EuroParlRadio

Coronavirus pressure on health service “worrying”

Self-isolating healthcare workers in Cork bring home that no one is immune to coronavirus, says Deirdre Clune.

The Ireland South MEP says she has been washing her hands “red raw”.

The official advice from the government and World Health Organisation emphasises the importance of thorough washing of hands with soap and water. Deirdre Clune says she understands people's concerns, but believes the measures being taken are necessary.

Dur: 33”
Out words: Is immune from this

“Trust in short supply” in Brexit talks

There is a lack of trust between the UK and EU teams negotiating the next stage of Brexit, according to an Irish MEP.

Talks started last week with a view to Britain being able to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the EU by the end of the year.  

Both sides have been talking tough. Fianna Fail MEP, Barry Andrews, is critical of what he calls the “intransigence”, but he believes a basic deal can still be achieved this year.

Dur: 19"

Out words: Services side etc

Irish SMEs need EU coronavirus support

Deirdre Clune is urging the EU to support small and medium size businesses through the coronavirus crisis.

As governments implement strict rules to try and curtail the outbreak, businesses are feeling the pinch.

The OECD is already forecasting the virus will act as a drag on economic growth. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says it is particularly hard for SMEs trying to stay afloat and she wants the EU to help.

Out words: 19”
Dur: That are available

No sign of UK implementing Ireland Brexit protocol - Andrews

The UK must demonstrate it is starting to implement the Ireland protocol by the end of this month warns the Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrew.

The protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland was part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. It commits the UK and EU to keep trade flowing and the NI border open when the transition period ends.

A joint UK-EU committee will be in charge of making technical decisions. It is due to meet for the first time on 30 March. But Barry Andrews fears the UK hasn’t started work on the technology and British infrastructure which will be needed. He says there must be something concrete by the time the joint committee meets.

Dur: 35"

Out words: an end-stage

Europe needs more security around supply of medicines – McGuinness

We should be prepared to pay more for medicines if it means our supplies are more secure – that’s the view of Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness. The Midlands North-West MEP has spent months researching where our drugs come from.

According to her research, we are dependent on raw materials from India and China for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

She thinks that is dangerous. And she's calling on the EU and industry to urgently bring production back to Europe.

Dur: 24”

Out words: Price to pay

Ireland’s medicine supplies “very vulnerable” - McGuinness

Coronavirus is a wake-up call that our drug supplies are “very vulnerable”, says Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

The wider Pharmaceutical industry employs around 30,000 people in Ireland. But raw materials to make the medicines come from around the world, and, according to Mairead McGuinness, especially from India and China.

She is worried about what would happen to our drugs if those countries stopped exporting to us. She wants to see Europe becoming more self-reliant, producing our own supplies to break the dependency on other parts of the world.

39”

Out words: That we need

EU proposes measures to help airlines cope with COVID-19 fallout – Cuffe

The European Commission is to introduce measures to temporarily alleviate airlines from their airport slot usage obligations under EU law. The airport slot is the right of an aircraft to take off or land at a congested airport at a certain time of day.

However under the EU Airport Slots Regulation, airlines are required to operate 80% of their allocated slots, or face losing their right to it in future seasons. But massive passenger cancellations because of the COVID-19 virus, has left airlines flying near-empty planes to ensure they can retain their slots.

The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe today welcomed the Commission’s proposals to ease the pressure on airlines.

Out words: in time

Dur: 00:11

Cuffe calls for EU action on COVID-19 “Ghost Flights”

The Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe says the European Commission needs to immediately tackle so-called ghost flights being run by airlines in the wake of the COVID-19 virus.  

He says such flights carry little or no passengers and are flown simply to maintain valuable aircraft slots at EU airports. 

The Dublin MEP along with his Green Party colleagues in the Parliament, have written to the EU Transport Commissioner urging her to take action to end this practice. They say it’s both economically and environmentally damaging.

Out words: crossing Europe

Dur: 00:32

 

Budget blockers guilty of “narrow thinking”

Fewer than half a dozen countries are blocking a resolution to the EU’s budget according to Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly.

The EU27 were supposed to solve the problem when leaders met in Brussels last week, but they could not reach an agreement.

The EU wants to spend more on research and shifting to a green economy. It is also under pressure to find money for current crises including a new influx of migrants at the border, and the spread of the coronavirus. And the Ireland South MEP says Brexit has also been an added complication.

Dur: 34”

Out words: Four of five countries aren’t

MEP demands petrol price investigation

An Irish MEP is demanding the competition commission investigates petrol prices after dramatic falls in the price of oil on the global markets over the last few months.  At the end of last year brent was trading at around $68 per barrel, today it is around $37.

Fianna Fail's Billy Kelleher believes Irish motorists are being short-changed and that the benefits of the price cuts are not being reflected at petrol pumps in Ireland.

He's written to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission demanding an investigation.

Dur:21”

Out words: Price for consumers