EuroParlRadio covers news from the European Parliament for Irish radio stations.
Just what are your rights if your flights have been cancelled or you are stranded in another EU country as a result of the COVID-19 crisis?
Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee.
She explains what you’re entitled to.
The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe is calling for more EU funds for health research in the light of the COVID-19 crisis.
The European Commission has already secured multi-million funds for urgently needed research on COVID-19 vaccine development.
The Dublin MEP believes the pandemic will inevitably lead to significant changes in our societies.
Out words: human condition
Dur: 00:34
EU countries need to keep their borders open to ensure food produce and other goods including emergency medical supplies can move freely from one EU country to another.
That’s the advice from the Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. The European Parliament this week voted almost unanimously for three emergency measures to help EU countries cope with the fallout of the pandemic.
The EU Commission is urging member states not to shut their borders but to keep them open to enable free movement of essential goods
Out words: across Borders
Dur: 00:34
The Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews is backing calls for a ‘common debt instrument’ to tackle the economic fallout of COVID-19 in Europe.
Ireland is one of nine countries to look for so called ‘corona-bonds’ which would see debt shared across member states.
It’s reported richer countries like Germany and the Netherlands oppose the idea.
Barry Andrews says it’s time for the EU to act in solidarity
Out words: states as well
Dur: 0:38
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews says the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for the EU to reinvent itself.
At the moment, health policy is a matter for national Governments and the bloc has been under pressure to come up with a unified response.
The outbreak has also seen member states close their borders in an effort to contain the virus.
Barry Andrews says the crisis is a big test for the EU
Out words: very soon
Dur: 0:24
After a shaky start, the EU is finally making decisions to deal with the COVID-19 crisis head-on.
Yesterday the European Parliament voted in favour of the first emergency measures and now, attention is now turning to the wider economic fallout.
There have been calls for a major stimulus package but there’s disagreement about who should carry the debt burden.
Kevin Purcell reports from Brussels
The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday for new measures to help with the COVID-19 crisis.
MEPs gave the green light to three initiatives which include the Coronavirus Response Initiative which will make thirty seven billion euro (€37bn) available to EU countries to address the consequences of the crisis.
It was the first time MEPs voted remotely with hundreds of them sending in their votes online.
Karen Coleman now reports on the proceedings of the day.
Ireland's newest MEP has cast his first vote in the European Parliament from his kitchen table in Co. Sligo.
COVID-19 travel restrictions mean that the majority of MEPs cannot attend a special plenary in Brussels to deal with the crisis.
It’s led to the Parliament taking the unprecedented step of rolling out remote voting.
Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus recently replaced Matt Carthy in the Midlands-North-West constituency
Out words: my kitchen table
Dur: 0:34
Ireland will only get 3 million euro from an EU crisis fund worth a possible 65 billion to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s according to Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus who says the EU plan is based on allowing member states to use unspent structural funds.
MEPs are today voting on an initial 37-billion-euro package which will be used for hospital equipment and support for SMEs.
Chris MacManus says the rules around the funding don’t make sense in the current climate
Out words: new dispensation
Dur: 0:28
The EU must do more to help its citizens return home from countries they want to leave because of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Ireland South MEP says he’s getting calls from people stuck abroad who’re desperate to come home. He’s recommending the EU take control of the situation and charter flights to get stranded EU citizens home.
Out words: later stage
Dur: 00:41
