EuroParlRadio

People should insist on cash refunds if flight vouchers not wanted - McGuinness

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic should insist on cash refunds instead of vouchers if that’s what they want.  

That’s the recommendation from the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

The European Commission yesterday announced Airlines must give passengers the option of cash refunds for cancelled flights. And that they can’t force them to accept vouchers if they want cash instead.  

Mairead McGuinness says people should insist on their rights when dealing with the airlines.

Out words: money back

Dur: 00:32

You are entitled to cash refund if airlines cancel your flight – McGuinness

People are entitled to cash refunds if their flights have been cancelled.

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness made those comments following the European Commission’s announcement that airlines must give people refunds for cancelled flights if they don’t want to accept vouchers. 

She says the law is very clear on this. 

Out words: cash refund 

Dur: 00:34

 

Farmers need specific measures to help recover from Covid – Kelly

The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly is calling on the European Commission to propose a financial mechanism that would give farmers easier access to finance to help them cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ireland South MEP is recommending something like the EU’s €2.3bn COSME programme. It’s currently helping thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises access finance though guarantees, loans and equity capital.

Sean Kelly explains how a COSME (Competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises) programme might work for farmers in Ireland.

Out words: until now

Dur: 00:28

Tourism needs EU ring-fenced funds to help Covid recovery – Kelly

The Tourism industry needs ring-fenced funds specifically for it to help it cope with the fallout of the Covid pandemic.

That’s the recommendation from the Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly.

He says the European Commission’s tourism rescue proposals are not ambitious enough to substantially help the sector which is worth close to €6 billion annually to the Irish economy.

He’s calling for a more targeted, tourism-specific EU financial programme that could be based on a mix of grants or loan guarantees.

Out words: in Ireland

Dur: 00:42

 

 

EU Covid recovery plan must be “brave and ambitious” – Kelleher

The EU must produce a brave and ambitious Covid economic recovery plan to ensure European countries don’t face years of recession. So says the Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.

The European Parliament is voting this week on a resolution calling for a range of measures to be included in the European Commission’s recovery plan.

Publication of the plan itself has been postponed several times and it’s now supposed to be unveiled within the coming weeks.

Billy Kelleher says it’s imperative the plan prevents EU countries from falling into economic turmoil.

Out words: capital investment

Dur: 00:37

EU must borrow to fund its own recovery – Kelleher

The EU will need to fund a trillion euro recovery programme to mitigate against a rising wave of discontent across the European Union due to Covid 19. That’s the warning from the Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.

He says the European Commission should have the power to raise funds over and above the contributions that come from the EU member states themselves. Those monies could then be spent on much-needed projects to help save EU economies from severe recession.

The European Parliament will vote this week on a resolution calling for a range of ambitious measures for the EU’s covid-19 recovery plan.

Here’s Billy Kelleher.

Out words: again

Dur: 00:39

EU outlines coronavirus recovery plan – Von der Leyen

The President of the European Commission today outlined details of the EU’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan.

Ursula von der Leyen was speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels this afternoon.

She told MEPs what to expect from the multi-billion rescue package designed to help EU countries recover from the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Out words: the future

Dur: 1:16

O’Leary “has a point” on anger at State bailouts of struggling airlines – Fitzgerald

The Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald says Michael O’Leary has a point with his anger at the European Commission’s approval of state bailouts of struggling airlines.

Mr O’Leary has accused the Commission of making corrupt decisions by approving the bailouts. Air France for example has received €7 billion from the French government. Other airlines such as Lufthansa and KLM are also seeking state aid.  

In an interview with the online site Politico, Michael O’Leary threatened to sue airlines “taking government rescue money”.  

Here’s Frances Fitzgerald 

Out words: this going

MEP hails Waterford surgeon’s Covid reusable medical gowns innovation – O’Sullivan

A Waterford-based surgeon’s initiative to develop reusable clinical gowns for medical staff in hospitals has been hailed as an example of a Covid-inspired business opportunity.  

The Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan is hoping EU Covid economic recovery funds could help these kinds of enterprises to grow their businesses to produce critically needed supplies at home, to avoid having to source them outside the country.    

Out words: the European Union

Dur: 00:38

 

EU’s Covid recovery plan must “recognise” EU Green Deal – O’Sullivan

The European Green Deal must be central to the European Commission’s forthcoming Covid economic recovery plan. 

That’s the warning from the Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan. The European Parliament will discuss economic recovery issues during its plenary session in Brussels this week.

MEPs want to see how the pandemic will affect the EU’s long-term budget known as the multi-annual financial framework.

Grace O’Sullivan says the EU’s ambitions Green Deal goals mustn’t be abandoned in the race to save EU economies battered by the impact of the deadly virus.

Out words: social way

Dur:  00:24