The rarity of good news from the EU
17 November 2008
“Recently, and in an experience which is relevantly novel, I have been lobbied from within Northern Ireland in favour of a proposed EU Regulation. Seldom does an EU Regulation hold the promise of jobs for Northern Ireland, but COM(2008)0316 is a rare exception.
Tediously entitled “proposal for a regulation concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles”, contained within it is a proposal which could bring growth to a company already well established in Northern Ireland, Schrader Electronics. Schrader is a world leader in the invention and production of tyre pressure monitoring systems. Fitted to car tyres they give a dash read-out of tyre pressure, alerting the driver to any change and thereby adding greatly to the safety of the vehicle. Schrader’s product is at the cutting edge of the market and has been so successful that they hold 40% of the world market and secure 900 quality jobs in Northern Ireland, split between factories at Antrim and Carrickfergus.
All new cars in the USA have to be fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Schrader has captured 40% of the world market.
Now, this EU proposal would require every new car produced in Europe also to be fitted with a TPMS. This would open up a vast new market for Schrader and with Northern Ireland being its main European base, the growth potential for the company in Ulster is very welcome. Thus, I was delighted, along with Jim Nicholson MEP, to accept an invitation to visit the Antrim factory and to have detailed discussions with senior management about the product and the progress of the draft Regulation through the European Parliament.
The draft Regulation, presently before the Internal Market Committee, has been meeting some opposition from the car manufacturing lobby. It will be voted on in committee in early December and thereafter in the full plenary session in January. This week in Strasbourg I will be lobbying MEPs on the internal Market Committee in favour of a specific amendment which would guarantee a TPMS on every new car, and thus secure more jobs in Northern Ireland.
I was very impressed by what I saw on my visit to Schrader. Its drive and initiative, helped on by dedicated and skilled local management, makes this a company of which we all can be proud. Its focus on R & D is a key component of its success. I look forward to being able to help through legislation which will further underwrite its future and even provide for expansion.”
ENDS
