EuroParlRadio: Recent Episodes
EuroParlRadio
Positive signs that the ozone layer is repairing itself show that environmental protection works, that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. MEPs have voted this lunchtime for a ban on ozone-depleting substances. The UN believes, at the current rate, the hole above the Artic may have closed by 2045, and above Antarctica around the year 2066. Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says it shows international action can make a vital difference to the future of the planet.
Out words: For climate change
Dur: 0’23”
The European Parliament has voted for new bans on chemicals damaging the ozone layer. Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, was a climate activist in Antarctica when a hole in the Ozone layer was discovered in the 1980s. It led to a ban on widely used chemicals known as CFCs. In recent years there have been signs the holes may be closing, but there are still other chemicals in use that cause ozone damage. Now the European Parliament has demanded ozone-depleting substances are banned. There will be exemptions for fire safety materials and military use. Grace O’Sullivan says it is important to keep up the momentum.
Out words: Week in Brussels
Dur: 0’15”
Peace in Northern Ireland is one of the EU’s greatest achievements – that’s according to Barry Andrews. Speaking in the European Parliament this afternoon at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the Fianna Fáil MEP argued that the European Union has played a central role in sustaining peace.
Out words: Been impossible
Dur: 0’23”
The European Parliament is marking the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement. The plenary session began with a special ceremony in Brussels. Here’s European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola, opening the session this afternoon.
Out words: Between people
Dur: 0’23”
It is important that the EU remembers its role in the Good Friday Agreement and developments since then – that’s according to Chris MacManus. The European Parliament is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the agreement with events this afternoon in Brussels. Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus says the EU has played an important part for a number of reasons.
Out words: And services
Dur: 0’20”
Irish MEPs have put political differences aside to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement. The European Parliament is marking the upcoming 25th anniversary with events this afternoon. Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus is co-hosting the Brussels event alongside the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. He says the Good Friday Agreement is rightly lauded in the EU and around the world.
Out words: All of us
Dur: 0’16”
Positive signs that the ozone layer is repairing itself show that environmental protection works, that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. MEPs have voted this lunchtime for a ban on ozone-depleting substances. The UN believes, at the current rate, the hole above the Artic may have closed by 2045, and above Antarctica around the year 2066. Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says it shows international action can make a vital difference to the future of the planet.
Out words: For climate change
Dur: 0’23”
An EU Special Envoy for Northern Ireland would be a central contact point for the democratic process in Northern Ireland – that’s according to Deirdre Clune. Along with her Fine Gael colleagues, she has put forward the idea of a Special Envoy to the President of the European Commission. The European Parliament's President has also been consulted. Northern Ireland remains in the Single Market for goods, but because of Brexit, it no longer has political representation in the EU. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says the EU is aware of the democratic deficit this has created so she thinks the idea of a Special Envoy will be openly considered.
Out words: Be important
Dur: 0’16”
The EU should recruit a Special Envoy for Northern Ireland – that’s the proposal being put forward by Fine Gael. The five Fine Gael MEPs have written to the President of the European European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU's Brexit negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, about the idea. It comes ahead of a commemoration event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement taking place in Brussels on Wednesday. Fine Gael’s MEP for Ireland South, Deirdre Clune, says the Special Envoy would help resolve the democratic deficit she says Brexit has created for the North.
Out words: Influence when they can
Dur: 0’27”
Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus has invited members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee to visit his constituency and talk to farmers there.
The Midlands North-West MEP wants his European colleagues to see and hear how Brexit is impacting farmers in the region. He said it’s important they hear first-hand how farmers are being effected by Brexit and other global challenges. Chris MacManus talked to Karen Coleman from EuroParlRadio about his invite to members of the Ag committee. Here’s that interview.
Out words: be done
Dur: 03:24
Members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture committee need to see first-hand the impact Brexit is having on farmers in the border regions.
So says Midlands North-West MEP Chris MacManus. He’s invited members of the committee to visit his constituency to talk to the farmers and the farming organisations there. He believes such a visit would help them better understand the challenges farmers face as a result of Brexit.
Out words: Irish farmer
Dur: 00:29
Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus has invited members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee to visit his constituency and talk to farmers there.
The Midlands North-West MEP wants his European colleagues to see and hear how Brexit is impacting on farmers in the region. He said it’s important they hear first-hand how farmers are being effected by Brexit and other global challenges.
Out words: understanding
Dur: 00:20
The majority of MEPs this week backed measures to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050. And they want all new buildings to have zero-emissions from 2028.
MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households.
Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan spoke to Karen Coleman in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the vote and what it will mean for people in Ireland. Here’s that interview.
Out words: an impact
Dur: 02:57
The European Parliament this week assessed how the Brexit withdrawal agreement has been working since its implementation three years ago. They welcomed the Windsor deal and the subsequent announcement that the UK government will halt its controversial Northern Ireland protocol bill.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly spoke to Karen Coleman from EuroParlRadio in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. They discussed the Windsor deal, EU-UK relations and how the new framework will work in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Here’s that interview.
Out words: the way
Dur: 05:55
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for a ban on the use of the social media platform TikTok on government issued phones. The Midlands North-West MEP has written to both the Ceann Comhairle and the Taoiseach, urging them to instigate the TikTok ban.
Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have already banned staff from using the app on official devices. Colm Markey is calling for a similar ban in Ireland.
Well Karen Coleman from EuroParlRadio caught up with Colm Markey in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week and she spoke to him about banning TikTok.
Out words: the road
Dur: 02:21
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for a ban on the use of the social media platform TikTok on government issued phones. The Midlands North-West MEP has written to both the Ceann Comhairle and the Taoiseach, urging them to instigate the TikTok ban.
Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have already banned staff from using the app on official devices. Colm Markey is calling for a similar ban in Ireland. He says “Ireland is behind the curve on this issue”.
Out words: be considered
Dur: 00:21
The European Parliament today (Thursday) strongly condemned what it’s calling the “atrocious attempt to silence women and girls”. Since last November thousands of girls and women across Iran have been attacked with toxic chemicals to prevent them from attending education.
Today’s resolution follows an address to MEPs during the week by the Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi. The former judge was awarded the noble prize in 2003 for her work for democracy and human rights, focused especially on the rights of women and children.
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald who met Dr Ebadi, says her powerful address exposed how terrible the situation in Iran is.
Out words: her messages
Dur: 00:21
The poisoning of schoolgirls in Iran was condemned in the European Parliament today. In a resolution MEPs strongly criticised what they called the “atrocious attempt to silence women and girls”.
Since last November thousands of girls and women across Iran have been attacked with toxic chemicals to prevent them from attending education. MEPs urged the Iranian authorities to ensure girls have non-discriminatory access to education. They’re calling on the Iranian regime to repeal any legislation that discriminates against girls and women.
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says the resolution will lead to more action against Iran.
Out words: that regime
Dur: 00:13
More than ten thousand Irish people signed an EU petition calling for laws to phase out damaging pesticides and to help create bee-friendly farming. A million people in total signed a European Citizens’ Initiative called “Save bees and farmers, towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment.”
The European Parliament today debated the European Citizens’ Initiative. Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan says the European Commission has to act on such a significant petition.
Well EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman met Grace O’Sullivan in the European Parliament this week. And she asked her about the Citizens’ initiative.
Out words: it’s worth
Dur: 06:08
More than ten thousand Irish people signed an EU petition calling for laws to phase out damaging pesticides and to help create bee-friendly farming.
That’s according to Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan. The European Parliament today debated a European Citizens’ Initiative called “Save bees and farmers, towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment.”
The initiative, that gathered more than a million verified signatures, calls for synthetic pesticides to be phased out by 2035 along with the restoration of biodiversity. And it demands support to farmers in the transition to more bee-friendly and environmentally safer farming practices.
Grace O’Sullivan says the European Commission has to act on such a significant petition.
Out words: on pollinators
Dur: 00:32
More than one million EU citizens are calling for laws to phase out damaging pesticides and to help create bee-friendly farming.
The European Parliament today debated a European Citizens’ Initiative called “save bees and farmers, towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment.”
The initiative, that gathered more than a million verified signatures, calls for synthetic pesticides to be phased out by 2035 along with the restoration of biodiversity. And it demands support to farmers in the transition to more bee-friendly and environmentally safer farming practices. Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan explains.
Out words: take action
Dur: 00:22
Relations between the EU and UK have improved since Rishi Sunak became British Prime Minister and agreement on the Windsor Framework was brokered.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. MEPs this week assessed how the Brexit withdrawal agreement has been working since its implementation three years ago.
They welcomed the Windsor deal and the subsequent announcement that the UK government will halt its controversial Northern Ireland protocol bill.
Here’s Sean Kelly.
Out words: issues themselves
Dur: 00:46
EU goals to make all of our homes carbon neutral by 2050 are “absolutely” possible. That’s according to Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
He was commenting on a vote in the European Parliament this week on measures to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030. MEPs supported moves to make the sector climate neutral by 2050. That’s something Ciarán Cuffe says can be achieved.
Out words: that’s affordable
Dur: 00:19
The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe is calling for simpler rules and more funding when it comes to applying for home energy upgrade grants. He was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs this week endorsed the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.
Ciarán Cuffe says in Ireland there’s a need to simplify the rules to receive energy upgrade grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Out words: social housing
Dur: 00:30
The chance to travel around Europe by rail for free opens today for 18 year old residents of Ireland and other EU countries. Under the Discover EU initiative, up to thirty five thousand (35,000) travel passes will be given to successful applicants from the EU and other qualifying countries.
To win a travel pass, young people are invited to apply on the European Youth Portal (Youth.europa.eu/discovereu_en) and answer a few questions. Successful applicants who were born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2005 will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days during the travel period. That will run from mid-June to the end of September 2024.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is encouraging 18 year olds in Ireland to apply for a free travel pass.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:20
The state of EU-UK relations and the Windsor Framework were debated by MEPs in the European Parliament this week. There’s growing optimism that the Windsor deal will lead to better relations between both sides.
Well Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman about the Windsor deal and how it’s likely to lead to greater collaboration between the UK and the bloc.
Out words: they should
Dur: 02:38
The recent agreement between the EU and the UK on the Windsor Framework should lead to greater collaboration between both sides. So says Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune.
Both the Framework, which replaces the Northern Ireland protocol, and the state of EU-UK relations were discussed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. The Ireland South MEP says there are many issues that the EU needs to concentrate on and that collaboration with the UK will be important.
Out words: they should
Dur: 00:21
Relations between the EU and the UK have improved thanks to the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework which replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg where MEPs this week discussed the state of relations between both sides.
Out words: is protected
Dur: 00:30
Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says plans to make the EU’s building sector carbon-neutral by 2050 are fair, realistic and flexible. The European Parliament today voted for the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.
MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. Member states may also exempt public social housing, where renovations would lead to rent increases that cannot be compensated by savings on energy bills.
Ciarán Cuffe was the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the deal.
Out words: climate targets
Dur: 00:14
Plans to make the EU’s building sector carbon-neutral by 2050, will help tackle the root causes of energy poverty and create jobs and funding for renovations. That’s according to Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
He was commenting on today’s vote in the European Parliament where the majority of MEPs backed the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.
MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households.
Ciarán Cuffe was the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the deal. He says today’s vote "marks a significant step" towards lower energy bills for households and businesses.
Out words: hugely important
Dur: 00:12
The European Parliament today (Tuesday 14 March) voted for new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. And it says all new buildings should have zero-emissions from 2028.
MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.
MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households. Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about today’s vote. Here’s that interview.
Out words: the regulations
Dur: 02:52
The Government will have to be very creative and imaginative to enable people to live in energy-efficient buildings in the future.
So says Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher. He was reacting to today’s vote by the European Parliament on new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The measures include requiring all new buildings to have zero-emissions from 2028.
MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. Here’s Billy Kelleher.
Out words: housing stock
Dur: 00:30
The European Parliament has voted for new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. And it says all new buildings should have zero-emissions from 2028.
MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.
The measures include increasing the rate of renovations of energy-inefficient buildings and improving information-sharing on energy performance. MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher explains.
Out words: potential costs
Dur: 00:28
Relations between the EU and the UK are improving following the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews. The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today (Tuesday 14 March) in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020).
The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.
EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman caught up with Barry Andrews in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss the Windsor Deal and what MEPs are saying about it. Here’s that interview.
Out words: few years
Dur: 05:23
Relations between the EU and the UK are improving following the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews. The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020). The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.
Barry Andrews says the Windsor deal should pave the way for other agreements between the two sides such as energy cooperation, defence and support for Ukraine
Out words: few years
Dur: 00:21
The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020). The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews believes there’s broad acceptance for the Windsor Framework. But he says, MEPs are nervous about the Stormont Brake and what it actually means. The Dublin MEP says he’s reassured the Stormont Brake won’t be abused.
Out words: the brake
Dur: 00:35
The European Parliament has voted to set up a new committee dedicated to public health. At the moment health is combined into one committee along with environmental issues. With many new green laws under consideration, there was a risk the committee could have become clogged up. Deidre Clune has put her name forward to sit on the new health committee. She says the pandemic demonstrated why public health needs its own dedicated MEPs.
Out words: European citizens
Dur: 0’20”
MEPs have demanded EU action to help bring down the price of fertiliser. Up to 60 per cent of potassium fertiliser was imported from Russia before the war with Ukraine, according to the European Parliament. Since then, prices have gone through the roof, and that’s had an impact on farmers and food prices too. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, says there is a raft of measures the EU can take that will help to bring costs under control.
Out words: Into the market
Dur: 0’16
MEPs have voted to delay a requirement to re-register medical devices. An estimated 15,000 medical devices such as heart valves, breast implants and catheters needed to be recertified by next year. The European Parliament voted this lunchtime to give the medical industry more time to complete the paperwork. Those classed as ‘high risk’ devices will now have until the end of 2027. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says paediatric surgeon had warned there would have been just one suitable heart value left on the market. She says it is right that more time has been granted and she is adamant the extension does not undermine patient safety.
Out words: Abandoning quality
Dur: 0’17”
The green revolution may lead to job losses in traditional sectors, Billy Kelleher says. Earlier this week, Ford announced thousands of jobs will be cut. The car manufacturer has previously warned it needs “40 per cent less labor” to make electric cars. Under a new EU law voted through the European Parliament, all cars and vans must be CO2-free by 2035. Ireland South MEP, Billy Kelleher, says workers will need to be reskilled to adapt to new opportunities.
Out words: There as well
Dur: 0’18”
Europe’s transition to electric cars offers an opportunity for Ireland’s burgeoning renewables sector – that’s according to Billy Kelleher. The European Parliament has passed a new law phasing out the internal combustion engine. Cars and vans will have to be CO2-free by 2035. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, says electric cars should be powered by renewables generated in Ireland.
Out words: European grid
Dur: 0’21”
A new Google map of Dublin has highlighted pollution hotspots. The map is based on more than 50 million data readings taken across the city over more than a year. Vehicles are a major source of urban pollution. This week the European Parliament voted through a new law that will make cars and vans CO2-free by 2035. Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe, says the shift will greatly improve air quality.
Out words: About it
Dur: 0’20”
Cars must be zero emission by 2035 under a new law. The European Parliament has voted through the new law which will ban carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and vans. As a stepping stone, emissions must be cut by 55 per cent by 2030 for cars. It comes as a new Google map of Dublin has highlighted pollution hotspots in the capital. Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe, says, in his view, the green revolution will be here well before 2035.
Out words: Than that
Dur: 0’14”
Frances Fitzgerald is confident that US companies that have invested in Ireland are here to stay. The European Parliament has been discussing how to react to the US offering huge tax breaks to its industry. The US Inflation Reduction Act is estimated to be worth more than $300 billion. As a result, there are fears that American blue chips in Europe could shift production back across the Atlantic. Former business minister and MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, says US firms in Ireland are here to stay, but attracting new enterprise from overseas may now be more difficult.
Out words: Up our game
Dur: 0’21”
Ireland could suffer in a trade dispute between the US and Europe, Frances Fitzgerald has warned. The US has put in place a huge multi-billion aid package for its industry. In response, the EU plans to allow member states to grant generous subsidies. But former business minister and MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, fears that will allow the big economies like France and Germany to bail out their firms whilst Ireland will be left out in the cold.
Out words: Too quickly
Dur: 0’21”
Allowing MLAs to sit on the UK-EU assembly would not be enough to resolve democratic concerns, says Chris MacManus. The full details of the new Northern Ireland Protocol solution will not be known for sure until a deal is done. There is some suggestion NI assembly members will be able to join the UK-EU parliamentary assembly. But Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus - who is himself a member of the parliamentary assembly - says on its own that will not be enough to ensure fair democratic scrutiny of laws impacting Northern Ireland.
Out words: Asked for input
Dur: 0’23”
A deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol must also resolve the “democratic deficit” in the Brexit accords – that’s the demand by Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus. Both the British government and EU sides have been optimistic in recent weeks at movement toward a new solution for the protocol. Chris MacManus says EU laws impact Northern Ireland, so the people in the North must have some way of having a say on what is enacted.
Out words: As legislators
Dur: 0’23”
Ireland must decide whether we want spyware firms to be based here – that’s the view of Barry Andrews. In recent years various scandals have come to light about software being used to hack into or spy on people and politicians. The European Parliament will discuss the use of spyware in a debate this afternoon. Press reports have suggested at least one spyware company may be registered here in Ireland. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says there should be stronger EU-wide rules controlling the sector.
Out words: A uniform way
Dur: 0‘22”
EU armour against Brexit breaches may drive the UK to a deal on the Protocol – that’s according to Sean Kelly. This lunchtime the European Parliament backed new rules which will allow the EU to sanction the UK for breaking the Brexit deal in future. Sanctions could include imposing costly trade tariffs on the UK or other similar countermeasures. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, was in charge of getting the rules through parliament. He says the British Prime Minister can now tell his party what will be at stake if they don’t come to an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Out words: Have to pay
Dur: 0’14”
The European Parliament has voted through safeguards in case UK breaches the Brexit deal in future. The sanctions mechanism would allow the EU to react with trade tariffs and other countermeasures. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, was tasked with getting the new rules through the European Parliament. He says even if relations with the UK are currently more positive, it makes sense for the EU to be prepared for the future.
Out words: Not be tolerated
Dur: 0’19”
Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps should have been deployed to Turkey, says Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fáil MEP was previously chief exec of aid charity GOAL. In a speech last night in the European Parliament, he said 28 of the charity’s staff had been killed in last week’s earthquakes. Speaking this morning, Barry Andrews criticised the government for not sending a humanitarian team to Turkey and Syria as other European countries have done. He says Irish defence is underfunded and risk-averse.
Out words: Are missing
Dur: 0’20”
Barry Andrews has criticised the government for failing to send an emergency team to Turkey and Syria. It is now estimated that 37,000 were killed in the earthquakes last week. That horrific figure may still rise further. In the aftermath, 21 EU member states sent rescue teams coordinated by the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Ireland was not one of them. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, is demanding answers.
Out words: Defence forces
Dur: 0’22”
The Midlands North West region is falling behind economically, Colm Markey has warned. When EU regional funding was calculated for the period 2021 to 2027, the Midlands North West was classed in the middle, with a below-average GDP. But according to Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, the region is now lagging even further behind. He says experts need to be recruited to bring in more EU cash and help level up with the rest of Ireland.
Out words: Significant difference
Dur: 0’21”
County councils across Ireland could bring in more EU cash with an expert on board – that’s according to Colm Markey. The Fine Gael MEP wants every council to recruit an EU funding officer. He has raised it with the new local government minister who is said to be interested in the idea. MEP for Midlands North West, Colm Markey, says there is millions of Euro available in EU funds that should be better harnessed.
Out words: In Europe
Dur: 0’14”
Asylum seekers need an efficient and fair way to seek refuge in Ireland, says Grace O’Sullivan. The Green MEP saw first hand the pressure at Europe’s border. Last month she travelled to Greece where migrants are desperately trying to enter the European Union every day. She is critical of the idea of making Europe into a fortress. Instead, the Ireland South MEP says those in genuine plight should be able to come and live here in Ireland.
Out words: Granted asylum
Dur: 0‘17“
A wave of “far-right agitators” are fuelling false rumours about asylum seekers in Ireland – that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. Ireland received 13,000 asylum applications last year, but those come on top of the estimated 70,000 Ukrainians seeking temporary shelter here from the war. Ireland South MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says misinformation is fueling discontent. But she accepts that local people have also been let down.
Out words: A huge problem
Dur: 0‘20“
The Midlands North West region needs the money which has been agreed, but has not yet arrived, says Chris MacManus. To respond to the economic blow of the covid crisis, the EU created a multi-billion Euro fund. €915 million in grants was allocated to Ireland. But the government admits that it has only recently made a request for the first tranche to be sent. Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus was critical of the fund when it was approved by the European Parliament. At the time he called it poor value for money for Ireland. But he now says, since the money was agreed, we should be benefiting from it and should not still be waiting.
Out words: It’s been agreed
Dur: 0’22”
Millions of Euro which was supposed to be used to help the Irish economy recover from covid is “sitting on a shelf in Brussels”, that’s according to Chris MacManus. Ireland was allocated €915 million in grants from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The money is supposed to be used for investment projects and advancing the green economy. So far none of the cash has arrived. In a statement, the government said it has now made a “first payment request”, but Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, says other countries have already spent millions by now.
Out words: It’s frustrating
Dur: 0’20”
The EU must try to help women in Afghanistan despite the difficulties – that’s the message from Sean Kelly. The repression and violence against women in Afghanistan has been discussed this week in the European Parliament. The EU does not recognise the Taliban as the de facto government. But Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, insists there are things the EU can do to help women who want to come to Ireland and elsewhere.
Out words: They’ll be safe
Dur: 0’23”
Sean Kelly has revealed he has been working to try and help a woman and her family to escape Afghanistan. Since the Taliban swept back to power in 2021, women’s rights have been gradually dismantled. Laws now restrict women’s right to education, jobs, and liberty. In December last year, the de facto government (which is not recognised by the EU) banned women from attending universities. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, has been struggling to help a female lecturer escape and get to Ireland. He says she is in a particularly dangerous situation.
Out words: The situation
Dur: 0’15”
A new law spearheaded by an Irish MEP aims to make old buildings warm and dry. Ciarán Cuffe has been put in charge of getting the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive through the European Parliament. This week he reached a compromise with the different political players ahead of a vote expected in the coming weeks. The directive will demand EU governments, including Ireland, ensure homes and offices are better insulated and are more energy efficient. The Green MEP says too many of Ireland’s old buildings are not up to standard.
Out words: What’s out
Dur: 0’22”
A Brexit deal is not close and imminent, says Barry Andrews. British and EU negotiators are working on resolving difficulties with the Northern Ireland protocol. British press reports this morning in The Times and the Financial Times have raised speculation that an agreement is near. That idea is rubbished by Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews. He welcomes that work is underway, but warns that all Northern Ireland parties must be on board before a deal is reached.
Out words: Be sustainable
Dur: 0’20”
Press reports about an imminent Brexit deal are overblown speculation – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The Times reports that the EU might be prepared to offer new concessions on customs and the role of the European Court of Justice in relation to Northern Ireland. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, who sits on the UK-EU parliamentary assembly, says whilst progress is being made, difficulties still have not been resolved. He says the newspaper stories are more about the British government testing the water for a possible deal.
Out words: In Northern Ireland
Dur: 0’17”
A new EU law will mandate housing and office blocks to become increasingly energy efficient – that’s according to Ciarán Cuffe. It is estimated 40 per cent of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions come from buildings. Irish Green, Ciarán Cuffe, has been tasked with getting the law through the European Parliament. This week he reached a deal with negotiators made up of MEPs and EU governments on the basis of the draft law. Ciarán Cuffe says it will lead to buildings becoming more energy efficient and a step towards the 2050 net-zero target.
Out words: Need to go
Dur: 0’20”
Maria Walsh has urged policymakers to be transparent in their dealing with lobbyists. Her comments come as allegations of corruption continue to hang over the European Parliament. Earlier this week authorities requested two more MEPs be stripped of their immunity from prosecution. Parliament also voted in a new Vice President to replace another member currently under investigation. Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Fine Gael MEP, Maria Walsh, said politicians must show integrity and openness.
Out words: To its citizens
Dur: 0’21”
The EU will make “major progress” in protecting women in the coming months – that’s according to Frances Fitzgerald. The Fine Gael MEP has been told that the EU will sign up to the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. Ireland is already a signatory, but Frances Fitzgerald says it needs to apply right across the EU.
Out words: Is everywhere
Dur: 0’20”
The European Parliament has demanded video games come with sufficient child protections. MEPs are worried that video games can be manipulative, violent and addictive. The European video game sector is worth around €23 billion per year. Around one-quarter of players are aged under 18, according to the industry. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, would also like Ireland to follow the example of other countries like the Netherlands and ban so-called ‘loot boxes’. Essentially these allow players to buy a ‘cheat’ to skip certain difficult features or gaming levels. Colm Markey, who has young children himself, says it is about reassuring parents that games are developmental and safe.
Out words: Parents’ confidence
Dur: 0’17”
Both the UK and the EU are going to have to move in order to get a Brexit deal, says Barry Andrews. Overnight the US underlined that it wants to see a negotiated settlement to the Northern Ireland Protocol that's “acceptable to all sides”. That’s adding to the pressure to reach a deal. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says trust is key.
Out words: In Northern Ireland
Dur: 0’21”
We’re “very close to a deal” on the Northern Ireland protocol – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fáil MEP has been following Brexit developments closely. He also sits on the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly. Following last week’s agreement on data – one of the outstanding issues – expectations have been raised. A joint UK-EU statement promised “scoping work” towards a potential solution. Barry Andrews believes we’re on the home straight.
Out words: Of the tunnel
Dur: 0’22”
The laws overseeing the pharmaceutical industry will be reformed in the coming months, the European Commission has announced. In a debate in the European Parliament, MEPs raised concerns about the current shortages of medicines in many countries, including Ireland. The EU’s health commissioner promised that new rules will demand pharmaceuticals have stronger supply chains and give earlier warnings if there is a risk of shortages. Fine Gael MEP, Deidre Clune says the EU also wants to encourage more drug manufacturing within Europe and to avoid overreliance on countries like China for vital products and materials.
Out words: Into Europe
Dur: 0’21”
The EU is trying to help ease medicine shortages, says Deirdre Clune. Reports suggest there are currently 224 medicines out of stock in Ireland. Many other European countries, including France, Germany and Greece, are experiencing shortages too. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, has been following the issue in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She says the European Commission is in contact with the industry and is trying to coordinate supplies as best as possible.
Out words: On its own
Dur: 0’17”
Ireland will become increasingly vulnerable unless new renewable projects are sped up, Sean Kelly has warned. Ireland has agreed to far-reaching EU emission targets by 2030. Now less than seven years away. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, says we will fail unless there is a radical overhaul of planning rules.
Out words: They’re doing
Dur: 0’23”
Renewable energy projects should be automatically approved if the planning process takes more than two years – that’s the view of a Fine Gael MEP. Sean Kelly is frustrated that wind farms are being held up by lengthy planning and licensing rules. The government is due to put forward a bill shortly to streamline the process. Sean Kelly says we will fail to reach our EU climate goals if we don’t get on with new installations.
Out words: By default
Dur: 0’18”
The European Parliament has voted to stop millions of tonnes of rubbish being sent to other parts of the world. MEPs want to see a ban on sending hazardous waste and plastics to developing countries. Ministers from EU 27 countries need to agree before it can become law. Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says it is going to incentivise better packaging, create jobs and encourage a circular economy.
Out words: Online shopping
Dur: 0’21”
Rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes have been voted through by the European Parliament. At the consultation stage, the Irish investment fund industry complained new EU rules “could have a substantial and widespread adverse impact on investors in regulated entities”. But Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, says it is about striking the right balance.
Out words: Shell company
Dur: 0’18”
The European Parliament has voted in favour of new rules to try to crack down on so-called letterbox firms. These are companies that have no real employees or premises. Instead, they are simply shell entities for tax purposes. The new rules will try to identify which companies are real and which are fake, as Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, explains.
Out words: Shifting through
Dur: 0’17”
The EU should organise the joint purchasing of fertiliser to bring down the costs, says Colm Markey. Fertiliser prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Fine Gael MEP says rising costs are also being fueled by speculation. He is calling for the EU to get a grip on the issue now and also work on more sustainable solutions for the future.
Out words: Food inflation
Dur: 0’20”
Food prices in the shops could be brought down if the EU helps farmers – that’s the view of Colm Markey. MEPs are worried the rising food prices are putting pressure on families and contributing to inflation. The issue will be raised this afternoon in a debate in the European Parliament with the Agriculture Commissioner. Speaking from Strasbourg ahead of the debate, Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, said the EU should intervene to bring down soaring farm costs so that the benefits can be passed on to consumers.
Out words: In the shops
Dur: 0’18”
Grace O’Sullivan has arrived in the European Parliament promising to redouble attempts to get all the charges against Sean Binder dropped. The Green MEP was in court in Lesbos last week to hear the case. The judge threw out the most serious espionage accusations, but Sean Binder could still face further legal action. Speaking in Strasbourg this afternoon, Grace O’Sullivan said she is still fighting on his behalf.
Out words: All the charges
Dur: 0’22”
Migrant rescue workers' “fear and intimidation” as a result of the Sean Binder case is costing lives – that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. The Irish Green MEP has just returned from Lesbos. She was in court with Sean Binder to hear the most serious charges against him being dropped. But Grace O’Sullivan says the case has had a "chilling effect" on NGOs and is scared away rescuers from doing vital work saving people from the sea.
Out words: Definitely cost lives
Dur: 0’13”
Migrant rescue workers' “fear and intimidation” as a result of the Sean Binder case is costing lives – that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. The Irish Green MEP has just returned from Lesbos. She was in court with Sean Binder to hear the most serious charges against him being dropped. But Grace O’Sullivan says the case has had a "chilling effect" on NGOs and is scared away rescuers from doing vital work saving people from the sea.
Out words: Definitely cost lives
Dur: 0’13”
Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan says the criminalisation of humanitarian work is “very concerning”. The Green Party MEP has been highlighting the case of Irish man Sean Binder who’s facing years in jail for his voluntary work with a Greek search and rescue NGO.
Mr Binder, who was born in Germany but grew up in Kerry, went to Greece in 2018 to work as a volunteer with search and rescue boats assisting migrants and refugees from drowning off the Greek island of Lesbos. But he was arrested by the Greek authorities and charged with several offences including facilitating smuggling, money laundering and even spying.
The Trinity graduate who is one of twenty four charged with similar offences, is due to stand trial for some charges in January. He says he’s innocent and that he did nothing wrong. Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.
Out words: bad move
Dur: 00:27
An Irishman facing years in jail, says his pre-trial detention in a Greek prison was horrendous.
Back in 2018 Sean Binder, who grew up in Kerry, went to volunteer on search and rescue boats off the Greek island of Lesbos. He wanted to help people at risk of drowning as they made their way from the Middle East and North Africa to seek asylum in Europe.
He was arrested and charged with several crimes including facilitating smuggling, money laundering, forgery and even spying. Mr Binder who says he is entirely innocent, is due to stand trial for some of the charges in January. He already spent one hundred days in pre-trial prison in Greece in 2018.
Out words: and require
Dur: 00: 40
A Kerry man, facing imprisonment for assisting migrants and refugees from drowning off the Greek island of Lesbos, has been highlighting his case in the European Parliament.
Sean Binder, who grew up in Kerry, went to Greece in 2018 to work as a volunteer with search and rescue boats. But he was arrested by the Greek authorities and charged with several offences including facilitating smuggling, money laundering and even spying.
Mr Binder, who is one of twenty four charged with similar offences, is due to stand trial for some charges in January. He says he’s innocent and that he did nothing wrong. Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan highlighted his case during his visit to Strasbourg last week.
Mr Binder explained why he wants MEPs to be aware of his case.
Out words: in danger
Dur: 00:57
An Irish man, facing years of imprisonment for volunteering with search and rescue boats in Greece, says he is desperate for his trial to begin to Greece.
In 2018 Sean Binder, who was born in Germany but grew up in Kerry, went to volunteer with an NGO helping rescue migrants and refugees off the Greek island of Lesbos. The Trinity graduate says he wanted to help people at risk of drowning as they made their way from the Middle East and Africa to seek asylum in Europe.
He was arrested and charged with several crimes including facilitating smuggling, being part of a criminal organisation, money laundering, forgery and even spying. Mr Binder already spent one hundred days in pre-trail prison in 2018. Now he is due to stand trial for some of the charges against him in January.
Out words: will return
Dur: 00:34
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says the inclusion of Galway Port in the revised Trans-European Transport network (TEN-T) regulation will mean enormous potential to develop the Port and off-shore renewable energy projects off the West of Ireland.
The Port of Galway was recently added to the TEN-T Network following a decision at the European Transport Council in Brussels. The network supports transport infrastructure projects including rail, inland waterways, shipping routes, ports and airports.
Here’s Colm Markey.
Out words: Galway Port
Dur: 01:16
The inclusion of Galway Port in the revised Trans-European Transport network (TEN-T) regulation means significant potential for the Port and the development of off-shore renewable energy projects. So says Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The Port of Galway was recently added to the TEN-T Network following a decision at the European Transport Council in Brussels. The network supports transport infrastructure projects including rail, inland waterways, shipping routes, ports and airports.
Colm Markey explains the significance of Galway Port’s inclusion in the TEN-T network.
Out words: as a whole
Dur: 00:12
The European Parliament this week insisted all work related to Qatar should be suspended and Qatari representatives banned from accessing the Parliament. MEPs are also calling for an inquiry committee to investigate cases of corruption by third countries and a special committee on transparency.
The calls follow the recent arrest of Greek MEP Eva Kaili and three others on suspicion of accepting bribes from Qatar trying to buy influence in Europe.
Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) talked to Sean Kelly during this week’s European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. She asked him about the spiralling corruption scandal.
Out words: influence legislation
Dur: 03:01
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says it’s important to get to the bottom of a corruption scandal that’s gripping the European Parliament.
He was commenting on the arrest of Greek MEP Eva Kaili and three others on suspicion of accepting bribes from Qatar trying to buy influence in Europe.
The European Parliament this week insisted all work related to Qatar should be suspended and Qatari representatives banned from accessing the Parliament. MEPs are also calling for an inquiry committee to investigate cases of corruption by third countries and a special committee on transparency.
Sean Kelly says lobbying can be a positive thing but that it needs to be transparent.
Out words: to that
Dur: 00:40
Getting permits for renewable energy projects such as off-shore wind power installations should become faster following a vote in the European Parliament. MEPs in Strasbourg have endorsed a proposed law which will accelerate the procedure to grant permits for new renewable energy projects such as windmills or solar panel installations.
The aim is to help reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels imported from Russia and speed up the rollout of clean energy supplies. Well Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg after MEPs voted on the proposals.
Out words: planning process
Dur: 04:28
Ireland’s wind energy projects could be speeded up thanks to a vote in the European Parliament this week. MEPs supported moves for a faster rollout of permits for renewable energy initiatives. The proposals also include an obligation for EU countries to ensure that permits to install solar energy equipment on buildings are delivered within one month.
The measures are all part of the EU’s REpowerEU package, which aims to cut European dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia, following its war on Ukraine.
Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says there’s huge potential in Ireland to develop wind energy projects.
Out words: planning process
Dur: 00:34
Getting permits for renewable energy projects such as off-shore wind power installations should become faster following a vote in the European Parliament.
MEPs in Strasbourg have endorsed a proposed law which will accelerate the procedure to grant permits for new renewable energy projects such as windmills or solar panel installations.
The aim is to help reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels imported from Russia and speed up the rollout of clean energy supplies. Here’s the Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe.
Out words: is protected
Dur: 00:22
The EU’s Brexit negotiator is due to meet the British Foreign Secretary today to try resolve concerns about the Northern Ireland protocol.
Maroš Šefčovič will meet James Cleverly in Brussels. The meeting comes amid reports that the UK’s contentious Northern Ireland protocol bill has been put on ice to allow more time for the negotiations.
Well Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews believes a deal on the disputed protocol issues can be reached within the next couple of months. Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) spoke to Barry Andrews in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She first asked him if he believed relations between the bloc and the UK have improved since Rishi Sunak became prime minister.
Out words: good target
Dur: 03:37
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews is optimistic a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol concerns can be reached within the next couple of months.
EU Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič is due to meet the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Brussels today. Barry Andrews says the protocol’s contentious problems are “very resolvable”.
Out words: be done
Dur: 00:29
The EU’s Brexit negotiator is due to meet the British Foreign Secretary today to try resolve concerns about the Northern Ireland protocol.
Maroš Šefčovič will meet James Cleverly in Brussels. The meeting comes amid reports that the UK’s Northern Ireland protocol bill has been put on ice to allow more time for negotiations on contentious Protocol issues.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews says relations between the EU and the UK have improved since Rishi Sunak became British Prime Minister.
Out words: European Union
Dur: 00:16
The people of Ukraine including its president were today awarded the European Parliament’s annual prize that honours those defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In a ceremony in Strasbourg, the Sakharov prize was given to representatives of Ukraine who were present in the European Parliament. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Parliament by video. During his speech he held a minute’s silence for all the Ukrainian men, women, children, military and civilians who have been killed in the war.
Well Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) met Barry Andrews in the European Parliament and talked to him about the award to the Ukrainian people.
Out words: really positive
Dur: 01:48
The people of Ukraine including its president, were today awarded the European Parliament’s annual prize that honours those defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In a ceremony in Strasbourg, the Sakharov prize was given to representatives of Ukraine who were present in the European Parliament. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Parliament by video. During his speech he held a minute’s silence for all the Ukrainian men, women, children, military and civilians who have been killed in the war.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews says the award reflects the EU’s ongoing support of Ukraine during these difficult times.
Out words: extremely strong
Dur: 00:22
The growing scandal involving a Greek MEP and other people in allegations of bribery and corruption have left the European Parliament reeling.
MEPs this week voted to strip Eva Kaili of her position as one of the vice-presidents of the Parliament. Ms Kaili was arrested with three others on suspicion of accepting bribes from Qatar which has been accused of trying to buy influence in Europe.
EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman caught up with Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and talked to her about the spiralling scandal.
Out words: that report
Dur: 04:11
The growing scandal involving a Greek MEP and other people in allegations of bribery and corruption have left the European Parliament reeling.
MEPs this week voted to strip Eva Kaili of her position as one of the vice-presidents of the Parliament. Ms Kaili was arrested with three others on suspicion of accepting bribes from Qatar which has been accused of trying to buy influence in Europe.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune gave her reaction to the spiralling scandal.
Out words: for reporting
Dur: 00:40
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says farmers in Ireland should be able to benefit from excess energy produced from solar panels on their farm buildings. He was commenting on EU rules that prevent farmers from selling surplus energy to the national grid if it comes from certain grant-aided solar panels.
The Fine Gael MEP says moves are underway to try to get those rules changed. Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) spoke to Colm Markey about the current rules and the efforts to change them.
Out words: the system
Dur: 01:39
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for an EU strategy on fertilisers to ensure food supply and food security.
MEPs in the European Parliament today debated how to tackle the high price and scarcity of fertilisers in Europe as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. Colm Markey says the connection between fertiliser and food security is very real and needs to be addressed.
Out words: the production
Dur: 00:25
The European Parliament this week (Thursday 6th) demanded better protection of the oceans and marine biodiversity. The vast majority of MEPs voted for a resolution that calls on the EU to lead global ocean governance and biodiversity efforts.
The calls come ahead of the upcoming climate and biodiversity conferences COP27 and COP15. The resolution was tabled by Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan. She spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman about her resolution.
Out words: to come
Dur: 03:17
The European Parliament today demanded better protection of the oceans and marine biodiversity. The vast majority of MEPs voted for a resolution that calls on the EU to lead global ocean governance and biodiversity efforts.
The calls come ahead of the upcoming climate and biodiversity conferences COP27 and COP15. The resolution was tabled by Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan. She outlined its significance.
Out words: climate catastrophe
Dur: 00:25
Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe says EU proposals to deal with the rising costs of energy don’t go far enough and are a “missed opportunity”.
The Dublin MEP voted against a European Parliament resolution to ease the pressure of rapidly rising energy prices on European households and businesses. The resolution calls for a range of measures to deal with the energy crisis including better protection of vulnerable consumers and an immediate and full embargo on oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas from Russia.
The Dublin MEP spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the resolution and why he voted against it.
Out words: lot further
Dur: 03:11
The EU needs to do much more to tackle the energy crisis that’s leading to spiralling costs and leaving vulnerable households struggling to pay their bills.
So says Green MEP Ciaran Cuffe who this week voted against a European Parliament resolution that called for a range of measures to deal with the energy emergency. They included better protection of vulnerable consumers and an immediate and full embargo on oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas from Russia.
But Ciaran Cuffe says the proposals aren’t strong enough.
Out words: do more
Dur: 00:16
Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe says EU proposals to deal with the rising costs of energy don’t go far enough and are a “missed opportunity”.
The Dublin MEP voted against a European Parliament resolution to ease the pressure of rapidly rising energy prices on European households and businesses. The resolution calls for a range of measures to deal with the energy crisis including better protection of vulnerable consumers and an immediate and full embargo on oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas from Russia.
But the Dublin MEP says the proposals won’t do enough to help people struggling with rocketing energy bills and they won’t accelerate the move away from fossil fuels.
Out words: super profits
Dur: 00:24
Regional airports like Donegal and Knock need more state aid to expand so that people in the West of Ireland don’t have to go to Dublin to fly elsewhere.
That’s the demand from Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus. He’s calling on the government to petition the European Commission to relax State-aid rules to help regional airports develop more routes.
Out words: regional airports
Dur: 00:30
The Government needs to petition the European Commission to relax state-aid rules to help regional airports like Knock and Donegal to develop and expand.
That’s the call from Sinn Fein’s MEP Chris MacManus. The Midlands North-West MEP argues regional airports need more state aid support. But the EU rules on state aid need to be changed to enable that to happen.
Well Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) met Chris MacManus in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and talked to him about helping regional airports
Out words: of Ireland
Dur: 07:10
The Government needs to petition the European Commission to relax State-aid rules to help regional airports like Knock and Donegal to develop and expand.
That’s the call from Sinn Fein’s MEP Chris MacManus. He was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs are voting this week on whether to keep some pandemic-era exceptions for the aviation sector. But Chris MacManus says those rules only benefit bigger airports.
The Midlands North-West MEP argues regional airports like Knock and Donegal need more State aid support. But the EU rules need to be changed to enable that to happen.
Out words: North West
Dur: 00:23
The introduction of a common charger for a range of portable electronic devices by the end of 2024 will benefit consumers and the planet.
So says Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs this week overwhelmingly voted for new rules to make USB type-C the common charging standard for small electronic devices by the end of 2024.
The legislation covers mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, e-readers and other portable devices. Laptops will have to be adapted to the requirements 40 months after the law enters into force.
Well Deidre Clune spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg shortly after MEPs voted for the new rules.
Out words: as that
Dur: 02:06
The introduction of a common charger for a range of portable electronic devices by the end of 2024 will benefit consumers and the planet.
So says Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs this week overwhelmingly voted for new rules to make USB type-C the common charging standard for small electronic devices by the end of 2024.
Having different chargers for different devices is a major headache for many people and it leads to tonnes of unnecessary e-waste. Deidre Clune says a common charger for multiple devices will be very welcome.
Out words: common charger
Dur: 00:29
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says the death of the County Meath man Rory Mason in Ukraine is “a shock”. The twenty three year old was killed while fighting as a volunteer with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine.
The Midlands North-West MEP says his heart goes out to Mr Mason’s parents and siblings.
Out words: that reason
Dur: 00:51
Midlands North-West MEP Colm Markey says his heart goes out to the parents and siblings of the young Dunboyne man who was killed while fighting as a volunteer with the Ukrainian armed forces.
Rory Mason was killed in action in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border. Colm Markey says his death is “shocking news”.
Out words: that reason
Dur: 00:21
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says the death of the County Meath man Rory Mason in Ukraine is very sad news. The twenty three year old was killed while fighting as a volunteer with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine.
The Midlands North-West MEP says his heart goes out to Mr Mason’s parents and siblings.
Out words: very difficult
Dur: 00:21
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says he’s hopeful the EU and UK can resolve outstanding issues related to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Ireland South MEP says there’s been “very little meaningful” engagement from the UK on the technical aspects of the Protocol that are causing difficulty. Mr Kelleher says he believes solutions can be found to resolve the issues causing problems for the UK.
Out words: the protocol
Dur: 00:21
The former GAA president Sean Kelly is calling for a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to verbal and physical abuse of referees at matches. He says more controls are needed on the sidelines to change the culture of abuse which can start as soon as the match begins.
The Fine Gael MEP says he was horrified at the recent cases of abuse of referees on the pitches.
Out words: they are
Dur: 01:34
A former president of the GAA says a policy of “zero tolerance” should be taken to stamp out the abuse of GAA referees during matches.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says more controls are needed on the sidelines to change the culture of abuse which can start as soon as the game begins.
Out words: it more
Dur: 00:30
The European Parliament today voted for a new law establishing a common charger for a whole range of mobile devices including phones, tablets, digital cameras and other portable electronics in the EU.
By the end of 2024, small and medium-sized portable electronic devices will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. The law is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, and to reduce electronic waste.
Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about this law on common chargers.
Out words: as well
Dur: 02:18
MEPs today voted for a new law establishing a common charger for a whole range of mobile devices including phones, tablets, digital cameras and other portable electronics in the EU.
By the end of 2024, small and medium-sized portable electronic devices will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. The law is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, and to reduce electronic waste.
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says this is a good move for consumers and the environment.
Out words: twenty four
Dur: 00:12
The European Parliament has voted to end the scourge of having different chargers for different mobile devices. They’ve approved a new law establishing a single charger for mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronics in the EU.
By the end of 2024, a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras and headphones, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. This law is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, and to make our lives easier.
Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan says this is a welcome move for consumers.
Out words: very welcomed
Dur: 00:15
Cocoa, coffee and palm oil causing deforestation will be banned from Europe in future. The European Parliament this week voted through the draft law which demands products, also including chocolate, leather and furniture, can only be imported into the EU if they are proven to be ‘deforestation-free’. MEPs expanded the list of crops and goods to which the ban would apply. The final law will now be negotiated with ministers. It is estimated that the EU market is responsible for ten per cent of deforestation around the world. Irish Green, Ciarán Cuffe, says a ban will help protect vulnerable habitats.
Out words: For biodiversity
Dur: 0’23”
Family farmer and Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, has spoken about the importance of the National Ploughing Championships. The championships start next week. It will be the first time the show is back in full since the covid pandemic. The Irish government has committed to a 25 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030. Colm Markey says that will be one of the major topics of conversation as farmers gather to see new technology and discuss and see what lies ahead.
Out words: These issues
Dur: 0’24”
The Irish government and the EU may need to put together a stimulus package to help businesses get through a “very difficult winter”, Billy Kelleher has suggested. The European Parliament today called for the EU to ensure companies become “competitive and clean” in the face of all the challenges. Fianna Fáil MEP says after Brexit and covid, and now the energy crisis, it is going to be tough. He says access to business loans, especially for SMEs, is going to be very important in the months ahead.
Out words: Difficult winter
Dur: 0’26”
Many small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland will go bust without help through the energy crisis – that’s the warning from Deirdre Clune. MEPs have this morning been debating how to improve Europe’s competitiveness. Speaking in the chamber in Strasbourg a short time ago, Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, said SMEs have only just come through a difficult time with covid, now, with sky-high energy bills, they need support once again.
Out words: Accessing funding
Dur: 0’16”
Ireland should be ready to be represented on a citizens panel on mental health – that’s according to Maria Walsh. The Midlands North West MEP believes that the EU is planning to set up a panel of 200 people from across the European Union to shape mental health policy. Maria Walsh says Ireland is not investing enough in an area which is particularly important for young people.
Out words: 12 per cent
Dur: 0’18”
A pledge for an EU focus on mental health has been welcomed by one of our Midlands North West MEPs. In her State of the Union address this week, the President of the European Commission promised a new initiative on mental health. Ursula von der Leyen said mental health support should be “accessible and affordable”. A report last year by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association reportedly found that nearly one-third of consultant psychiatrist posts were vacant, and the number of acute adult mental health beds in Ireland had fallen by three-quarters in the last 15 years. Midlands North West MEP, Maria Walsh, says the EU spotlight will make a difference.
Out words: Ready to go
Dur: 0’21”
The EU and UK have an opportunity to sort out the Northern Ireland protocol in the coming weeks, says Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews. The UK was expected to respond to EU legal threats by today’s deadline, but is likely to signal just a continuation of existing grace periods. Meanwhile, the days of mourning for the death of the Queen ends next week and the British government is expected to return to business. Dublin MEP, Barry Andrews, sits on the UK-EU Parliamentary Assembly and has been following developments closely. He expects talks to restart with the hope of finally resolving outstanding issues.
Out words: Both sides
Dur: 0’23”
Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed new EU support for Irish businesses. The President of the European Commission has pledged to create an “SME Relief Package” to help companies through the difficult economic times ahead. The EU would aim to create a “single set of tax rules” to help Irish business trade with their European counterparts and to cut red tape. Frances Fitzgerald says she will watch the tax developments carefully, but believes the sign of help for businesses is encouraging.
Out words: Different countries
Dur: 0’21”
Ireland’s energy supply is getting “more precarious by the day” – that’s the warning from Sean Kelly. The EU has been setting out plans to try and bring energy prices under control. But gas supplies remain tight. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, believes Ireland can produce more gas of its own to be less dependent on the pipeline from the UK. And he believes not putting the clocks back this winter could reduce peak time demand too. Sean Kelly says there is a growing urgency to act.
Out words: In their homes
Dur: 0’22”
Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, has urged the government to allow an LNG terminal to finally be built in Ireland. In a speech to the European Parliament, Sean Kelly criticised the Green party for blocking LNG and gas resources in Ireland. Speaking after the debate the Ireland South MEP insisted that the government’s current policy makes no sense in the face of high prices and precarious supply
Out words: Solidarity with Europe
Dur: 0’18”
The European Court of Justice has upheld the largest fine ever imposed by a competition authority in Europe. The court agreed that Google had “abused its dominant position” by requiring Android manufacturers to pre-install its search and other Google apps. Dublin MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says market abuse stifles competition and must be called out.
Out words: Win for entrepreneurs
Dur: 0‘23”
A multi-billion Euro fine against Google has been welcomed by a Dublin MEP. In its judgment this morning, the European Court of Justice upheld an EU decision to penalise the digital giant for “unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices”. The court set the fine at €4.125 billion. Google has two months to decide whether to appeal. Dublin MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, welcomed the judgment. He says it shows fair competition applies to all.
Out words: Of competition
Dur: ‘13”
People in Dublin have taken on a “Blitz spirit” to save energy in support of Ukraine, MEP, Barry Andrews, says. The EU is worried that there still might not be enough energy to get us through this winter. To avoid black-outs, we will be encouraged to reduce electricity consumption. Dublin MEP, Barry Andrews, says households have started to do that for themselves already.
Out words: What’s ahead
Dur: 0’27”
The EU’s energy windfall will benefit Irish households and businesses – that’s according to a Dublin MEP. In a speech in Strasbourg this morning the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that a plan to skim excessive profits from energy companies should bring in €140 billion. It will be up to governments to decide how that money is distributed. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, was in the chamber for the speech. He says he expects Ireland’s share of the EU cash to go into energy credits for households and businesses.
Out words: Energy credits
Dur: 0’18”
Ireland can achieve its environmental ambitions if it aggressively takes up renewables, says Billy Kelleher. The European Parliament is expected to this week vote for a renewables target of at least 45 per cent of energy consumption by 2030. Ireland’s overall renewable energy share in 2020 was 13.5 per cent, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority. But Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, is confident that there will be a massive increase in renewables in the years ahead.
Out words: On time
Dur: 0’22”
Europe must protect businesses and households from sky-high energy prices as it weens off Russian gas – that’s the demand of Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher. The European Commission is due to announce its plans tomorrow with a speech in Strasbourg. It is thought the EU will set out how excessive profits by energy companies can be clawed back. Billy Kelleher wants to see an end to imports of Russian gas altogether. But he says the EU should be ready to protect our companies and households from the impact it will have.
Out words: Energy prices
Dur: 0’18”
Ireland could be vulnerable to UK unilateral action on energy this winter – that’s the warning from a Fine Gael MEP. Ireland gets three-quarters of its gas through a pipeline from Britain. Midlands North West MEP, Colm Markey, says it is urgent that the Taoiseach gets guarantees from new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, that the UK will not do anything to jeopardise that supply.
Out words: Over the winter
Dur: 0’18”
Households and businesses in Ireland must feel the benefit of EU action on energy – that’s according to Colm Markey. The President of the European Commission is due to set out measures to help ease the energy crisis in a speech on Wednesday. Speaking in Strasbourg ahead of that speech, Midlands North West MEP, Colm Markey says the important thing is that her actions bring meaningful results for us at home.
Out words: That they pay
Dur: 0’17”
Ireland could face new tougher targets on renewable energy production if a vote goes through the European Parliament. MEPs are expected to demand a commitment that renewables will make up at least 45 per cent of energy consumption by 2030. It is being backed by Irish Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan. She says if we are to meet our climate change targets, we need a big switch to renewables.
Out words: Emissions down
Dur: 0’32”
The EU must ensure energy profits are redistributed to those hardest hit – that’s the demand from one of our Green MEP. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to set out her plans in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Grace O’Sullivan is there. She wants Mrs von der Leyen to be “very, very specific” about how the EU will help those struggling in the face of spiralling energy bills.
Out words: Real difficulties
Dur: 0’14”
A famine in North Africa is looming if badly needed stocks of grain don’t get out of Ukraine. That’s the warning from Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The war on Ukraine means millions of tonnes of grain are stuck inside its borders. If they can’t be exported, the consequences will be far-reaching says the Midlands North-West MEP. The European Parliament this week debated how to improve the export of agricultural products from Ukraine to prevent a global food crisis.
Colm Markey spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the implications of the dire food security situation in Ukraine.
Out words: as well
Dur: 02:20
A famine in North Africa is looming if badly needed stocks of grain don’t get out of Ukraine. That’s the warning from Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. The war on Ukraine means large quantities of grain are stuck inside its borders.
The European Parliament this week debated how to improve the export of agricultural products from Ukraine to prevent a global food crisis. If they can’t be exported, the consequences will be far-reaching says Colm Markey.
Out words: to Europe
Dur: 00:24
The Covid pandemic and the rise of digital and remote working has left people suffering from higher rates of stress and burnout.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh who authored a European Parliament report on mental health in the digital workplace. MEPs this week voted for a resolution demanding preventive measures against technostress and over-connection causing mental health issues. They also want people to have the legal right to disconnect outside working hours with no negative consequences.
Maria Walsh says people are struggling to separate their work from their home life. Well the Midlands North-West MEP talked to EuroParlRadio's Karen Coleman about her report and the impact Covid and the digital workplace is having on people’s mental health.
Out words: work places
Dur: 03:24
An EU Mental health strategy is “badly needed” to protect people’s mental health and employees should have the legal right to disconnect from the digital workplace outside working hours.
So says Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh. She authored a European Parliament report that looked at the impact of the Covid pandemic and remote and teleworking on people’s mental health.
The Midlands North-West MEP says the report shows people are suffering from higher rates of stress, burnout, depression and anxiety in the workplace. And one in six adults is currently out of work due to mental health pressures.
Out words: to come
Dur: 00:48
The Covid pandemic and the rise of digital and remote working has left people suffering from higher rates of stress and burnout.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh who authored a European Parliament report on mental health in the digital workplace. MEPs this week voted for a resolution demanding preventive measures against technostress and over-connection causing mental health issues. They also want people to have the legal right to disconnect from work outside working hours with no negative consequences.
Maria Walsh says people are struggling to separate their work from their home life.
Out words: health pressures
Dur: 00:19
Environmental activists yesterday accused MEPs of betrayal for voting against a motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable investments.
MEPs rejected objections to the European Commission’s Taxonomy Delegated Act. It includes specific nuclear and gas energy activities, under certain conditions, in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness originally tabled the act earlier this year.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) about the Taxonomy vote and the accusations that Commissioner McGuinness was “greenwashing” gas and nuclear activities.
Out words: be practical
Dur: 02:25
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has defended Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness for including nuclear and gas activities as sustainable investments on the financial markets.
MEPs yesterday rejected objections to the European Commission’s Taxonomy Delegated Act. It includes specific nuclear and gas energy activities, under certain conditions, in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy. Commissioner McGuinness originally tabled the act earlier this year.
Environmental activists yesterday accused MEPs of betrayal for voting against the motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable investments. But Sean Kelly says the war on Ukraine means we’ll need nuclear and gas for the moment.
Out words: the meantime
Dur: 00:34
Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen could power our planes in the years to come.
That’s according to the European Parliament which today (Thursday) pushed for greener aviation fuels to help the EU become climate neutral by 2050. They’re calling for the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fund to accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and support investment in sustainable aviation fuels, and new eco-friendly aviation technologies.
However, Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe says the Parliament is including a range of unacceptable fuels in its mix such as palm oil and certain biofuels. He spoke to Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) about the European Parliament’s position on green aviation fuels.
Out words: same mistakes
Dur: 01:42
Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen could power our planes in the years to come.
That’s according to the European Parliament which today pushed for greener aviation fuels to help the EU become climate neutral by 2050. They’re calling for the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fund to accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and support investment in sustainable aviation fuels, and new eco-friendly aviation technologies.
However, Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe says the Parliament is including a range of unacceptable fuels in its mix such as palm oil and certain biofuels. He says, it is possible to power a plane with the right kind of sustainable aviation fuels.
Out words: same mistakes
Dur: 00:34
The UK’s bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol came in for strong criticism this week in the European Parliament when MEPs debated it.
During the debate, the European Commission Vice President, Maroš Šefčovič, resisted the temptation to pass comment on the Downing Street turmoil directly, but said he wants EU-UK relations to reach a stable footing.
Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) met Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and she asked him about the debate on the Protocol bill.
Out words: that position
Dur: 04:13
The lack of enough Northern Ireland politicians on the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly is an issue of “serious concern”. That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The Assembly was set up following the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It acts as a forum for the European and UK Parliaments to exchange views on EU-UK relations.
But Colm Markey, who is a member of the Assembly, says it doesn’t have enough representatives from Northern Ireland.
Out words: serious concern
Dur: 00:14
The majority of MEPs in the European Parliament believe the UK’s stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol is “very unhelpful”.
So says Colm Markey who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg where MEPs yesterday debated the UK’s bill on the Protocol.
The Midlands Northwest MEP says it will be very difficult for the EU to negotiate with the UK until the British government withdraws its bill on the Protocol.
Out words: whatsoever
Dur: 00:19
The European Parliament today rejected a motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable investments on the financial markets.
The required absolute majority of MEP votes was not achieved to object to the European Commission’s Taxonomy Delegated Act. It includes specific nuclear and gas energy activities, under certain conditions, in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness originally tabled the act earlier this year.
Well Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) spoke to Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan in the European Parliament in Strasbourg after the vote.
Out words: problematic
Dur: 06:01
Environmental activists in the European Parliament today accused MEPs of betrayal for voting against a motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable investments on the financial markets.
The required absolute majority of MEP votes was not achieved to object to the European Commission’s Taxonomy Delegated Act. It includes specific nuclear and gas energy activities, under certain conditions, in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness originally tabled the act earlier this year.
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says today’s vote was a “huge mistake”.
Out words: the environment
Dur: 00:44
The European Parliament today rejected a motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable investments on the financial markets.
The required absolute majority of MEP votes was not achieved to object to the European Commission’s Taxonomy Delegated Act. It includes specific nuclear and gas energy activities, under certain conditions, in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness originally tabled the act earlier this year.
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says she’s massively disappointed with today’s vote.
Out words: a fudge
Dur: 00:18
The British government’s bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol came in for strong criticism from MEPs today during a debate on it in the European Parliament.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who called for today’s debate, told the Parliament the bill marks a new low in relations between the EU and the UK. He says the majority of MEPs do not agree with the UK’s protocol bill.
Out words: to us
Dur: 00:31
The UK’s controversial bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol has been debated in the European Parliament.
The proposed bill, which passed the second reading stage in the UK House of Commons last month, would allow the UK government to unilaterally ignore EU-UK arrangements for Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly, who called for today’s debate, told the Parliament the bill marks a new low in relations between the EU and the UK. The Ireland South MEP says today’s debate sends a clear message to the UK that the bill is unacceptable.
Out words: International law
Dur: 00:19
The UK bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol is being discussed in the European Parliament today.
The proposed bill, passed the second reading stage in the British House of Commons last month. If passed, it would allow the UK government to unilaterally ignore EU-UK arrangements for Northern Ireland after Brexit. And it could potentially risk a trade war between the EU and the UK.
Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio) talked to the Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the UK bill and the Parliament’s debate on it. Here’s that interview.
Out words: party to
Dur: 05:17
Ciarán Cuffe has set out a renewable vision as an alternative to gas and nuclear.
The Green MEP is deeply concerned about EU plans to label gas and nuclear as green or transition fuels. The labelling change will be put to the vote in the European Parliament later today.
He fears the change would encourage more investment in fossil fuels. Instead, he says it is time to turbocharge our shift to renewable energy.
Out words: To nuclear
Dur: 0’19”
Labelling gas and nuclear as ‘green’ or ‘transition’ fuels will divert investment away from renewables -that’s the fear of one of our Green MEPs.
The European Parliament will today vote on EU plans to add gas and nuclear to a list of “environmentally sustainable economic activities”.
Ciarán Cuffe says that would be a mistake, especially right now when we are trying to shift away from fossil fuels.
Out words: Wind turbines
Dur: 0’20”
The European Parliament will hold a debate today on the UK’s controversial bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol. If implemented, the proposed bill would breach the EU-UK Brexit deal and it could result in a trade war between the bloc and the UK.
Sinn Fein’s Midlands North-West MEP Chris MacManus says the bill is a front for wider attacks on the Good Friday Agreement.
Out words: negotiated it
Dur: 1:00
The UK bill on the Northern Ireland Protocol will be debated in the European Parliament today.
MEPs will discuss the proposed bill, which passed the second reading stage in the British House of Commons last month. If passed, it would allow the UK government to unilaterally ignore EU-UK arrangements for Northern Ireland after Brexit. And it could potentially risk a trade war between the EU and the UK.
Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus says the debate on the bill is long overdue.
Out words: Irish Protocol
Dur: 00:15
MEPs have today been looking at what initiatives the EU can take to help people deal with surging inflation fuelled by escalating food and energy prices following Russia’s war against Ukraine. They’re also assessing the most effective way of imposing a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies.
Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher says energy companies like Electric Ireland have an obligation to lessen the burden on hard-pressed consumers and families trying to cope with rising costs. He says they should forego making any profits in these times of crises.
Well Karen Coleman of EuroParlRadio, spoke to Billy Kelleher in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Here’s that interview.
Out words: product itself
Dur: 04:57
The majority of MEPs in the European Parliament today voted for a report calling for more investment for carers throughout the EU. MEPs also want EU countries to recognise the right to care and they say legislative measures are needed for decent working conditions for carers.
Between forty to fifty (40m to 50m) million people provide informal care on a regular basis in the EU and the majority of carers are women.
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald talked to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman about the report and what MEPs want when it comes to improving care services in the EU.
Out words: a difference
Dur: 02:32
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald is calling for new visas for care workers to come into Europe from around the world.
She was speaking in the European Parliament where the majority of MEPs today backed a report calling for more investment for carers throughout the EU. They want EU countries to recognise the right to care and they say legislative measures are needed for decent working conditions for carers.
Frances Fitzgerald says the shortage of carers in Europe means visas should be given to non-EU citizens to enable them to come to work in Europe legally.
Out words: community services
Dur: 00:22
The European Parliament today called for more investment for carers throughout the EU. MEPs also want EU countries to recognise the right to care and they say legislative measures are needed for decent working conditions for carers.
Between forty to fifty (40m to 50m) million people provide informal care on a regular basis in the EU and the majority of carers are women. According to the European Parliament ,eighty percent (80%) of all long-term care in Europe is provided by informal carers. MEPs are calling for European structural and investment funds to be used to invest in childcare, care for older people and others in need of care.
Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald says the EU needs to play a bigger role in the whole area of care.
Out words: a shortage
Dur: 00:23
The scourge of having to carry around multiple cables and chargers for different devices is finally coming to an end.
Negotiators from the European parliament and governments struck a deal this week that will see the same USB port being used for multiple devices by Autumn 2024. The deal will help reduce electronic waste and costs for the planet and consumers.
Well Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says it’s very good news for the planet and consumers. He spoke to journalist Angelique Ferat in the European Parliament in Strasbourg after the deal was struck. Here’s that interview.
Out words: of this
Dur: 02:01
A deal to have a common charger for multiple devices by 2024 is “very good news” for the planet and consumers.
So says Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher. He was commenting on the agreement reached this week between EU Parliament and Council negotiators that will see all new mobile phones, tablets and cameras using the same USB charging port by 2024.
That will end the hassle of having several cables and chargers for multiple devices. Here’s Billy Kelleher.
Out words: multiple chargers
Dur: 00:32
The introduction of a common charger for multiple devices should end the scourge of planned obsolescence and cut down on electronic waste.
By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU following agreement this week between EU Parliament and Council negotiators.
Ciarán Cuffe says this will be good for the planet and consumers.
Out words: to come
Dur: 00:17
The days when you have to carry around a bag full of different cables and chargers to power up your mobile devices are coming to an end.
By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU following agreement this week between EU Parliament and Council negotiators.
The law is a part of a broader EU effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, to reduce electronic waste, and make consumers’ lives easier.
Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe says it is a great move not just for consumers but for the planet as well.
Out words: the better
Dur: 00:10
The European Parliament has backed a motion supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the EU. Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly voted in favour of the motion to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
The Ireland South MEP also delivered a blistering attack on the French president Emmanuel Macron when he spoke in the European Parliament on Wednesday. He scolded the French President for his recent call not to humiliate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Well EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman spoke with Sean Kelly about both Ukraine and Macron. Here’s that interview.
Out words: European Union
Dur: 05:09
Granting Ukraine EU candidate status will enable the country to make the necessary reforms to become an EU member. That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly. The European Parliament has backed a motion supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
The Taoiseach also expressed his strong support for Ukraine’s membership application bid when he addressed the Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday.
Once a country is given candidate status, they then have to implement a series of measures to ensure the country is fit to become a member. That process can take years. And Ukraine needs to make major reforms to ensure it complies with EU rules and standards and stamp out corruption.
But Sean Kelly says granting it candidate status will help them make those reforms.
Out words: that’s necessary
Dur: 00:26
The European Parliament has backed a motion supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the EU. The speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk yesterday pleaded with MEPs to support his country’s move to become a member of the bloc.
The Taoiseach also expressed his strong support for Ukraine’s membership application bid when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly voted in favour of the motion to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Out words: candidate country
Dur: 00:21
There is "really strong support for Ireland" on the Northern Ireland protocol and the Taoiseach’s stance on it which he outlined in the European Parliament yesterday. So says Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan.
Micheál Martin told MEPs any unilateral action on the protocol would be “deeply damaging” and would mark an “historic low point”.
Out words: political negotiations
Dur: 00:22
MEPs in the European Parliament have been assessing the Taoiseach’s address to them yesterday. Micheál Martin delivered a strong speech that encompassed a range of issues from Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol to the war on Ukraine and the legacy of the late John Hume.
Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan spoke to EuroParlRadio’s editor Karen Coleman about the Taoiseach’s address and how it went down in the Parliament.
Out words: difficult negotiations
Dur: 04:45
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher is warning any changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol would have “profound implications”.
He was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg which the Taoiseach addressed yesterday. Micheál Martin told MEPs any unilateral action on the protocol would be “deeply damaging” and would mark an “historic low point”.
Journalist Angelique Ferat met up with Billy Kelleher in the Parliament in Strasbourg. She asked him what he thought about the Taoiseach’s address and his support for Ukrainian membership of the EU.
Out words: and cooperation
Dur: 05:00
Ukraine should be supported “in every way” possible to do what will be needed to join the EU.
So says Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Yesterday the Taoiseach told the Parliament he strongly supported Ukraine’s application to become a member of the European Union. Here’s Billy Kelleher
Out words: the future
Dur: 00:27
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher is warning any changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol would have “profound implications”.
He was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg which the Taoiseach addressed yesterday. Micheál Martin told MEPs any unilateral action on the protocol would be “deeply damaging” and would mark an “historic low point”.
The British government has delayed publishing its bill to scrap parts of the Protocol until next week. Here’s Billy Kelleher.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:30
The Taoiseach this morning condemned the British government for what he called its “bad faith efforts” to undermine a Treaty freely entered into.
Micheál Martin was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He told MEPs unilateral action by the British government on the Northern Ireland Protocol, would be “deeply damaging” and would mark a “historic low point”.
Brexit and the problems with the Protocol weren’t the only topics the Taoiseach touched on during his address. Other issues included the war on Ukraine, John Hume’s legacy and the benefits of Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership.
Well Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe gave his reaction to the Taoiseach’s speech, to journalist Angelique Ferat who was in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Out words: coming years
Dur: 02:40
The Taoiseach this morning condemned the British government for what he called its “bad faith efforts” to undermine a Treaty freely entered into.
Micheál Martin was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He told MEPs unilateral action by the British government on the Northern Ireland Protocol, would be “deeply damaging” and would mark a “historic low point”.
Well Brexit and the problems with the Protocol weren’t the only topics the Taoiseach touched on during his address. Other issues included the war on Ukraine, John Hume’s legacy and the benefits of Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership.
Well Fine Gael’s Deirdre Clune was in the Parliament in Strasbourg during the Taoiseach’s address. The Ireland South MEP gave her reaction to his speech to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman.
Out words: stand off
Dur: 04:55
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament has called on the EU to endorse his country’s application to join the bloc.
Ruslan Stefanchuk made the call in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. His pleas followed comments by the Taoiseach on Ukraine EU membership, when he also addressed MEPs in the French city.
Earlier this morning Micheál Martin told the Parliament, he “strongly” supported Ukraine’s EU membership application.
Well Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune says there is strong support in the Parliament for Ukraine to join the EU.
Out words: European Union
Dur: 00:30
The Taoiseach has condemned the British government for what he called its “bad faith efforts” to undermine a Treaty freely entered into.
Micheál Martin was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning. He was the third EU leader to address MEPs this year on the topic "This is Europe". Mr Martin said the European Union has worked hard to find ways to minimise the negative impacts of Brexit on businesses and citizens of Northern Ireland.
Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says Mr Martin spoke well and was clear about his views on the Protocol.
Out words: European Union
Dur: 00:21
MEPs in the European Parliament in Strasbourg have been reacting to the Taoiseach’s address there this morning,.
Micheál Martin touched on a range of issues during his speech including Ireland’s 50-year membership of the EU, the war on Ukraine and the problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Martin said he strongly supports Ukraine’s application to join the EU. Ciarán Cuffe gave his reaction to the Taoiseach’s speech.
Out words: see progress
Dur: 00:28
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly is demanding EU leaders find out what the French President meant by his recent calls for Russia not to be humiliated over its invasion of Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron made the comments in a recent interview with a newspaper. It’s caused outrage in many circles including Ukrainian ones.
Speaking today in the European Parliament, Sean Kelly said it’s time to get answers from Mr Macron about his comments.
Out words: single day
Dur: 00:21
Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly delivered a blistering attack on the French president Emmanuel Macron when he spoke in the European Parliament this morning.
The Ireland South MEP scolded the French President for his recent call not to humiliate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Kelly was speaking after the Taoiseach addressed the European Parliament earlier in the morning.
Out words: single day
Dur: 00:40
The Taoiseach has warned unilateral action by the British government on the Northern Ireland Protocol would be “deeply damaging” and would mark a “historic low point”.
Micheál Martin was speaking in the European Parliament where he talked about a range of topics including Ireland’s membership of the EU, the war on Ukraine and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
He told MEPs there are solutions to practical problems under the Protocol if there is the political will to find them. But he said, that would require the UK government to engage with good faith, seriousness and commitment.
Out words: new problems
Dur: 00:21
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg early on Wednesday morning. His speech will be the third in a series of debates this year with EU leaders on the topic of “This is Europe”.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says Mr Martin is likely to touch on some key issues during his address.
Out words: years ahead
Dur: 00:36
The EU will have to consider “stronger measures” against the UK government if it introduces legislation that overrides the Protocol on Northern Ireland and breaches international law.
That’s the view of Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will address the Parliament on Wednesday morning.
There’s widespread speculation the British government will introduce a controversial bill that would disapply parts of the Protocol.
Barry Andrews says “continuous appeasement” of the UK government is “achieving nothing”.
Out words: can’t trust
Dur: 00:20
The scourge of needing different chargers for different devices may finally be coming to an end. European Parliament and European Council negotiators today reached an agreement that establishes a single charging solution for a range of electronic devices.
Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need different chargers and cables every time they purchase a new device. Instead they can use one single charger for all of their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices. By autumn 2024, there will be a common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU.
The European Parliament’s rapporteur on the deal was Alex Agius Saliba. He explained its implications for consumers and the environment.
Out words: reducing waste
Dur: 00:18
The Taoiseach and the President of the European Parliament, jointly unveiled a new statue of the late SDLP leader John Hume in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this evening.
The bronze bust which is one of four, was donated to the Parliament by the Irish government. It was created by Irish sculptor and artist Liz O’Kane who is originally from Northern Ireland but is based in Dublin.
The statue will be permanently displayed in the European Parliament. Its presence there marks the extraordinary legacy of John Hume who was an MEP for twenty five years.
Karen Coleman, Editor of EuroParlRadio, talked with Liz O’Kane about her work on the statue and what it means to have it permanently on display in the Parliament.
Out words: very much
Dur: 05:44
The family of the late John Hume played a key role in influencing how a new bronze bust of the late MEP would look like.
That’s according to painter and sculptor, Liz O’Kane whose statue of the Nobel Laureate will be on permanent display in the European Parliament in Strasbourg from today. The Taoiseach and the President of the European Parliament jointly unveiled the statue in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this evening.
The Dublin-based artist, who’s originally from Northern Ireland, says she worked entirely from photos and video footage to create the bust of late SDLP leader.
Out words: be tidy
Dur: 00:21
The creator of a new sculpture of the late SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume, says it’s a huge honour to have the bronze bust permanently displayed in the European Parliament.
Irish sculptor and artist Liz O’Kane was originally commissioned by the Irish Ambassador to the US to create the sculpture for the Ambassador’s residence in Washington. Three other bronze replicas were subsequently commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
And one of those will be permanently on display in the European Parliament from today. Here’s Liz O’Kane.
Out words: have that
Dur: 00:31
Taoiseach Micheál Martin along with the President of the European Parliament, will unveil a bronze bust of the late SDLP leader and former MEP John Hume in the European Parliament in Strasbourg later today (around 5pm Irish time).
The statue was made by Dublin-based sculptor Liz O’Kane who is originally from Northern Ireland. It’s been donated to the Parliament by the Irish government.
Midlands North-West MEP Colm Markey says the placing of the statue in the European Parliament is very significant.
Out words: local tensions
Dur: 01:24
The placing of a statue of the late Nobel Laureate John Hume in the European Parliament is “very very important”. That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin along with the President of the European Parliament, will unveil the bronze bust of the late SDLP leader and former MEP later today.
The statue was made by Dublin-based sculptor Liz O’Kane who is originally from Northern Ireland. It’s been donated to the Parliament by the Irish government.
Colm Markey says John Hume’s twenty five years as an MEP, helped him to see the importance of being part of a bigger European family.
Out words: local tensions
Dur: 00:16
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will unveil a statue of the late SDLP leader and former MEP John Hume in the European Parliament in Strasbourg later today.
The Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola will also be at the unveiling of the bronze bust which was made by Dublin-based sculptor Liz O’Kane who is originally from Northern Ireland.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says the Parliament’s decision to honour Mr Hume’s legacy by displaying the sculpture on its premises, is “very very important”.
Out words: EU project
Dur: 00:27
A sculpture of the late SDLP leader and former MEP John Hume will be unveiled in the European Parliament in Strasbourg later today.
The bronze bust was created by Dublin-based sculptor and painter Liz O’Kane who is from Northern Ireland. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to join the President of the European Parliament in unveiling the bust later.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews says it is extremely significant that the Parliament decided to celebrate Mr Hume’s legacy by displaying the sculpture on its premises.
Out words: and Ireland
Dur: 00:32
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews is hoping the Taoiseach will talk about Ukraine and its future EU membership, when he addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow.
Micheál Martin will discuss the European Union and its future during a speech there tomorrow morning. His address will be the third in a series of debates with EU leaders on Europe’s future.
Barry Andrews says Ireland should help Ukraine to join the EU.
Out words: European Union
Dur:00:17
The first ever meeting of the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly will take place in Brussels this week (12/13). The Assembly was set up last year after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. It’s made up of thirty five (35) members each from the European Parliament and the UK Parliament (including the House of Lords).
Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, MEP for the Midlands North-West, is a member of the EU delegation. Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) caught up with him during last week's European Parliament session in Strasbourg. She first asked him about the new Assembly and his expectations of what it can achieve.
Out words: Protocol work
Dur: 05:30
The first ever meeting of the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly will start on Thursday in Brussels.
The Assembly was set up last year after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. It’s made up of thirty five (35) members each from the European Parliament and the UK Parliament (including the House of Lords).
Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, MEP for the Midlands North-West, is a member of the EU delegation. He says outstanding issues related to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol must be tackled.
Out words: listened to
Dur: 00:20
Attempts to resolve outstanding issues related to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol are expected to pick up following the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
The first ever meeting of the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly will take place next week in Brussels. It was set up last year after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. It’s made up of members from the European and UK Parliaments.
Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, MEP for the Midlands North-West, is a member of the EU delegation. He says there are a number of Brexit issues that need to be resolved.
Out words: EU Institutions
Dur: 00:40
The European Parliament this week called for limits on the use of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.
MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) caught up with Grace O’Sullivan during the week and asked her more about these damaging chemicals.
Out words: on nature
Dur: 01:54
Toxic chemicals that stay in the environment for a long time should be eliminated and should not be recycled. So says Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan.
The European Parliament this week called for limits on the use of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.
MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.
Out words: eliminated altogether
Dur: 00:15
Stricter limits should be imposed on the use of harmful chemicals in products that stay in the environment for a long time and threaten people’s health.
That’s the demand from Green party MEP Grace O’Sullivan. The European Parliament this week called for limits on the amount of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.
MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Grace O’Sullivan explains how damaging these chemicals can be.
Out words: really alarming
Dur: 00:18
The European Parliament has voted for stricter new limits on forever chemicals. Persistent organic pollutants are poisonous substances which take hundreds of years to break down. The danger is that they end up in the water supply and the human food chain. The chemicals are used in some building materials and in industrial processes. The EU signed up to the UN’s Stockholm Convention which aims to eliminate or restrict the use of these nasty chemicals. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says it is good that the European Parliament is pushing further.
Out words: These compounds
Dur: 0’17”
Food shortages could lead to a new migrant crisis for Europe – that’s the warning from Colm Markey. The war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia are raising serious questions about the supply of food. Whilst we’re seeing prices going up here, in developing countries the impact could be starvation. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, believes it could trigger a new wave of migration from Africa toward Europe. He says it’s not only in our own interest, the EU also has a “moral responsibility” to act.
Out words: Concern to Europe
Dur: 0’19”
The European Commission this week announced a new round of proposed sanctions against Russia including ending imports of Russian oil to Europe by the end of the year. The proposals met with strong opposition from some EU countries like Hungary and Slovakia who want more time to wean themselves off Russian oil.
However Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe argues ways can be found to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russia for energy supplies. He says energy companies should be taxed to help people pay for energy efficiency projects such as retrofitting their homes with insulation and installing heat pumps.
Well Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) caught up with the Dublin MEP this week. She first asked him what could be done to counter the impact of a Russian oil ban.
Out words: these profits
Dur: 03:58
Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says energy companies should be taxed to help people pay for energy efficiency projects such as retrofitting their homes with insulation and installing heat pumps.
The Green MEP says a levy could be put on the profits they’re making from rising oil and gas prices to help people to renovate their homes for energy saving measures.
Out words: these profits
Dur: 00:18
A new EU fund should be set up to help pay for increased renovations and other energy saving projects over the coming years.
That’s the recommendation from Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe. His comments follow EU plans to impose tougher sanctions against Russia including banning all imports of oil from there by the end of the year.
Ciarán Cuffe says retrofitting houses and other energy saving initiatives could significantly reduce our dependence on Russia for energy supplies. But he believes people will need financial help to carry out expensive energy efficiency projects.
Out words: for that
Dur: 00:16
Negotiations are continuing to try to get an agreement among the EU’s twenty seven countries on the latest proposed sanctions against Russia.
The European Commission is proposing to end imports of Russian oil by the end of the year. But already some EU countries like Hungary and Slovakia have voiced strong opposition to the proposals.
However Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says ways can be found to reduce the EU’s dependency on Russia for energy supplies.
Out words: from Russia
Dur: 00:23
Resistance by some EU countries to the 6th round of proposed sanctions against Russia is “understandable”. So says Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan.
Hungary and Slovakia have both voiced strong concerns about the European Commission plans to end Russian oil imports by the end of the year. And several more EU countries have problems with other parts of the sanctions package. Negotiations are continuing to reach an agreement on the proposed sanctions.
Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.
Out words: on Ukraine
Dur: 00:23
Ireland’s former justice minister wants to see her criminal law extended Europe-wide to protect Ukrainian women and children. More than five million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war. There are concerns that refugees are vulnerable to exploitation. It is an issue being debated in the European Parliament today. In 2015, the then Justice Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, brought in the sexual offences act. She says it is helping to protect Ukrainian women in Ireland now, but the same principles need to be applied right across the EU.
Out words: Across Europe
Dur: 0’20”
A senior Fine Gael MEP is warning to expect more cyber attacks from Russia whatever the result of the Ukraine war. In recent years, not just Ireland, but many European countries have experienced serious cyber attacks. Ukraine itself continues to be subjected to cyber warfare, according to the EU. The issue of cyber attacks has been raised in a debate in the European Parliament this week. The EU wants to increase information sharing between data security experts and a dedicated Joint Cyber Unit to bolster defences. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, is urging us to take what seems like an invisible danger more seriously.
Out words: Ward this off
Dur: 0’22”
One year after a major attack on HSE computer systems, Europe’s defences are not up to scratch – that’s according to Sean Kelly. In May 2021, attackers brought the IT system of the Irish health service to its knees. A subsequent report branded HSE systems as “frail”. The issue of cyber attacks has been debated this week in the European Parliament. The EU has proposed a Joint Cyber Unit, but it is still not up and running. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, backs the idea of Europe-wide defences. He is worried that we’re still not ready.
Out words: On its own
Dur: 0’20”
The Independents for change MEP Mick Wallace says the United States “sees big opportunities” from the Russian war on Ukraine.
He was speaking in the European Parliament following the announcement this morning of a sixth round of proposed EU sanctions against Russia. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told MEPs the Commission is proposing a complete ban on imports of Russian oil to Europe by the end of the year.
Mick Wallace said Ukraine, the EU and the Global South “are the biggest losers in this war” but that the US “needs the war to reinforce” what he called the “unipolar power”.
Out words: the price
Dur: 00:47
Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed EU plans for new sanctions against Russia. The European Commission has proposed sanctioning more military officers, three more banks and, most importantly, cutting off Russian oil by the end of the year. EU 27 governments will need to sign off the sanctions before they come into effect and there are reports some eastern European countries may be given more time to move off oil. Dublin MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, accepts that cutting oil will hurt us as well as Russia, but she says we have to move away from Russian energy.
Out words: Fuel poverty
Dur: 0’19”
The world needs to start on a "pathway" to banning nuclear weapons – that’s the call from MEP, Barry Andrews. The countries signed up to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are due to meet for the first time next month. Ireland was one of the founding signatories. Barry Andrews is disappointed that the EU will not be attending. The war in Ukraine has brought back the shadow of a nuclear threat to Europe. Barry Andrews says it is high time we started on the road to ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Out words: Absolutely extraordinary
Dur: 0’21”
EU cash is tied up in Irish planes stuck in Russia, according to Colm Markey. The European Parliament is expected to discuss the issue this afternoon. The resolution, which will be put to the vote on Thursday condemns what it calls an intolerable “theft” and demands an immediate return of the aircraft. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, sits on the transport committee in the European Parliament. He says EU bank money is involved. And he warns that Russia is setting a precedent which could undermine the viability of the aircraft leasing industry.
Out words: Insurance sector
Dur: 0’17”
Irish-owned planes stuck in Russia are unlikely to be returned any time soon, that’s according to Colm Markey. Hundreds of aircraft owned by Irish leasing companies have not been returned since EU sanctions came into force. In its financial results, published today, leasing firm Avolon, announced a net loss and admitted that ten of its aircraft stuck in Russia had led to “an impairment” of close to €300 million. The issue is expected to be raised in the European Parliament this afternoon. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, believes sanctions will limit Russia's ability to fly the planes.
Out words: Difficult situation
Dur: 0’21”
Artificial intelligence must be regulated so that humans are always watching – that’s the view of Deirdre Clune, who backed today’s report in the European Parliament. MEPs want to Europe to make more progress in AI developments, but to regulate the technology to try and avoid abuse and manipulation. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune says citizens need to be able to trust AI.
Out words: Humans have oversight
Dur: 0’17”
Artificial intelligence can improve our farming, climate and health, says Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament has just backed a final report on AI following a detailed study by the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence. The committee warns that Europe is falling behind other parts of the world in developing cutting-edge technology, but can still catch up. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, is a big proponent of AI and has been following developments closely. She says the potential for AI to change our lives is incredible.
Out words: For the patient
Dur: 0’25”
The Ukrainian crisis is disturbing international supply chains and it’s causing volatility in the prices of raw materials and energy. And there’s a major risk that rising prices and shortages of fertilisers will cause food crises.
That’s according to the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. During an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning, he said thirty million more people could suffer hunger between 2023 and 2026 because of the war in Ukraine. And he warned, rising costs are also having a major impact on European economies.
Out words: of production
Dur: 00:23
The EU needs to find ways to protect families and businesses from soaring energy costs. That was the plea made by Italy’s Prime Minister this morning during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Mario Draghi told MEPs, there’s a need to moderate people’s bills and fuel prices to ensure sanctions against Russia are more sustainable. And he said Italy has been calling on the EU to put a ceiling on gas prices imported from Russia.
(The following clip of Prime Minister Draghi is interpreted).
Out words: military campaign
Dur: 00:37
Ukraine’s resistance is keeping freedom alive – that’s according to Billy Kelleher. This morning the Russian defence ministry claimed it had destroyed a storage facility in Odessa being used to house weapons sent by Europe and the US. Whilst Ireland continues to supply non-lethal equipment, many other western countries are sending arms. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, says it is right that we help Ukraine as much as possible.
Out words: Be supportive Dur: 0’16”
Billy Kelleher has accused the anti-war movement of “deep down” wanting a “Russian victory”. The Fianna Fáil MEP made the remarks on Twitter and is standing by them this morning. He believes that NATO countries sending weapons to Ukraine is “very justifiable” in order to help Ukrainians defend themselves. He says without the resistance, and without international support, Ukraine would be wiped off the map.
Out words: Appalling Russian aggression Dur: 0’23”
The cascading impact of the energy crisis in Europe on the real economy is going to hit Ireland “early and hardest”, Barry Andrews warns. But the Fianna Fáil MEP also says Ireland should bounce back more quickly. Rising energy prices driven, first by covid, and then by the Ukraine war, are expected to be felt right across the economy. Barry Andrews wants the government and the EU to work to try and cushion the blow. He says Ireland should get ready.
Out words: Forefront of that
Dur: 0’17”
Ireland must stand up for countries worst hit by the Russian energy crisis, in the same way as they stood by Ireland after Brexit – that’s the view of Barry Andrews. Last week Russia cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. EU energy ministers have been meeting this afternoon to discuss the implications and show solidarity. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says Ireland is far less exposed because we don't rely on Russian oil and gas, but we must step up and help our European neighbours who helped us through Brexit.
Out words: Exposed as others
Dur: 0’18”
The European Parliament this week voted for a range of demands for an upcoming European Commission proposal on the right to repair planned for later this year. MEPs say consumers should be able to buy longer-lasting products that can be easily fixed rather than replacing them with new ones.
They also want consumers to be able to get software updates for goods like smartphones to avoid having to replace them regularly. They’re calling for practices which unduly constrain the right to repair or lead to obsolescence to be considered as “unfair commercial practices” and banned under EU law.
Well Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe spoke to Karen Coleman in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about the proposed Right to Repair proposals.
Out words: fitting them
Dur: 02:30
Consumers should be able to buy longer-lasting products that can be easily fixed rather than replacing them with new ones.
That’s the call from the European Parliament which this week adopted a range of demands for an upcoming European Commission proposal on the right to repair planned for later this year.
MEPs also want consumers to be able to get software updates for goods like smartphones to avoid having to replace them regularly. They’re demanding that practices which unduly constrain the right to repair or lead to obsolescence to be considered as “unfair commercial practices” and banned under EU law.
Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe explains how Right to Repair rules could work.
Out words: twenty years
Dur: 00:14
Ireland needs to ramp up its investment in green energy projects and avoid putting money into fossil fuel projects in a panic to secure alternative energy supplies to Russian ones.
That's the recommendation from Green MEP Grace O'Sullivan. Her comments come as pressure mounts on the EU to stop importing Russian gas and oil. The overwhelming majority of MEPs this week called for a full and immediate embargo of EU imports of Russian coal, oil and gas and nuclear fuel.
The vote follows the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report which calls for urgent measures to limit global warming to one and a half degrees Celsius (1.5°C). And it shows the impact of climate change is greater than previously estimated.
Out words: degree limit
Dur: 00:26
The overwhelming majority of MEPs today approved derogations from EU Directives to ensure an indefinite supply of medicines to Northern Ireland post-Brexit.
The vote should also resolve supply issues for Ireland, Cyprus and Malta for the next three years.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune led the negotiations for the EPP group on the derogations. She says that because of Brexit, medicines authorised in the UK were prevented from being brought into Northern Ireland. But today’s vote should resolve those problems.
Out words: Northern Ireland
Dur: 00:16
News that the EU is spending a whopping one billion euro (€1bn) every day on Russian energy supplies have left many of us scratching our heads and wondering how the EU became so reliant on Russia for oil, gas and coal.
The European Commission this week announced more sanctions against Russia including a ban on coal imports. But so far EU countries haven’t agreed to embargo oil and gas because some of them are highly dependent on Russia for their energy supplies.
On Thursday the overwhelming majority of MEPs voted for an immediate embargo on imports of Russian oil, gas, nuclear fuel and coal. Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says it’s time to wean ourselves off fossil fuels and accelerate the development of renewable energy sources. He spoke to Karen Coleman (Editor EuroParlRadio) in Strasbourg about the energy crisis.
Out words : stable condition
Dur: 05:09
The vast majority of MEPs have just voted to impose an immediate embargo on imports of Russian oil, gas, coal and nuclear fuel.
An embargo could cause severe problems but Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe says Ireland shouldn't panic and invest billions in developing fossil fuel projects to address a short-term energy crisis if the EU stops buying Russian oil and gas.
He says Ireland and other EU countries have an opportunity now to accelerate the development of renewable energy sources.
The Dublin MEP is against supporting fossil fuel projects such as the Shannon Liquified Natural Gas terminal proposed for North Kerry.
Out words: years’ time
Dur: 00:18
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says Ireland has a golden opportunity to become a global leader and provider of green energy.
And she says the energy crisis means it’s critical that Ireland ramps up investment in clean energies.
Out words: energy security
Dur: 00:20
Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe is warning the EU “not to jump from the frying pan into the fire” as the bloc tries to wean itself off Russian energy supplies.
The EU is now proposing to ban imports of Russian coal. But so far EU countries have not agreed to impose an embargo on Russian gas and oil because of their dependence on them.
However, Ciarán Cuffe says the EU must resist the temptation to take gas and oil from other countries with poor human rights records. We should focus instead on renewable energy sources says the Dublin MEP.
Out words: fuel addiction
Dur: 00:22
MEPs are today voting on EU proposals to secure the long-term supply of medicines to Northern Ireland post-Brexit while ensuring the integrity of the EU single market is protected.
If MEPs back these proposals, they would ensure continuity of supply of generic and innovative medicines to Northern Ireland from Britain.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune says that because of Brexit, medicines authorised in the UK were prevented from being brought into Northern Ireland. But the Commission proposed ways to get around those obstacles.
Out words: any restrictions
Dur: 00:19
The European Commission’s foreign policy chief admitted to MEPs on Wednesday that Europe is spending a staggering one billion euro a day (€1bn) on Russian energy supplies.
The Commission has proposed further sanctions against Russia including imports of coal. But so far they’ve avoided demands for an embargo of gas and oil from Russia.
This week all of Fine Gael’s five MEPs called for a full EU-wide embargo on the import of Russian coal, oil and gas as soon as possible.
Well EuroParlRadio’s editor Karen Coleman met Sean Kelly in the European Parliament and asked him about the latest proposed EU sanctions.
Out words: of supply
Dur: 03:47
The development of a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Kerry is needed more urgently than ever. So says Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The European Commission’s foreign policy chief admitted to MEPs (Wednesday) yesterday that Europe is spending a staggering one billion euro a day (€1bn) on Russian energy supplies. There are increasing demands for the EU to impose an embargo on imports of Russian gas and oil because of the atrocities being committed against the Ukrainians.
Sean Kelly is calling for the Shannon LNG project to be given the green light to proceed to help guarantee Ireland’s energy security.
Out words: security of supply
Dur: 00:45
The war on Ukraine and the EU’s over-dependence on Russia for vital energy supplies, mean the proposed LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal beside the Shannon estuary is urgently needed.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
This morning the European Commission’s foreign policy chief told MEPs, Europe is spending a staggering one billion euro a day (€1bn) on Russian energy supplies. Sean Kelly says such a spend is embarrassing and that it demonstrates the need to develop LNG plants such as that proposed for County Kerry.
Out words: looked at
Dur: 00:40
Fine Gael's five MEPs are calling for an EU-wide embargo on imports of Russian coal, oil and gas as soon as possible.
The European Commission is now proposing a ban on imports of coal. But so far they haven’t called for an embargo on oil and gas supplies from Russia.
This morning the Commission’s foreign policy chief told the European Parliament that Europe is spending a staggering one billion euro a day (€1bn) on Russian energy supplies.
Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly says Russia needs to be hit with the strongest possible sanctions.
Out words: overall perspective
Dur: 00:16
Thousands of farmers will have to pay at least two thousand four hundred euro (€2400) every year for an environmental permit under new EU proposals. And they could be left waiting for months to get one. That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The Midlands North-West MEP says European Commission proposals to update the Industrial Emissions Directive is a bureaucratic nightmare for Irish farmers that will do little to address environmental challenges.
Well Karen Coleman caught up with Colm Markey in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and she first asked him what the Commission was proposing.
Out words: of bureaucracy
Dur: 03:44
Thousands of farmers will have to pay at least two thousand four hundred euro (€2400) every year for an environmental permit under new EU proposals. And they could be left waiting for months to get one.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The Midlands North-West MEP says European Commission proposals to update the Industrial Emissions Directive is a bureaucratic nightmare for Irish farmers that will do little to address environmental challenges.
Instead he argues, it will put individual farmers under public scrutiny and lead to serial objectors trying to frustrate the process.
Out words: at it
Dur: 00:31
The European Commission’s proposal to update the Industrial Emissions Directive is a bureaucratic nightmare for Irish farmers and will do little to address environmental challenges.
So says Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. The Commission proposals extend the scope of the directive to gradually cover Europe’s largest cattle, pig and poultry farms. According to the Midlands North-West MEP, that would see thousands of farmers having to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for an industrial emissions license under strict conditions.
He says the thresholds are far too low and the timing is all wrong. (The Industrial Emissions Directive is one of the EU’s key pieces of legislation to help prevent and control pollution.)
Out words: on them
Dur: 00:21
MEPs will vote on a range of proposals to give consumers incentives to get goods repaired rather than replaced. They want rules to ensure products like computers, washing machines and mobile phones last longer and that consumers have access to cheap spare parts and software updates.
Tomorrow’s vote (Thursday) comes ahead of European Commission proposals on right to repair rules expected later this year.
According to a Eurobarometer survey, 77% of EU consumers would rather repair their goods than buy new ones. But they have to replace or discard them because of the cost of repairs and lack of service provided.
In the following interview, Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune talks to Karen Coleman (in the European Parliament in Strasbourg) about the need to replace our “throwaway culture” with the right to repair.
Out words: as well
Dur: 03:06
People should be able to easily repair a broken product like a washing machine or computer rather than throwing it away and buying a new one.
So says Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Tomorrow MEPs will vote on a range of proposals to give consumers incentives to repair products rather than replace them. They want rules to ensure products like computers, white goods and mobile phones last longer and that consumers have access to cheap spare parts and software updates
Their recommendations will feed into new European Commission plans to create ‘right to repair’ rules.
Here’s Deirdre Clune.
Out words: stop that
Dur: 00:17
The Independents 4 Change MEP Clare Daly blasted the EU this morning for being what she called a “tool” of NATO and the “military industrial complex”. And she accused the EU of engaging in “more war” to stop the war in Ukraine.
The Dublin MEP made the comments during an angry outburst in the European Parliament where MEPs where discussing the war on Ukraine. In the following clip, you can hear an extract of her intervention.
Out words: with you
Dur: 01:00
Dublin MEP Clare Daly has accused the EU of engaging in “more war” to stop the war in Ukraine.
The Independents 4 Change MEP was speaking during a debate on the war in the European Parliament this morning. She also demanded to know how would the decision to stop selling Kerry Gold butter to Russia save Ukrainian lives? And she asked how would buying what she called “filthy fracked gas” stop the war.
Out words: negotiated settlement
Dur: 00:20
Dublin MEP Clare Daly this morning accused the EU of becoming what she called a ‘tool’ of NATO and the military industrial complex.
She was speaking in the European Parliament during a debate on the war in Ukraine. The Independents for Change MEP also questioned the effectiveness of Kerry Group's recent decision to suspend its operations in Russia and Belarus.
Out words: regime change
Dur: 00:20
The EU should impose immediate sanctions on imports of Russian energy supplies because of the increasing atrocities being committed by Russian forces against Ukrainians.
That’s the demand from Dublin MEP Barry Andrews. Calls for tougher sanctions against Russia have increased following the news over the weekend of Russian killings of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha outside Kyiv.
However, Germany has warned of the devastating impact an energy embargo could have on its own and other European economies. EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman spoke to Barry Andrews in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and asked him about imposing tougher sanctions on Russia.
Out words: our stand
Dur: 04:03
Dublin MEP Barry Andrews says Ireland should support an EU ban on imports of Russian oil and gas. Calls for tougher sanctions against Russia have increased following the news over the weekend of Russian atrocities against Ukrainian civilians in Bucha outside Kyiv.
The Fianna Fail MEP says the EU will be able to cope with the impact of an energy embargo despite the bloc’s reliance on Russia for supplies of gas, oil and coal.
Mr Andrews says the Ukrainians need military aid and tougher sanctions rather than goodwill and rhetoric.
Out words: Russian imports
Dur: 00:24
The EU should impose immediate sanctions on imports of Russian energy supplies because of the increasing atrocities being committed by Russian forces against Ukrainians.
That’s the demand from Dublin MEP Barry Andrews. Calls for tougher sanctions against Russia have increased following the news over the weekend of Russian killings of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha outside Kyiv.
However, Germany has warned of the devastating impact an energy embargo could have on its own and other European economies.
But Barry Andrews says the EU will be able to cope with the impact of the embargo despite the bloc’s reliance on Russia for vital energy supplies.
Out words: defend democracy
Dur: 00:20
The decision by Kerry Group to suspend their operations in Russia and Belarus has been welcomed by Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.
The Ireland South MEP had urged the Group to pull out of Russia because of the war in Ukraine. He’s now calling on all Irish companies to stop doing business with Russia while the war continues.
Well EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman caught up with Billy Kelleher in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She first asked him for his reaction to the news that the Kerry Group is suspending its operations in Russia and Belarus.
Out words: the Ukraine
Dur: 3:26
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher is calling for all Irish companies doing business in Russia to stop their operations there.
The Ireland South MEP had called for the Kerry Group to pull out of Russia because of the war in Ukraine. They’ve now suspended their operations in both Russia and Belarus.
Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Mr Kelleher said we can’t ignore what is happening in Ukraine right now.
Out words: all withdraw
Dur: 00:15
The decision by Kerry Group to suspend its operations in Russia and Belarus has been welcomed by Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.
The Ireland South MEP had called for the Group to stops its operations in Russia because of the war in Ukraine.
Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, he said the atrocities being carried out against Ukraine cannot be tolerated.
Out words: staying there
Dur:00:30
Ireland’s strength lies in its neutrality and its non-aligned status has served the country well. So says Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
Bolstering the EU’s defence capabilities is one of the topics on today’s agenda of EU leaders who’ve been holding an informal EU summit in Versailles in France.
The war on Ukraine has led to increasing calls from some EU quarters for the bloc to substantially increase defence spending and to build a real security and defence union.
But how will those calls work for a neutral non-aligned EU member like Ireland? Here’s Ciarán Cuffe.
Out words: looking ahead
Dur: 01:46
Bolstering the EU’s defence capabilities is one of the topics on today’s agenda of EU leaders who’ve been holding an informal summit in Versailles in France.
The war on Ukraine has led to increasing calls from some EU quarters for the EU to substantially increase defence spending and to build a real security and defence union.
But how will those calls work for a neutral non-aligned EU member like Ireland? Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says Ireland’s strength lies in its diplomatic skills and not in its military might.
Out words: our strength
Dur: 00:22
The European Parliament has given its backing to the roadmap to a green future drafted by Irish MEP, Grace O’Sullivan. The ‘Environment Action Programme to 2030’ is meant to be the framework within which EU member states, including Ireland, should work in the next years to achieve climate goals. It includes a legal obligation to monitor the phasing out of fossil fuels and to meet eco targets in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan was responsible for guiding the programme through the European Parliament. She says it sets out the pathway for action.
Out words: Sets out the pathway
Dur: 0’17”
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly is alleging that Ireland’s four left-wing MEPs nearly always vote against anything criticising Russia or China.
Mr Kelly is referring to the Independents 4 Change MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace along with Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, and the Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan.
Both Clare Daly and Mick Wallace have been heavily criticised for voting last week against an overall motion on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Out words: they are
Dur: 00:55
The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly is accusing Clare Daly and Mick Wallace of engaging in what he’s calling “very extreme” actions on a political level.
Both Independents 4 Change MEPs have been heavily criticised for voting last week against an overall motion on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have defended their position saying their vote was against flooding Ukraine with weapons. And that they “unequivocally condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”.
Only thirteen MEPs voted against the resolution including a far-right Greek MEP who’s serving a jail sentence for criminal offences.
Here’s Sean Kelly.
Out words: free etc.
Dur: 00:19
The Irish Red Cross has received thousands of offers from people in Ireland to provide accommodation for refugees fleeing Ukraine. Millions may require shelter as the Russian onslaught on Ukraine continues.
The EU has now triggered the Temporary Protection Directive which is designed to provide assistance and protection to war refugees.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews explains how Ireland might cope with potentially tens of thousands of refugees coming here.
Out words: this response
Dur: 01:12
The Irish Red Cross has received thousands of offers from people in Ireland to provide accommodation for refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Millions may require shelter as the Russian onslaught on Ukraine continues. The EU has now triggered the Temporary Protection Directive which is designed to provide assistance and protection to war refugees.
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews explains how Ireland might cope with potentially tens of thousands of refugees from Ukraine coming here.
Out words: the burden
Dur: 00:19
A range of energy efficient measures can help EU countries reduce their reliance on Russia for oil and gas supplies. So says Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
The EU’s over dependence on Russia for energy sources was debated in the European Parliament this week. Both the EU’s foreign policy chief and the Prime Minister of Estonia, warned MEPs the bloc has to cut its reliance on Russia for crucial energy supplies.
Ciarán Cuffe says this is “Europe’s moment” to move away from fossil fuels at a faster pace.
Out words: in Ireland
Dur: 00:14
EU countries can reduce their dependence on Russian gas and oil supplies by moving faster towards renewable energy sources.
That’s the view of Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe. The European Parliament this week debated Europe’s over-reliance on Russia for energy supplies. There were calls from MEPs, the European Commission and the Council to cut that dependency.
Ciarán Cuffe says it can be done and it should be viewed as a positive challenge.
Out words: faster pace
Dur: 00:22
Fine Gael’s Colm Markey is one of a number of MEPs who’re calling for an “urgent” review of the EU’s approach to food security because of the war in Ukraine.
Members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, have sent a letter to the European Commission calling for the review.
They say it’s particularly pressing for products most at risk of shortages because of the suspension of key Ukrainian exports.
Colm Markey is on the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:38
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for a temporary postponement of some EU climate targets that farmers have to meet so that they can divert their efforts instead to ensuring food security in the EU .
He says the war in Ukraine may mean changing priority away from climate target policies embedded in the likes of CAP and Farm to Fork.
The Midlands North-West MEP was part of a European Parliament group that sent a letter to the European Commission yesterday calling for an “urgent” review of the EU’s approach to food security because of the war in Ukraine. The review is needed they say to reduce the EU’s dependence on imports and to increase domestic production.
Here’s Colm Markey.
Out words: food security
Dur: 00:19
Measures will be needed as soon as possible to ensure the EU can deal with the fallout from the Russian war on Ukraine. So says Sean Kelly, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South.
This morning the EU’s foreign policy chief warned the EU and its citizens must make a collective effort to reduce their energy dependence on Russia.
Sean Kelly says a “big logistical effort” will be required in Ireland to ensure farmers can produce the crops that may be needed during the crisis.
Out words: those countries
Dur: 00:30
The EU’s foreign policy chief this morning warned the EU and its citizens must make a collective effort to reduce their energy dependence on Russia.
Josep Borrell was speaking in the European Parliament during a debate on Europe’s security following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He told MEPs, Europe will have to be ready to pay the price in order to respond to Russia.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says rising costs and limited supplies of essential goods such as fuel and fertiliser will impact our food supply.
Out words: war situation
Dur: 00:17
Ireland should use its power to create a pathway to peace – that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. The Green MEP says she has been a “dark place” since the outbreak of the latest conflict in Ukraine. There are reports of heavy civilian casualties, including children caught up in the bombing. Millions of people have become displaced by the war. Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan says Ireland has a special role as a neutral country held in high regard.
Out words: Ireland comes in
Dur: 0’21”
The Independents 4 Change MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace had their heads in the sand on Russia and its intention to invade Ukraine.
That’s the view of Dublin MEP Barry Andrews. He says both MEPs have tried to minimise the threat from Russia and convince people that it was all a provocation from the West.
The two MEPs have been heavily criticised for voting last week against an overall resolution on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Only thirteen MEPs voted against it including a far-right Greek MEP who’s serving a jail sentence for criminal offences.
Barry Andrews says both Daly and Wallace are using “the very democratic protections that Russia seeks to destroy, in order to criticise the European Union”.
Out words: untenable position
Dur: 00:20
A protester who once climbed the anchor chain of a Russian nuclear warship says she is “shocked to the core” by the new nuclear threat. Grace O’Sullivan was a Greenpeace campaigner and a crew member aboard the Rainbow Warrior. In the mid-1980s she says she took to climbing the chain of a Russian warship in protest against the use of nuclear. Since the start of the current Ukraine conflict, there have been growing concern about both nuclear weapons and nuclear power stations including Chernobyl. Now a Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says the anti-nuclear movement is needed again to push for global peace.
Out words: Rise up again
Dur: 0’21”
The Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are using “the very democratic protections that Russia seeks to destroy, in order to criticise the European Union”.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews who says democracy is under attack in Europe and around the world.
He argues that both Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are drawing what he calls “a false equivalence” between the West and Russia. And he says they were wrong about Russia and its intentions to invade Ukraine.
Out words: the West
Dur: 00:20
Europe must do more to support Ukraine, and the countries on the front line receiving refugees – that’s the message from Billy Kelleher. The Fianna Fáil MEP has just returned from a visit to Ukraine. He says he witnessed thousands of people struggling to get to Europe’s border and we must help them.
Out words: Human tragedy
Dur: 0’22”
Billy Kelleher has defended his decision to travel to Ukraine despite it going against government advice. The Fianna Fáil MEP spent time near the border witnessing the stream of refugees queuing to get into Europe. Now back in the European Parliament, he spoke in the first debate this morning calling for more EU support. The Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Ukraine. Billy Kelleher says he had good reason to go and bring back a strong message.
Out words: Anybody for that
Dur: 0’21”
The EU must reduce its dependency on Russia, says Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament will vote this week on plans to improve the life cycle and recycling of batteries. Devices with batteries currently glued in place, like those in many mobile phones, will in future have to be removable and recyclable. Fine Gael MEP, Deidre Clune, says aside from the environmental benefits, making better use of resources will also cut our demand to buy from countries like Russia.
Out words: Next two years
Dur: 0’15”
Europe will need four times the number of batteries by 2030 and they must be recyclable – that’s according to Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament is voting this week on the making of a new law to improve battery recycling. Currently, only 47 per cent of recyclable batteries in Ireland are recycled. That compares to 90 per cent in Croatia. Fine Gael MEP, Deridre Clune, wants to see that improved. And for batteries in all devices to be part of the so-called circular economy.
Out words: Role in that
Dur: 0’19”
The Ukranian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning (Tuesday 8/03) that women in Ukraine are giving birth in bomb shelters under the supervision of doctors giving them advice online.
Speaking in Strasbourg, Ms Zabuzhko warned a new Hitler was ready to pick up where the previous one had left off. She pleaded for protection of the sky above those fighting to free Europe from what she called the spectre of a new totalitarianism.
In the following podcast you can now hear some of that powerful address.
Out words: left off
Dur: 07:36
The Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning that many lives could have been saved if the EU and the US had woken up eight years ago when Russia invaded Crimea.
Speaking in Strasbourg, she warned a new Hitler was ready to pick up where the previous one had left off. Ms Zabuzhko pleaded for protection of the sky above those fighting to free Europe from what she called the spectre of a new totalitarianism.
Out words: someone’s life
Dur: 00:31
The Ukranian writer Oksana Zabuzhko told the European Parliament this morning that women in Ukraine are giving birth in bomb shelters under the supervision of doctors giving them advice online.
Speaking on International Women’s Day, Ms Zabuzhko told MEPs that women in Ukraine are now fighting right alongside the men against the Russian invasion.
And she said, Ukrainian doctors have created Facebook pages offering instructions on how women over 37 weeks pregnant might safely deliver babies in bomb shelters. It was an image she said that was almost biblical.
Out words: more hygienic
Dur: 00:24
Dublin MEP Clare Daly this morning slammed a European Parliament report on foreign interference in EU democratic processes including disinformation.
The report is the outcome of work by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference which was set up in 2020.
The report states “it is deeply concerned about the growing incidence and increasingly sophisticated nature of foreign interference and information manipulation attempts”. And it says “they are conducted overwhelmingly by Russia and China”.
However, Clare Daly says the Committee’s inquiry “was used to inflate threats of Russian and Chinese interference”. And she says the report itself constitutes “disinformation” because she claims it “lacks balance and objectivity”.
Out words: everything else
Dur: 00:36
Ukraine and its women must be central to this year’s International Women’s Day – that’s the view of Frances Fitzgerald. According to the UN, millions of people are displaced within Ukraine, and more than one million have arrived in Europe as refugees. Ukrainian men are expected to remain in the country to fight Russia, so most of the refugees are women and children. Fine Gael MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, says the message today on International Women’s Day must be that we are here and you are welcome
Out words: Support Ukraine
Dur: 0’17”
The Irish government needs to pull together all its departments to prepare for an influx of Ukrainian refugees – that’s according to a former Tánaiste. Frances Fitzgerald was deputy PM and Justice Minister after the migration crisis. Then, Ireland agreed to take a quota of refugees. This time, under the Temporary Protection Directive, any number of Ukrainians can come to live, work and study in any EU country for at least a year. Former Tánaiste, Fine Gael MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, says Ireland is doing its bit for those who want to come here, but the numbers are hard to predict.
Out words: Huge implications
Dur: 0’21”
Two hundred people from all over Europe are in Dublin Castle this weekend to discuss the issues that matter most to them when it comes to the future of the EU.
They’re part of a European Citizens’ panel which has been tasked to discuss and come up with recommendations on shaping Europe’s future.
It’s all part of the Conference on the Future of Europe which is a year-long EU project that’s been described as the largest ever exercise in transnational democracy.
Well Dublin man Eoin Stafford is one of four Irish people randomly selected last year to take part in one of the European Citizens’ panels. He spoke to Karen Coleman and described what the whole process has been like for him.
Out words: for debate
Dur: 03:20
A Dublin man who’s one of a handful of Irish people taking part in EU wide panel debates on Europe’s future, wants a four-day working week to be part of the final recommendations.
Eoin Stafford was selected to be on one of four European Citizens’ panels which are each made up of two hundred EU citizens.
The panels are part of the year-long Conference on the Future of Europe which is being organised by the European Parliament, Commission and Council. Its goal is to engage people across the EU in shaping Europe’s future.
This weekend the last panel debate is being held at Dublin Castle. It will make its final recommendations tomorrow (Sunday). Eoin Stafford explains what he wants out of it.
Out words: work week
Dur: 00:25
A 25 year-old accountant from Tipperary is one of a handful of Irish people who’s been taking part in EU wide panel debates to shape Europe’s future.
Niall Murphy is on one of four European Citizens’ panels that have been discussing what kind of Europe they want to live in in the decades ahead.
It’s all part of the Conference on the Future of Europe which is a year-long project involving European citizens, from all walks of life and corners of the Union, in shaping the future of the EU.
This weekend Niall is participating in the final debate of his panel which is taking place in Dublin Castle. He described what the whole process has been like for him.
Out words: entire thing
Dur: 00:55
A major EU initiative engaging citizens, politicians, EU institutions, civil society groups and more from across the EU mustn’t end up being a big talking shop and a waste of time.
That’s the warning from one of a handful of Irish people picked to take part in one of four European Citizens’ panels that are part of the Conference on the Future of Europe. It’s a year-long initiative involving European citizens, from all walks of life and corners of the Union with young people playing a central role, in shaping the future of the European project.
Geraldine Burke-Geary, who’s a retired civil servant from the West of Ireland, is taking part in the final debate of her panel which is taking place in Dublin Castle this weekend. Education, agriculture and fishing were some of the topics she was particularly interested in discussing.
Out words: of this
Dur: 01:42
A retired civil servant from the West of Ireland is one of a handful of Irish people taking part in a major conference on the future of Europe in Dublin Castle this weekend.
Geraldine Burke Geary from Corrandulla, is on a panel of two hundred EU citizens who were picked to debate issues to help shape Europe in the decades ahead.
Four panels were chosen in total to be part of the Conference on the Future of Europe. It’s a year-long project organised by EU institutions. Each panel will make a list of recommendations they believe are crucial to Europe's future.
Geraldine Burke Geary says she wanted to highlight education, fishing and agriculture.
Out words: the EU
Dur: 00:37
Two hundred EU citizens are gathering in Dublin this weekend to discuss the issues they believe are crucial to Europe’s future. They’re participating in the final of four European Citizens’ panels which were set up as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The meetings will take place in Dublin Castle throughout the weekend.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is on the Conference’s plenary. She says many issues have been discussed by the panellists ranging from climate change, health and job security to migration, trade and democracy. Each panel will make a list of recommendations which will go into a final report for consideration.
Out words: restricting criteria
Dur: 00:31
This weekend the final of four European Citizens’ Panels of the Conference on the Future of Europe meets in Dublin to debate and deliver its recommendations.
The Conference is a year-long project organised by EU institutions. Its goal is to engage as many people as possible in discussing the challenges and priorities of the EU.
Well Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is part of the Conference’s plenary. She explains what it’s all about.
Out words: the future
Dur: 00:20
A major initiative involving people across the EU in debates about Europe’s future, will hold a key conference in Dublin this weekend.
A panel of two hundred EU citizens will gather in Dublin Castle to discuss a range of topics related to the future direction of the European Union. They’ve already held two previous meetings.
It’s all part of the Conference on the future of Europe which is a year-long project organised by EU institutions.
Well the National host for this weekend’s event is the Institute of International and European Affairs. Hannah Deasy is the IIEA’s Communications Director. She explains what’s going to happen this weekend.
Out words: in Strasbourg
Dur: 00:24
European citizens from across the bloc including Ireland, will gather in Dublin Castle this weekend to help shape the future of the European Union.
It’s all part of the Conference on the future of Europe which is a year-long initiative organised by EU institutions. The goal is to engage as many people as possible in debates about Europe’s challenges and priorities.
Well the national host for this weekend’s event is the Dublin-based Institute of International and European Affairs. Hannah Deasy is the IIEA’s Communications Director. She explains what this weekend's event is about.
Out words: that event
Dur: 00:24
Millions of people in Afghanistan are facing starvation and hunger because of decisions taken by Western Governments. That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews who spoke about the Afghan crisis in the European Parliament this week.
He says western governments abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban. And he’s demanding a review of current sanctions and asset freezes against the Afghan regime along with the suspension of critical development aid which is taking its toll.
Out words: women’s rights
Dur: 00:35
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan is calling for more transparency and openness between EU institutions especially when it comes to important policy areas.
She says crucial meetings between the European Parliament, Commission and Council are being held behind closed doors with little information being given to the public.
The issue of transparency and openness of EU institutions came up during the week when MEPs discussed the work of the European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly. Quality of services to citizens and transparency are two of the Ombudsman’s top priorities.
The Ireland South MEP says details of important EU meetings should be made available to everyone.
Out words: transparency overall
Dur: 00: 23
New road charging rules for heavy goods vehicles in the EU will impact Irish road hauliers. That’s according to Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe.
The European Parliament has just approved new, distance-based road charging rules for heavy goods vehicles (trucks, lorries and buses), which MEPs say will help reduce CO2 emissions.
The aim of the new rules is to move road charging from a time-based model to distance-based or an actual kilometres-driven system, to better reflect the polluter-pays and user-pays principles. They will apply to heavy goods vehicles using trans-European transport (TEN-T) network roads.
Ciaran Cuffe explains how it will effect lorry drivers travelling to and from Ireland.
Out words: its journey
Dur: 00:18
The European Parliament has just approved new, distance-based road charging rules for heavy goods vehicles (trucks, lorries and buses), which MEPs say will help reduce CO2 emissions.
The aim of the new rules is to move road charging from a time-based model to distance-based or an actual kilometres-driven system, to better reflect the polluter-pays and user-pays principles. And it will apply to heavy goods vehicles using trans-European transport (TEN-T) network roads.
The changes will harmonise the system of road charging across the EU. Green MEP Ciaran Cuffe explains.
Out words: to rail
Dur: 00:24
Online platforms should have a responsibility to toy safety, says Billy Kelleher. European retailers and regulators regularly spot and report faults to the EU rapid alert system. Out of more than two thousand alert notifications sent out in 2020, the largest number of warnings – nearly one-third - were about dangerous toys. But those dangers may be missed in toys bought online directly from other parts of the world. Now the European Parliament is calling for EU safety rules to apply globally as Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, explains.
Out words: Is the case
Dur: 0’20”
Toys bought online from elsewhere in the world should be subject to the same safety standards as those made and sold within Europe – that’s the view of Billy Kelleher. Existing EU law sets tough standards on manufacturers of children’s toys. The European Parliament has now made a number of recommendations to further tighten up the law. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, says the internet has changed the way parents are buying toys and the law needs to reflect that.
Out words: Fire retardness
Dur: 0’24”
The European Parliament this week debated European Commission proposals to continue using the Digital Covid cert for travel around the EU until mid-next year.
Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio Editor) spoke to Dublin MEP Barry Andrews about those proposals and she also asked him what it’s like now in Belgium which had very high Covid rates.
Out words: the moment
Dur: 02:37
A report by the European Parliament has called for easier access to medical treatment abroad. In 2020 more than three thousand Irish people were reimbursed for treatment in another EU country. Most went to the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period. Britain is no longer part of the scheme. An agreement with Northern Ireland is set to run out at the end of this year. A final report by the European Parliament's cancer committee concludes that EU cross-border treatment should be made more straightforward. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, has been involved in the drafting of the recommendations. She says Ireland should be making the most of medical facilities across Europe.
Out words: Or wherever
Dur: 0’23”
Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews says the EU Digital Covid Cert should be extended until June 2023.
The European Parliament this week debated European Commission proposals to continue using the cert for travel around the EU until mid next year.
Barry Andrews believes ongoing uncertainty about the Covid virus, means the Digital Cert will still be needed until well into next year.
Out words: that reason
Dur: 00:32
Cancer survivors should be freed from discrimination – that’s the demand from the European Parliament in a report backed by Deirdre Clune. The Fine Gael MEP has been part of a special committee looking at ways of improving cancer treatment across Europe. In its final report, the committee makes a raft of suggestions for future EU law. One of the recommendations is that – ten years after getting the all-clear – cancer survivors should have their medical records wiped clean so that, for example, they no longer face excessive insurance premiums. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says it is a measure that the Irish government and the EU should put into law as soon as possible.
Out words: Be penalised
Dur: 0’22”
The European Parliament is calling on the European Commission to impose financial sanctions on countries like Poland and Hungary for flouting EU laws.
Their strong demands follow yesterday’s ruling by Europe’s top court which said the EU is entitled to freeze funding to EU member countries if they breach rule of law and other key principles of EU membership.
Both Poland and Hungary had challenged that right. But the European Court of Justice ruled against them yesterday. Dublin MEP Ciaran Cuffe says the Commission must now act on that ruling.
Out words: are upheld
Dur: 00:12
Ireland’s Sinn Fein MEP does not now expect problems over the Northern Ireland protocol to be resolved before the Assembly elections in May. The UK and EU continue to disagree about key issues such as the level of checks needed on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Britain. Officials have been working to find a middle way before electioneering gets underway. Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, says he believes the arguments will have to be put on hold until the summer.
Out words: To go ahead
Dur: 0’20”
MEPs have expressed their regret for the “restraint and limited engagement of the European Parliament” ahead of the Brexit referendum. The UK voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016. A new parliamentary report has been looking back on the Article 50 process. It concludes that citizens “were often misled about the implications of the withdrawal, especially as regards Northern Ireland”. Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, backs the report's findings. He says voters should have been better informed by the EU.
Out words: Of the European Union
Dur: 0’23”
The European Commission will be put under increasing pressure to freeze funding to Poland and Hungary following a ruling today by the European Court of Justice.
Europe's highest court said the EU is entitled to stop funding to EU member countries if they breach rule of law and other key principles of EU membership.
Both Poland and Hungary had challenged the EU’s right to stop funds going to member states that flout the EU’s core values.
Dublin MEP Ciaran Cuffe says sanctions should be implemented if member states don’t uphold EU laws.
Out words: member state
Dur: 00:30
The government should be providing more cash to pig farmers in “dire” need – that’s the view from one of our Sinn Fein MEP. According to the Irish Farmers Association, other European countries have used post-pandemic funding to increase aid to their farmers. The IFA says farmers are facing "spiralling costs" which are outside their control. Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, claims our agricultural minister is “asleep at the wheel”
Out words: Market supports
Dur: 0’22”
The President of the European Commission says we face the largest build-up of troops on European soil since the darkest days of the Cold War.
Ursula von der Leyen made the comments during a debate in the European Parliament this morning on Russia’s military threat against Ukraine.
The EU boss told MEPs the people of Ukraine are bravely trying to get on with their lives. Many of them keep emergency bags by their front doors she said in case they have to rush away from home.
But Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan is warning more diplomacy and less talk of war is what’s required to reduce tensions between all sides.
Out words: the situation
Dur: 00:24
News footage of Ukrainian troops conducting combat training near the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is causing concern.
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says soldiers and members of the national guard are doing military exercises in nuclear active parts of Chernobyl.
The area is where the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred in 1986.
Out words: the atmosphere
Dur: 00:34
The Independents for Change MEP Mick Wallace says the NATO military alliance exists to protect Western corporate and military industrial interests. And he says people who want peace in Europe should call for NATO to be abolished.
Mr Wallace made the comments this morning during a debate in the European Parliament on Russia’s military threat against Ukraine.
The Ireland South MEP accused NATO and the US of engaging in “war-mongering” in recent months.
Out words: be abolished
Dur: 00:40
Billy Kelleher has warned against any “knee-jerk” interest rate rises. The European Central Bank is trying to steady the economies of the Eurozone at a tricky time. Economists point up to global supply problems, pent up consumer demand and gas shortages as some of the reasons for rising inflation. The ECB has not ruled out interest rate rises this year. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, has been following a debate on the issue in the European Parliament. Speaking from Strasbourg this morning, he warned the bank against taking drastic measures.
Out words: Unwinding itself
Dur: 0’21”
The Russian-Ukraine crisis shows how critical it is for the EU to develop other sources of energy supplies such as offshore wind farms.
That’s according to Colm Markey, MEP for the Midlands North-West constituency.
MEPs have been debating a European Parliament report that calls for the rapid development of offshore renewable energy sources including wind power.
The report says a more sustainable management of maritime space and coastlines is needed to unlock their potential. Colm Markey says Europe is too reliant on Russia for gas supplies.
Out words: knock-on effect
Dur: 00:31
Offshore renewable energy production must be deployed more rapidly if the EU is to meet its climate neutral goals over the next thirty years.
That’s a key finding of a European Parliament report which MEPs are voting on today (Tuesday).
According to the report, the cost of developing offshore wind energy has fallen dramatically over the last two decades. And it is now one of the most competitive sources of energy.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says Ireland could benefit enormously if it exploited offshore wind resources surrounding it.
Out words: years ahead
Dur: 00:20
Ukraine is already suffering and will continue to have a “tough time” even if a Russian invasion has been averted – that’s according to Sean Kelly. The European Parliament has backed an EU plan to send €1.2 billion in economic aid. Millions of Euro is expected to be dispatched quickly once the deal has been signed off. Despite the signals from Moscow that there may now be a de-escalation, Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, says Ukraine is in a desperate state.
Out words: Recover from it
Dur: 0’23”
Sean Kelly is hopeful that war in Ukraine may have been averted. Russia reportedly plans to withdraw some of its troops from the area. Last night the European Parliament voted through an aid package worth €1.2 billion for Ukraine. Speaking from Strasbourg this lunchtime, Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, says the coming days will be key.
Out words: Is up to
Dur: 0’19”
Men “speaking up” needs to be one of the changes following Ashling Murphy’s death – that’s according to a Fianna Fáil MEP. Barry Andrews has been selected to join the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. He says he has noticed that there are rarely men speaking about important issues like domestic violence and that has been brought home by Ashling Murphy.
Out words: Comfort zone, frankly
Dur: 0’20”
The European Parliament has just voted for a range of proposals to improve the transportation of live animals across the EU and to other regions. In a vote today, MEPs called on EU countries to respect animal welfare during transport and to transition to transporting meat and not live animals.
The recommendations include restricting journey time for domestic animals going to slaughter to eight hours or less. MEPs are also demanding that pregnant animals in the last third of gestation should not be transported for more than four hours.
And they say unweaned calves aged less than four weeks, should not be transported except by farmers and over a distance shorter than fifty kilometres (50km).
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher, who had concerns about some of the recommendations before the vote, explains what will happen next.
Out words: years ahead
Dur: 00:27
A new law just voted through the European Parliament will make the internet safer – that’s according to Sean Kelly. MEPs have voted for the draft Digital Services Act. Negotiations on the final text will now start with ministers. Under the proposals, the internet giants will be responsible for policing disinformation and taking down illegal content. The European Parliament is also pushing for targeted personalised advertising to be curtailed. Ireland South MEP, Sean Kelly, welcomed the vote which he says will mean real changes for consumers.
Out words: Manipulated completely Dur: 0’25”
Big tech platforms like Facebook and Google will have new responsibilities under a draft law just voted through the European Parliament. MEPs meeting in Strasbourg voted through the Digital Services Act this afternoon. The new law is designed to put the responsibility on the digital giants to tackle disinformation and harmful content. Many of the big firms have their European HQs in Ireland. Fine Gael MEP says it will impact their businesses.
Out words: To manage it
Dur: 0’21”
MEPs voted today (Thursday 20/1) on a range of proposals to improve the transportation of live animals across the EU. The recommendations were made by a European Parliament Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport.
They include rules to establish limits on journey time for all animal species and ages and the ban of the transportation of very young animals under the age of 35 days.
Well Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher sat on that Committee. In the following interview he talks to EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman about its proposals.
Out words: particular issues
Dur: 04:21
Some proposals on the transportation of animals across the EU could put Ireland under “extreme pressure”.
That’s according to Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher who sat on a European Parliament Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT).
MEPs have today been voting on recommendations made by that Committee.
They include limits on journey times for all animals and a ban on the transportation of very young animals below the age of thirty five (35) days.
Billy Kelleher, is concerned that some of the recommendations being made are too severe.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:34
MEPs are voting today on proposals to improve the transportation of live animals across the EU.
The recommendations include limits on journey times for all animals and a ban on the transportation of very young animals below the age of thirty five (35) days. A maximum journey time of two hours for unweaned animals over 35 days is also being proposed along with a ban on the transport of pregnant animals in the last third of gestation.
In the following interview, EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman talks to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey about the proposals.
Out words: into play
Dur: 03:12
MEPs are voting today on proposals to improve the transportation of live animals across the EU.
The recommendations include limits on journey times for all animals and a ban on the transportation of very young animals below the age of thirty five (35) days. A maximum journey time of two hours for unweaned animals over 35 days is also being proposed along with a ban on the transport of pregnant animals in the last third of gestation.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey says the proposals on transporting calves are ‘unworkable’.
Out words: animal welfare
Dur: 00:36
Animal welfare proposals could discriminate against Ireland if they go too far, Sean Kelly has warned. The European Parliament is due to debate a resolution on the issue on Thursday. Whilst he welcomes some of the ideas, like a ban on transporting month-old calves, the Fine Gael MEP fears there is a risk of overregulating.
Out words: A lot of time
Dur: 0’20”
Europe and the world need to prepare for the next pandemic – that’s the message from MEP, Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fáil is confident that the worst of Covid-19 may now be behind us. He does not expect another variant which might send us backwards. Instead, he says it is time to get organised and make sure the “chaos” of the last two years isn’t repeated when the next virus comes along.
Out words: Had with covid
Dur: 0’22”
There is a strong medical and economic case for a “rapid reopening” on Friday – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fáil MEP says he was an early advocate of restrictions when the signs were bad. Now he says it is important to be just as quick in unlocking again.
Out words: In both directions
Dur: 0’30”
The Mercosur Trade Agreement between the EU and four South American countries is unlikely to progress during the French presidency of the EU Council which began this month.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.
In 2019, the EU reached a deal with the four Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But the massive trade deal still has to be ratified by EU member states and the European Parliament and Council.
And Billy Kelleher says progress on the deal isn’t likely during the French presidency.
Out words: French presidency
Dur: 00:16
The French government is at the helm of Europe at an important time for climate change – that’s according to Irish Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe. France has just taken over the rotating presidency of the European Council. Setting out his vision in the European Parliament this morning, President Emmanual Macron, put climate change at the top of his agenda, saying Europe needed to move from “words to deeds”. The EU’s ‘fit for 55’ package would see net emissions reduced by 55 per cent by 2030. Ciarán Cuffe says it will be up to Macron to deliver.
Out words: The climate package
Dur: 0’25”
Ireland’s electricity supply could end up nuclear-powered – that’s according to one of our Green MEPs. The so-called Celtic Interconnector – a cable connecting Ireland and France – is due to go live in 2026. And whilst Ireland is investing in renewables, French nuclear energy may be needed on windless days. Although nuclear is not his preferred option, Dublin MEP, Ciaran Cuffe believes it will be a step towards net zero for Ireland.
Out words: Our power grid
Dur: 0’23”
The French presidency of the Council of the EU is likely to be more political with France’s president in favour of a stronger and more collaborative Europe.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.
France took over the six-month presidency of the EU Council in January. And today the French president Emmanuel Macron will outline France’s priorities over the next six months during an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Billy Kelleher says there’s been a fundamental change in European politics since the UK left the bloc with Germany and France now dominating its direction.
Out words: take Europe
Dur: 00:35
MEPs in the European Parliament have been expressing their condolences at the passing of the former president David Sassoli who died last week at the age of sixty five (65).
He had been suffering from ill health for several months. Today MEPs elected his successor. Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, who’s part of the European People’s Party Group, got elected in the first round of voting.
She paid tribute to Mr Sassoli during her acceptance speech. A commemoration ceremony was held for him last night in the Parliament in Strasbourg.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey said there is much sadness and shock at his death.
Out words: for people
Dur: 00:25
The European Parliament’s newly elected president will bring energy, youth and a “much-needed vision” to the EU institution.
That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. This morning the majority of MEPs voted to elect the Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola to be president of the parliament for the next two and a half years.
She takes over from the late David Sassoli who died last week just before the end of his term in office. The forty three (43) year old is the youngest ever president of the Parliament and only the third woman to hold that position.
Here’s Colm Markey.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:16
The youngest ever president of the European Parliament has just been elected. Forty three year old Roberta Metsola from Malta is only the third woman to hold the position.
The centre-right MEP who is a former vice-president of the Parliament, was elected this morning in the first round of voting. She’ll hold the presidency for the next two and a half years. She succeeds Italy’s David Sassoli who died last week just before the end of his term in office.
During her acceptance speech in the Parliament in Strasbourg, she paid tribute to Ashling Murphy and said she stood on the shoulders of giants including those women whose lives were ‘stolen’ this year.
You can hear highlights from Roberta Metsola’s speech in the following podcast. It begins with her reference to the late David Sassoli.
Out words: for them
Dur: 05:43
The EU wants relations with the UK to be on a “sounder footing” – that’s according to Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune. The European Commission has proposed changing EU law to ensure Northern Ireland can continue to access medicines licenced in Britain. Ireland, Malta and Cyprus would also be able to keep using British-approved drugs, but only for three more years. Deirdre Clune says in solving the medicines problem, the EU is reaching out to the UK to try to make Brexit work.
Out words: For Northern Ireland
Dur: 0’25”
The new president of the European Parliament paid tribute to Ashling Murphy this morning following her election to the position.
Malta’s Roberta Metsola was elected by the majority of MEPs in the first round of voting today. She succeeds Italy’s David Sassoli who died last week just before the end of his term in office. The centre-right MEP is only the third woman to become president of the European Parliament and she will be its youngest leader ever at just forty three (43).
During her acceptance speech in the Parliament in Strasbourg, she said she stood on the shoulders of giants including those women whose lives were ‘stolen’ this year.
Out words: for them
Dur: 00:40
Ireland has three years to rejig its supply of medicines, under proposals from the European Commission. There was concern that Ireland could face drug shortages now that the UK has left the EU. Now the European Commission has proposed to allow Ireland, Cyprus and Malta to use British-licenced drugs for three more years. Northern Ireland would be allowed to use GB medicines indefinitely. The European Parliament has begun discussing the new legislation. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, has been following the issue in the public health committee. She has welcomed giving Ireland extra time.
Out words: For other markets
Dur: 0’20”
The European Parliament has just elected a Maltese woman to be the new President of the European Parliament. Forty three year (43) old Roberta Metsola was elected on the first round of voting this morning in Strasbourg.
She will be the youngest president of the Parliament so far and comes from the centre-right European People’s Party Group, the EPP. Ms Metsola succeeds Italy’s David Sassoli who died last week just before the end of his term in office.
Speaking immediately after her election, she told MEPs the European Parliament would stand firm against forces trying to undermine Europe.
Out words: divide us
Dur: 00:40
Getting companies to reveal how much they pay their male and female employees will be one way to address the gender pay and pension gaps across the EU. So says Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald.
The European Parliament this week called on member states to take practical measures to ensure that women have equal access to the labour market and employment. And they want the gender pay and pension pay gap to be significantly reduced.
Frances Fitzgerald says pay transparency is being brought in across the EU but details of what size of company it will apply to are unclear.
Out words: 29 percent
Dur: 00:14
More girls should be encouraged to study science, technology, engineering and maths or STEM topics at school in order to tackle gender inequalities in Europe. So says Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald.
The European Parliament this week called on member states to take practical measures to ensure that women have equal access to the labour market and employment. And they want the gender pay and pension gaps to be significantly reduced.
According to the European Institute for Gender Equality the EU is at least sixty years away from achieving complete gender equality. Frances Fitzgerald says less girls are taking up STEM subjects and that needs to be addressed.
Out words: will remain
Dur: 00:24
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan is calling for the lifting of intellectual property rights for Covid 19 vaccines so that everyone across the globe can get access to them.
During a debate in the European Parliament this week, MEPs said the EU has a responsibility to ensure vaccines are fairly distributed across the globe. They called for a spirit of solidarity and reiterated that nobody is safe until everybody is safe.
Here's Grace O’Sullivan.
Out words: the essence
Dur: 00:30
Big online platforms like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are set to face stiff operating procedures within the EU following the results of a vote in the European Parliament.
The vast majority of MEPs have just supported EU moves to put an end to unfair business practices by some of the world’s digital tech giants.
They’ve approved the proposed Digital Markets Act which aims to stop so-called gatekeeper platforms from imposing unfair conditions on businesses and consumers. These include ranking their own services and products higher up than other smaller competitors.
EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman spoke to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey about the proposed Act and what it will mean for consumers.
Out words: important too
Dur: 01:40
Some of the world’s biggest tech giants are likely to face tough new operating rules in the EU following a vote in the European Parliament this week.
MEPs overwhelmingly backed the EU’s proposed new Digital Markets Act which is designed to curb the powers of big online platforms such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook.
The proposed rules include what’s called an ‘interoperability’ requirement which would let users uninstall pre-installed apps on their platform and use different software. It means different digital products or services would be able to interact and work with one another.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey explains what that means.
Out words: currently
Dur: 00:16
Ireland needs a rural transport plan – that’s according to Ciarán Cuffe. The European Parliament has been debating how people are held back by transport poverty. There's particular concern about areas of the country where people cannot afford a car and public transport connections are poor. According to Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, that’s something that needs to be addressed in Ireland as well as across Europe.
Out words: Joined-up thinking
Dur: 0’20”
A Sinn Fein MEP is urging people to buy Christmas presents from within the EU to avoid customs surcharges. Since the UK has left the EU, packages from Britain are now subject to VAT and customs duties. It doesn’t apply to anything purchased from Northern Ireland because the north remains in the EU’s Single Market. Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus, claims some websites sound like they are based here, but people get a shock when presents are delivered from Britain and are subject to additional fees. He has raised concerns with the government and the EU and wants to make sure consumers are not being misled.
Out words: Consumer protection
Dur: 0’26”
“Tens of thousands” of people have got an unexpected bill with their Christmas shopping – that’s according to a Sinn Fein MEP. Since the UK has left the EU, customs duties must now be paid on goods bought from mainland Britain. On its Brexit website, An Post states that most online shops will include all the applicable fees at the check-out, but if not “a customs charge will be applied before we can deliver your item”. Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus, has raised the issue with the government. He wants all Irish consumers to get fair warning before they buy.
Out words: 0’21”
Dur: They weren’t expecting
Big online platforms like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are set to face stiff operating procedures within the EU following the results of a vote in the European Parliament.
The vast majority of MEPs have just supported EU moves to put an end to unfair business practices by the world’s digital tech giants.
They’ve approved the proposed Digital Markets Act which aims to stop so-called gatekeeper platforms from imposing unfair conditions on businesses and consumers. These include ranking their own services and products higher up than other smaller competitors.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey explains what the proposed new Act will do.
Out words: player dominance
Dur: 00:23
The European Parliament has backed Sean Kelly’s demand to make our homes hugely greener. The EU has ambitious climate targets which the Fine Gael MEP warns will be missed unless the emissions from housing are drastically cut. MEPs voted in favour of his report today in Strasbourg. Sean Kelly says year-on-year targets are needed, but once European governments – including Ireland – go for it, progress can move fast.
Out words: Momentum pretty quickly
Dur: 0’24”
The EU should give people the power to opt out of giving away all their data online – that’s the view of Ciarán Cuffe. The European Parliament has just back a new law to try and get the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon to play fair. Another new law, currently being negotiated, will, it’s hoped, give consumers more power over their online experience. Dublin’s Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says the internet should be people powered.
Out words: To navigate
Dur: 0’24”
MEPs in the European Parliament are calling for gender-based cyber violence to be made a crime. The majority of MEPs have voted for the introduction of new EU measures to tackle online violence against women and other people subject to cyber abuse such as those from LGBTI communities.
The Parliament says such crimes should encompass a range of offensive actions including online harassment and stalking, recording and sharing images of sexual assault, threats of violence and sexist hate speech. Seven out of ten women have experienced cyber-stalking, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says the Covid pandemic has led to a significant increase in online abuse of women.
Out words: against women
Dur: 00:21
It is important to keep schools open until the end of term – that’s the view of Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune. The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to meet tomorrow. It is expected that Nphet will make recommendations on what new restrictions might be required. The Tánaiste said earlier it is likely the Omicron variant will make up the majority of cases in Ireland by next week. At a European level, politicians are also urging keeping to health measures and a speeding up booster vaccinations. Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Deirdre Clune, said she really hopes the Christmas holidays can stay on schedule.
Out words: Busy household
Dur: 0’22”
Deirdre Clune has given a ‘keep calm and carry on’ message in the face of alarming covid concerns. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said in an interview earlier that Omicron will likely become the dominant strain of coronavirus in Ireland as soon as next week. But Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says we know more and more about the virus and the government has a strategy for how to handle it.
Out words: Hospital admissions
Dur: 0’21”
The European Parliament has just backed an initiative to declare 2022 the European Year of Youth. It promises to give young people a stronger platform to ensure their voices are heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher believes young people in Ireland and across the EU need to be listened to and consulted on the issues that are important to them.
Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) spoke to Billy about the European Year of Youth next year.
Out words: out there
Dur: 04:34
The European Parliament has just backed an initiative to declare 2022 the European Year of Youth. It promises to give young people a stronger platform to ensure their voices are heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher believes young people in Ireland and across the EU need to be listened to and consulted on the issues that are important to them.
He says the impact of the Covid pandemic on young people in particular will have to be acknowledged.
Out words: the future
Dur: 00:31
Northern Ireland politicians must have a chance to scrutinise EU law applicable in the province – that’s the demand from Barry Andrews. The Dublin MEP is part of the UK-EU parliamentary assembly which is still being set up. At the first meeting for the EU delegation, Barry Andrews called for a special unit to deal with issues involving Northern Ireland. He says a way must be found to resolve concerns about a Brexit democratic deficit in the north.
Out words: More regular basis
Dur: 0’33”
At least one Brexit problem could be resolved later this week – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The UK and EU have been in discussions for months over problems with the Northern Ireland protocol. One of the issues they are trying to resolve is ensuring Northern Ireland can continue to access British-approved medicines, whilst also being in the EU’s Single Market. Brexit minister, David Frost, and the European Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, are due to meet again on Friday. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says if they come out of that speaking along the same lines, it will be a mark of real progress.
Out words: Peaceful Christmas
Dur: 0’23”
Ireland and the EU will miserably fail to meet climate targets unless we sort out our homes – that’s the stark warning from a Fine Gael MEP. Sean Kelly has drafted a report for the European Parliament being put to the vote this week in Strasbourg on the energy performance of buildings. He has found we are retrofitting far too many homes with better insulation, and new housing too often still falls short of net-zero ambitions. He estimates our homes need to cut greenhouse emissions by 60 per cent, and heating emissions by 18 per cent, if we’re going to get back on track. But he says – one bit of good news – building better will create lots of new jobs.
Out words: Electricians
Dur: 0’25”
The European Parliament today voted in favour of making 2022 the European Year of Youth. The vast majority of MEPs backed the EU initiative that aims to engage young people across the bloc in a range of youth-focused and youth-centric activities.
The 2022 European Year of Youth promises to give young people a stronger platform to make their voices heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level. There will be a special focus on young people with fewer opportunities along with mental health issues.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says the Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on young people and that it’s right they're prioritised in 2022.
Out words: of life
Dur: 00:34
Big online platforms like Google, Amazon and Facebook may be subject to much stiffer operating procedures within the EU following a vote in the European Parliament today. (Vote today - Results tomorrow)
MEPs have been casting their ballots on updated rules on what major online platforms can and cannot do in the future.
The proposed Digital Markets Act is supposed to ensure a level playing field for all digital companies, regardless of their size. The new regulation aims to stop so-called gatekeeper platforms from imposing unfair conditions on businesses and consumers. These include ranking their own services and products higher up than other smaller competitors.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says the new rules are needed in an era when more and more of us are shopping and selling online.
Out words: service providers
Dur: 00:33
Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, has been elected First Vice Chair of a new Brexit group. The UK-EU deal, signed nearly a year ago, promised to set up a joint parliamentary assembly. Each side will have 35 members. The MEPs have already been selected and Sean Kelly has now been voted a leading role. He says the assembly will by-pass the rhetoric and help to find the best way of making Brexit work.
Out words: And the EU
Dur: 0’21”
Ireland’s ability to take on the tech giants is under-resourced – that’s according to one of our MEPs. The European Parliament has been debating a new law aimed at trying to get the tech firms to take more responsibility and not place unfair conditions on consumers. The result of a vote on the Digital Markets Act will be announced on Wednesday morning. Because many of the big companies are based in Ireland, these are issues that the Irish Data Protection Commission monitors. Dublin MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says he has raised with government officials the need for the Commissioner to be granted more money to be able to do a job better.
Out words: Where needed Dur: 0’21”
The European Parliament is expected to call for more to be done to stop gender-based cyber violence which has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEPs are today voting on proposals to introduce new measures to tackle cyber violence against women and LGBTI people. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated one in ten women have already experienced a form of cyber violence since the age of 15.
During a debate on gender-based cyber violence last night, Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald said it was becoming an “increasingly pervasive and common form of violence against women”.
Out words: is stopped
Dur: 01:46
Nearly ninety thousand women are killed every year worldwide because they are female. More than fifty thousand are killed by an intimate partner or family member. And the rise of online gender-based violence is worsening the situation.
That’s according to Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald who was speaking in the European Parliament last night. She told MEPs gender-based cyber violence is becoming an “increasingly pervasive and common form of violence against women”.
MEPs are today voting on proposals to introduce new measures to tackle cyber violence against women and LGBTI people.
Here’s Frances Fitzgerald.
Out words: to you
Dur: 00:31
EU cooperation is needed to stand up to the autocratic leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. That’s the advice from Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly.
His comments follow an address to the European Parliament last Wednesday by the Belarusian opposition leade,r Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She told MEPs the regime was trying to weaponise migrants to deliberately undermine the stability and security of Europe.
And she called on the EU to take firm action against the regime in Belarus. Lukashenko is being accused of funnelling migrants primarily from the Middle East, to the country’s border with the EU, and in particular Poland.
Here’s Sean Kelly.
Out words: this behaviour
Dur: 00:28
Covid vaccines that are about to expire in the EU should be sent to poorer countries. That’s the plea from Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
The Dublin MEP says the EU needs to do more to get vaccines out to as many people as possible in poorer countries.
Out words: the world
Dur: 00:26
The European Parliament this week gave the green light to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which aims to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent.
The new policy will come into effect in January 2023.
Strasbourg based journalist Angélique Ferat spoke to Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly after the vote on the CAP in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Out words: send out
Dur: 04:47
It’s ‘only right’ that wealthy farmers won’t be entitled anymore to ‘huge’ payments under the new Common Agricultural Policy.
So says Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly. The European Parliament this week gave the green light to the new CAP which aims to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent.
Under the new rules, there will be a limit on the subsidies the big farms can receive. And small farms will benefit from a “redistribution payment”.
Out words: send out
Dur:00:27
Farmers will be able to reduce their carbon footprint thanks to new technologies and help from the EU.
That’s according to Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly. He was commenting on the new Common Agricultural policy that got final approval from the European Parliament this week.
The new reformed farm policy promises to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent. Sean Kelly says he understands the fears some farmers have about adopting more environmentally-friendly practices.
But he says new innovations are there to help them reduce their carbon emissions.
Out words: help farmers
Dur: 00:34
“True catastrophic” climate change is coming unless Ireland acts across every sector – that’s the warning from one of our Green MEPs. Grace O'Sullivan was disappointed that the COP26 summit has not resulted in more binding targets for Europe and the rest of the world. She says here in Ireland every industry needs to take action.
Out words: Against climate change
Dur: 0’22”
Interview with Billy Kelleher on the dramatic rise of Covid in certain parts of Europe.
MEPs this week said that one of the key lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of close collaboration at a European level as well as making national health systems more sustainable and resilient.
The Ireland South MEP says the rise of Covid across many parts of Europe is deeply concerning. EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman spoke to Billy Kelleher about the increasing Covid cases in Europe.
Out words: employment etc.
Dur: 04:01
Grace O’Sullivan has told fellow MEPs that the climate is on “red alert”. The European Parliament has been debating the outcome of the COP26 summit. The EU insists the idea of global warming within 1.5 degrees has been ‘kept alive’ by the deal in Glasgow. But Ireland South Green MEP, Grace O’Sullivan is convinced it is not yet enough. She says Europe should go further by ending subsidies to all polluting industries.
Out words: To climate change
Dur: 0’27”
Ireland still has a chance to get ahead of another Covid wave before it becomes like other parts of Europe where Covid cases are rising dramatically.
That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher who was speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
MEPs this week said that one of the key lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of close collaboration at a European level as well as making national health systems more sustainable and resilient.
Billy Kelleher says the rise of Covid across many parts of Europe is deeply concerning.
Out words: wrong direction
Dur: 00:21
The new EU farm policy that has just been approved by the European Parliament, is a “missed opportunity” that won’t go far enough to help farmers or the environment.
That’s according to Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe who voted against the reformed CAP this week.
The new Common Agricultural Policy will come into effect in 2023. It aims to be “greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent”. But Ciarán Cuffe says the new CAP is an “outlier” that won’t effectively reduce green-house gas emissions or support farmers.
In the following interview Ciarán Cuffe speaks to EuroParlRadio editor Karen Coleman about the new CAP.
Out words: for purpose
Dur: 03:52
The Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says he voted against the new Common Agricultural Policy that was approved by the majority of MEPs in the European Parliament yesterday.
The new CAP will come into effect in 2023. Farmers will have to comply with climate and environmentally-friendly practices. And EU countries will have to ensure around a third of the rural development budget and at least a quarter of direct payments will be dedicated to environmental and climate measures.
However Ciarán Cuffe says the new CAP falls well short of what’s needed to tackle climate change and properly support farmers.
Out words: missed opportunity
Dur: 00:22
The new EU farm policy that has just been approved by the European Parliament, is a “missed opportunity” that won’t go far enough to help farmers or the environment.
That’s according to the Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
The new Common Agricultural Policy will come into effect in 2023. It aims to be “greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent”. But Ciarán Cuffe says the new CAP is an “outlier” that won’t effectively reduce green-house gas emissions or support farmers.
Out words: far enough
Dur: 00:20
Small-scale farmers will earn more under the new Common Agricultural Policy – that’s according to Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus. The European Parliament has voted through the new CAP after months of negotiations. Under the new rules, there will be a limit on the subsidies the big farms can receive. And small farms will benefit from a “redistribution payment”. Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus says it is a step in the right direction.
Out words: West of Ireland
Dur: 0’22”
The Belarusian opposition leader has called on Europe to become more proactive when facing autocracy. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made the pleas during her address to the European Parliament today.
She also urged the EU to continue holding a consistent sanctions policy which she said would divide people around Alexander Lukashenko – the authoritarian leader of Belarus.
Yesterday the EU President said plans were underway to impose a series of sanctions against transport operators facilitating human smuggling or trafficking of people to the EU’s borders with Belarus.
It’s been alleged that some of the planes that are being used to fly people in from the Middle East to Belarus are leased through aircraft leasing companies in Ireland.
Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe says they need to be sanctioned.
Out words: migrants lives
Dur: 00:24
Carbon capture could be a new revenue stream for Irish farmers – that’s according to MEP, Colm Markey. The European Parliament has just backed the new Common Agricultural Policy. One of the schemes included in the new CAP is so-called Carbon Farming. Farmers will have a cash incentive to help cut carbon emissions by planting trees, protecting peatlands and enriching soil. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, thinks it could be a real opportunity for farmers in the Midlands North West.
Out words: On their farms
Dur: 0’20”
A new deal for farmers has been voted through the European Parliament. MEPs have backed the new Common Agricultural Policy with a large majority. It’s hoped the reformed CAP will prove to be “greener, fairer, more flexible”, according to the parliament. At least one-quarter of farmers’ funding will now depend on environmental schemes. Midlands North-West MEP, Colm Markey, voted for the deal. He says he hopes the new green rules will prove to be workable for Irish farmers.
Out words: Practical and implementable
Dur: 0’22”
The EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy has finally been approved after years of tough negotiations. The European Parliament voted in favour of the policy on Tuesday (23/11).
This reformed version aims to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent. It will run from 2023 until 2027.
Environmentalists have criticised the new CAP saying it’s unambitious and that it won’t incentivise greener farming methods. However Farmers in Ireland are concerned new CAP rules will penalise them unfairly
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says supports and policies will have to be put in place to support the agriculture sector in Ireland.
In this podcast, EuroParlRadio’s editor Karen Coleman spoke to the Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher about the new CAP. Billy began by talking about the background to securing the vote on it.
Out words: in general
Dur: 05:50
The EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy has finally been approved after years of tough negotiations. The European Parliament voted in favour of the policy today which will now come into force in 2023.
Under the reformed CAP, farmers will have to comply with climate and environmentally-friendly practices. Member states will be obliged to ensure that at least 35% of the rural development budget and at least 25% of direct payments will be dedicated to environmental and climate measures.
Each EU country will need to prepare a strategic plan to implement the policy over the next five years. This will allow them to take local conditions into account and to focus on performance.
Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher explains how the CAP will impact farmers in Ireland.
Out words: supports available
Dur: 00:36
A Midlands North-West MEP is lobbying for Knock Airport to be exempt from EU funding limits. Ireland West wants to build a new business campus at the airport. The plans include an industrial hub as well as a hotel, with the hope of many new jobs. EU rules usually limit the proportion of cash that can come from the state. But Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, has asked the European Commission for an exemption. He says following covid and Brexit, the airport has had a tough time and should get a full injection in government money.
Out words: This regards
Dur: 0’21”
Thousands of new jobs could be created in Knock with EU support, that’s according to Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus. Ireland West Airport passenger numbers slumped during Covid and following Brexit. Now the airport wants to progress plans for a new business campus. Chris MacManus has asked the EU to exempt Knock from state aid rules. He says that would allow the government to fully fund the project.
Out words: State aid exemption
Dur: 0’22”
MEPs in the European Parliament have given the green light to the new EU Common Agricultural policy. This reformed version aims to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent. It will run from 2023 until 2027.
Environmentalists have criticised the new CAP saying it’s unambitious and that it won’t incentivise greener farming methods. However farmers in Ireland are concerned the new CAP rules will penalise them unfairly
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says supports and policies will have to be put in place to support the agriculture sector in Ireland.
Out words: seven years
Dur: 00:34
Ireland has been added to Germany’s ‘high risk’ list in light of rising covid cases. Those who are not unvaccinated must now quarantine on arrival in Germany. Many European countries have started to reimpose restrictions in light of the latest wave. The travel and tourism industry has urged the EU to better coordinate and resist knee-jerk reactions. But Dublin MEP, Barry Andrews, says the situation is serious and we need to do what it takes to get numbers under control.
Out words: Was vulnerable
Dur: 0’24”
The public is confused by “mixed messages” surrounding rising covid cases – that’s the warning from Barry Andrews. The number of coronavirus infections is rising steeply in many European countries including Ireland. The NPHET is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the outlook. Meanwhile Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says the EU needs to work out together how to handle the winter months to cut cases and protect the health service.
Out words: Our health services
Dur: 0’23”
EU proposals to cut the use of fertilisers and pesticides by 2030 can be achieved with new technologies and innovations.
So says Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly.
The European Parliament last week welcomed the European Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy which aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system over the coming years.
The commission is proposing that the use of pesticides should be cut by fifty percent (50%) and fertilisers by at least twenty percent (20%) by 2030.
Sean Kelly says farmers will be able to achieve these goals through innovative solutions.
Out words: be allayed
Dur: 00: 38
Cutting the number of animals on a farm is not the solution to achieving reductions in methane gas emissions.
That’s the view of Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. His comments follow a vote in the European Parliament last week where MEPs called for binding cuts to methane emissions in the EU by 2030.
Livestock like cows are big methane emitters. And MEPs want new measures in member states to minimise animal emissions, while ensuring food production is not just moved outside the EU.
But Colm Markey is warning simple cuts to herds isn’t the right approach to take.
Out words: friendly standard
Dur: 00: 31
Binding commitments are needed to ensure subsidies of environmentally harmful substances such as fossil fuels are eliminated within this decade.
So says Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan. Her comments follow European Parliament calls for accelerated climate action worldwide.
In a resolution, MEPs expressed concern that the national targets announced in Paris in 2015 would result in warming well above three degrees by 2100, compared to pre-industrial levels.
Their concerns come ahead of the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow which begins next Sunday (31stOctober- 12th November).
Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.
Out words: thirty five
Dur: 00:28
People who ride the likes of electric bikes and scooters are being excluded from new EU motor insurance rules. The European parliament has just approved new rules to better protect drivers across the EU.
The updated Motor Insurance Directive will improve the protection of drivers who have accidents in another EU country. And it should ensure that people who are in a road accident are compensated even if the insurance company goes bankrupt.
However, the amended rules exclude vehicles such as e-bikes, garden tractors and mobility scooters from insurance obligations. And vehicles intended exclusively for motorsports are also excluded from the directive.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, who is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, explains.
Out words: users off
Dur: 00:16
The European parliament has just approved new rules to better protect drivers across the EU.
The updated Motor Insurance Directive will improve the protection of drivers who have accidents in another EU country. And it should ensure that people who are in a crash are compensated even if the insurance company goes bankrupt.
An EU-harmonised “Claims History Statement” will also prevent discrimination when a policyholder moves from one EU member state to another.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, who is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, explains.
Out words: the company
Dur: 00:26
People who have road accidents in another EU country should enjoy better protection following the endorsement of new motor insurance rules.
The European Parliament has just approved an updated Motor insurance directive which will give drivers better insurance protection and fairer competitive practices across the EU.
The legislation should protect victims of accidents irrespective of whether they occur in their country of residence or elsewhere in the EU.
And EU Citizens will also be able to compare prices, tariffs and coverage offered by different providers more easily.
Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus explains.
Out words: and dry
Dur: 00:33
EU plans to radically overhaul how we produce our food will be challenging for farmers. That’s the verdict of Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey who was speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
MEPs this week approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy. It aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The Strategy includes a fifty percent reduction (50%) of pesticides and at least a twenty percent (20%) reduction of fertilizers by 2030. It’s also aiming to have a quarter of agricultural land under organic farming by then.
But, according to Colm Markey, reaching those targets will require the full engagement of farmers.
Out words: that’s there
Dur: 00:17
Farmers will need to be fully engaged in plans to radically change the way our food systems work. So says Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.
The European Parliament this week approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy. It aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The Farm to Fork Strategy includes a fifty percent reduction (50%) of pesticides and at least a twenty percent (20%) reduction of fertilizers by 2030. And it aims to have a quarter of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
But Colm Markey admits reaching those goals won’t be easy for farmers.
Our words: the industry
Dur: 00:22
The Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus says he doesn’t know how the latest round of talks between the EU and the UK on the Northern Ireland protocol are going to pan out.
The Midlands North-West MEP held a private meeting yesterday with the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič who's leading the EU negotiations with the UK.
He says British objections to European Court of Justice oversight of the Protocol, shows they’re coming up with obstacles. And that they’re “playing very fast and loose” with the peace process.
Out words: can create
Dur: 00:28
Shoppers are better informed about food and want change – that’s according to Maria Walsh. The European Parliament has just backed a resolution calling for a new “farm to fork” strategy. MEPs want the EU to set standards that ensure food, including meat, is both environmentally and animal friendly. According to EU statistics, just 1.6 per cent of agricultural land in Ireland is organically farmed. That compares to more than 25 per cent in Austria. Speaking from a farm in the west of Ireland, Fine Gael MEP, Maria Walsh, says food should be both good and affordable.
Out words: Food production
Dur: 0’25”
It’s very hard to second guess what the British government’s position will be on the EU proposals to resolve disagreements over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
That’s according to Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus.
The Midlands North-West MEP held a private meeting yesterday with European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. He’s leading the EU negotiations with the UK.
Chris MacManus says the ball is quite firmly in the British court and that they need to let pragmatism come to the fore.
Out words: toxic atmosphere
Dur: 00:32
Billy Kelleher has called for a fightback against tax dodging brought to light in the recent Pandora Papers. The huge data leak revealed dodgy dealings and allegations against the rich and famous. The European Parliament will vote on a resolution today calling for loopholes to be urgently closed to end tax avoidance. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, explains what he wants to see happen.
Out words: And an investigative system
Dur: 0’26”
Home renovations will need to double or triple to meet climate ambitions, Ciarán Cuffe has warned. With the crucial COP26 climate conference in Glasgow coming soon, there’s pressure to show action. The EU has already set a raft of targets for cutting emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, and reaching net zero by 2050. Dublin’s Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says every sector will need to play its part, including housing.
Out words: Retrain workers
Dur: 0’25”
Farmers will need to be supported and incentivised to ensure they can cope with EU proposals to radically revamp the bloc’s food production systems over the coming years.
So says Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan who was speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
MEPs have just approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s proposed Farm to Fork Strategy. It aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The Farm to Fork Strategy includes a fifty percent reduction (50%) of pesticides and at least a twenty percent (20%) reduction of fertilizers by 2030. And it's set a goal of having a quarter of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
Here’s Grace O’Sullivan
Out words: as possible
Dur: 00:30
Former justice minister, Frances Fitzgerald, says that the new EU anti-money laundering authority is going to be a step-change in tackling dirty money. 'ALMA' promises to “transform” the patchwork of different approaches at the moment into a unified fighting force. Dublin MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, is convinced that the EU needs to work together otherwise the criminals will stay ahead.
Out words: And lax supervision
Dur: 0’23”
MEPs in the European Parliament are calling for far-reaching plans to revamp the EU’s food systems to produce healthier and more sustainable food in the future.
The majority of MEPs have just approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy. It aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The proposals include a significant reduction in the use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming and the allocation of more land for organic farming.
Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says our current food production systems require significant overhaul.
Out words: in biodiversity
Dur: 00:36
Dirty money is a problem throughout Ireland and Europe – that’s according to Frances Fitzgerald. The European Parliament will be debating money laundering in Strasbourg later this afternoon. According to Frances Fitzgerald, the number of cases in Ireland doubled last year. She says it often involves trafficking women and drugs and, increasingly, manipulating technology. The Fine Gael MEP, and former justice minister, says Europe needs to get smarter at taking on the criminals.
Out words: More sophisticated
Dur: 0’24”
Europe will be able to weather the economic uncertainty caused by covid, say Billy Kelleher. A new report by the IMF is positive about how the economy here and across the EU has faired so far, but warns challenges lie ahead. Irish GDP is predicted to grow fastest this year, but the IMF has cut back its forecasts for Ireland in 2022. The European Union has put together a recovery programme worth €720 billion. Fianna Fáil MEP says the cash injection, combined with careful management for the time ahead should see us through.
Out words: The European economy
Dur: 0’20”
Ireland is enjoying the strongest growth in Europe this year, according to data from the International Monetary Fund. In its report, just published, the IMF says an “increasingly resilient recovery is taking hold in Europe”. The Irish economy is forecast to grow by 13 per cent in 2021. Softer growth is predicted for next year. The IMF highlighted Ireland’s tech industry as a key "positive contribution". Reacting to the report, Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher says government support has helped steady the economy through the crisis.
Out words: Quite dramatically
Dur: 0’22”
Niche culture has gained worldwide audiences during covid, says Maria Walsh. During lockdown, many artists turned to digital outlets. According to a resolution passed today in the European Parliament, the cultural and creative sector in the EU lost €199 billion in 2020. MEPs are calling for the EU and governments to ensure culture has support to thrive. Midlands North-West MEP, Maria Walsh, says a hybrid of attending venues in person, and reaching out around the world through digital, is the future.
Out words: Do so live
Dur: 0’23”
The government’s reopening plan has been criticised by a Fine Gael MEP. Nightclubs are set to reopen on Friday at full capacity. But cultural venues must observe extra restrictions. Maria Walsh says the differences are unfair. She says other European countries are fully open to late-night culture, and we should be doing the same here in Ireland.
Out words: Quickly catch up here
Dur: 0’23”
New technologies and greater efficiencies will be key to achieving more sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming practices in the future.
So says Ireland South MEP, Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament has just approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy. It’s aiming to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The proposals include a significant reduction in pesticides and fertilizers in farming and the allocation of more land for organic farming.
Deirdre Clune says these ambitious goals can be achieved with the help of technology and smart-farming.
Out words: environmental sense
Dur: 00:28
The European Parliament is proposing a raft of plans to revamp the EU’s food systems to produce healthier and more sustainable food. And to ensure a fair income for farmers and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint.
The majority of MEPs have just approved a set of measures to help meet the objectives of the EU’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy. It aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU’s food system.
The proposals include a significant reduction in pesticides and fertilizers in farming and the allocation of more land for organic farming.
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune says the measures are needed to ensure food is produced sustainably and to increase consumer awareness of how the food they’re eating is produced.
Out words: their choices
Dur: 00:27
Businesses have put Northern Ireland investments “on hold” because of the Protocol uncertainty - that’s according to Barry Andrews. Under the terms of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland remains both in the UK internal market as well as the Single Market for the entire EU. The EU’s Brexit chief, Maroš Šefčovič, has repeatedly said that this should be a huge economic opportunity for the North. MEP, Barry Andrews, is meeting him in Strasbourg this morning. The Fianna Fáil MEP says he has proposed an EU-UK investment conference to get money flowing into Northern Ireland.
Out words: People in Northern Ireland
Dur: 0’21”
Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says he is upbeat about the prospects of resolving problems with the Northern Ireland protocol. The EU put forward a new set of ideas last week and technical talks between the UK and EU have started. Under the EU’s plan, many of the checks on goods between Britain and Northern Ireland would be abolished. Barry Andrews says the reaction from businesses in the North has been largely favourable, and he believes it is now time for the UK and EU to develop a partnership rather than a rivalry.
Out words: EU-UK relationship
Dur: 0’22”
Methane emissions must be cut across all sectors including farming, Ciarán Cuffe has insisted. According to the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Teagasc, more than two-thirds of Ireland’s methane emissions come from cattle and sheep. The European Parliament is debating a 'methane strategy' this week in Strasbourg. Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, admits that bringing down methane pollution won’t be easy, but he says there are ways farmers can do their bit.
Out words: Will help us
Dur: 0’21”
Ireland must cut its methane emissions in order to meet climate targets – that’s according to Ciarán Cuffe. A report in the European Parliament highlights methane as the biggest concern after CO2. MEPs want to see specific methane curring targets Europe-wide. Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says we need to bring down emissions across the board if we’re going to meet our environmental ambitions.
Out words: Parliament this week
Dur: 0’21”
MEPs in the European Parliament slammed the Polish government and its prime minister this morning in a bruising debate about rule of law issues in Poland.
The debate followed a ruling earlier this month by Poland’s constitutional tribunal, which found that key parts of EU law were incompatible with the Country’s constitution.
During the debate the Polish Prime Minister (Mateusz Morawiecki), defended the Court’s decision and he accused the EU of blackmail.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says Poland must abide by EU rules if it’s to benefit from membership of the bloc.
Out words: as well
Dur: 00:24
Billions of Euro in EU covid recovery funding should only be distributed to countries that meet rule of law standards – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is made up of loans and grants totalling more than €720 billion. In the terms, member states agreed respect for EU values would be a prerequisite for the cash. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says funding for Poland should be withheld until its rule of law is back in line.
Out words: A bank machine
Dur: 0’25”
Intro script :
The EU should suspend its funding to Poland until it addresses rule of law issues that are causing alarm across EU capitals.
That’s the call from Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
His comments followed a fiery debate in the Parliament this morning when the Polish Prime Minister (Mateusz Morawiecki) was eviscerated by many MEPs for the erosion of fundamental rights and judicial independence in his country.
Earlier this month Poland’s constitutional tribunal found that EU treaties were incompatible with Poland’s national constitution. Sean Kelly says Poland needs to get its house in order before it’s given badly-needed EU funds.
Out words: they’re in
Dur: 00:30