL for the inclusion of studies in the EU research programme of the effectiveness and safety of non-conventional therapies, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture, has been adopted by the European Parliament. The amendment was proposed by Irish Green MEP Ms Nuala Ahern, who called for an evaluation of the effectiveness, safety and the area of application of the non-conventional therapies, taking into account their preventive role and the holistic approach to health.
In another proposal also adopted by the parliament, Ms Ahern called for the inclusion of studies on the actual effects of the allowable radiation levels on human beings. The parliament supported the 16.7 billion ecu budget for the EU's fifth framework research programme to run from 1998 to 2002.
Ms Ahern said that with regard to the effects of radiation on humans, there had been an important breakthrough due to the work of Dr Mothersill in Ireland and the UK Medical Research Council on the problem of genes becoming damaged because of possible radiation.
Ms Ahern took issue with spending on the nuclear fusion programme, which, she said, was a "white elephant". The project had seen no tangible results and there was still the problem of devising a strategy dealing with waste material. She said she would prefer spending to be switched to sustainable energy programmes.
Proposals to combat a disease which attacks potatoes and tomatoes are being considered by the European Parliament. The parliament welcomed the European Commission's latest proposal for a directive to tackle Pseusomonas solanacearum (Smith), a harmful organism. To avoid the further spread of the disease across Europe, a series of measures are aimed at detecting and controlling the bacteria.
As a Christmas message of peace, a flame brought from Bethlehem will reach Northern Ireland today after it was presented to 30 Northern Ireland schoolchildren in a ceremony in Strasbourg yesterday. The "Flame of Bethlehem", a symbol of peace, comes directly from the Church of the Tomb in Bethlehem and has been brought each year since 1986 from the Middle Eastern town by a young person from Austria to different venues.
This year, it was decided that the flame should be presented to Northern Ireland. Each of the North's three MEPs, Mr John Hume, Mr Jim Nicholson and the Rev Ian Paisley, were asked to nominate schools which each sent five children.
The 30 schoolchildren came from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh; The Royal School, Armagh; Ballymena Academy, Ballymena; Hazelwood Integrated College, Newtownabbey; St Joseph's College, Derry; and St Paul's College, Derry.
European Union Fish Ministers were last night deadlocked over next year's fish quotas, writes Paddy Smyth. Irish negotiators expressed particular concern over Commission demands for cuts in herring in the Celtic Sea, and key white fish species such as cod, haddock and whiting. But Ministers last night looked as if they would be meeting through the night in the traditional pre-Christmas negotiations over quotas.