EuroParlRadio

MEP demands reversal of “scandalous” transport charges of disabled – Carthy

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says the HSE is charging disabled people a "scandalous" daily fee for transporting them to HSE day care centres.

The Midlands North-West MEP is demanding that the Minister of State for Disability Issues Finian McGrath intervene immediately to reverse the transport charges.

He says he first heard of the four euro (€4) round-trip daily fees when constituents of his in Cavan and Monaghan told him about them.

Out words: a day

Dur: 00:40

Boylan “welcomes” Clare Daly’s participation in EU elections for Dublin

The Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan says she welcomes the participation of the Dublin TD Clare Daly in the European elections.

Ms Daly is likely to impact on Lynn Boylan’s vote as they will both be chasing left-leaning voters.

Nineteen (19) candidates will be contesting the Dublin constituency which has now expanded to a four seater.

However, the last winning MEP will have to sit in the wings until the UK leaves the EU as the extra seats allocated to EU countries can only be taken up when Brexit happens.

Here’s Lynn Boylan.

Out words: climate action

Dur: 00:27

MEPs approve provisional ‘Invest EU’ jobs & growth programme – Kelly

The European Parliament today approved a provisional deal for a multi-billion EU investment programme that promises a big boost in jobs and growth.

MEPs voted overwhelming for the ‘Invest EU’ initiative which is a new EU programme to support investment and access to finance from 2021 to 2027.

The programme aims to be a launchpad for initiatives that would otherwise be difficult to finance. And it’s hoped it will generate almost seven hundred billion euro (€700bn) in investments.

The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says a range of businesses in Ireland could benefit from the fund.   

Out words: Invest EU  

Dur: 00:33

UK participation in EU elections poses potential legal challenges – McGuinness

The UK participation in next month’s EU elections could pave the way for potential legal challenges in Ireland because of the two extra MEP seats we’ve been given.

That’s according to the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

A number of countries including Ireland, were given extra MEP seats on the assumption the British were leaving and a proportion of their seats were then redistributed to other member states.

However, the last two winning MEP candidates will have to put their European ambitions on hold If the UK participate in the European elections.

Mairead McGuinness says that could lead to potential legal challenges.

Out words: it is

Dur: 00:24

“Frozen” MEP seats after election – McGuinness

Two winning MEP candidates in May's elections will have to put their European ambitions on hold If the UK participate in the European elections.

Ireland was given two extra MEP seats on the assumption the British were leaving and a proportion of their seats were then redistributed to other EU countries. 

The electoral boundaries were changed and the Dublin and Ireland South constituencies were each given an extra seat.

However, the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says the last two winning candidates in the two constituencies won’t be able to take up their European seats if the UK take part in the elections.

Out words: European Union

Dur: 00:37

Meatless Mondays can’t be enforced – Ni Riada

The Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada has dismissed proposals in An Taisce’s recent resource pack that encourages secondary school children to promote meat free Mondays.

The pack on Climate action, which was developed by An Taisce, also advocates veganism and the consumption of less dairy products. It’s available to school teachers to download as part of An Taisce’s Green Schools programme.

Liadh Ni Riada says the choice to go meatless should be a purely personal one.

Out words: a Monday

Dur: 00:34

MEP hosts “climate emergency” event in Cork – Ni Riada

The Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada will host what she’s calling a “Fighting for Climate Action” event in Cork today.

The seminar follows the launch this week of a climate emergency manifesto by the political group that Sinn Fein is attached to in the European Parliament.  

Here’s Liadh Ni Riada.

Out words: the planet

Dur: 00:25

Mandatory Life-saving technologies for vehicles from 2022 – Clune

New life-saving technologies for vehicles will have to be provided by May 2022.

The European Parliament has approved new rules that will make it obligatory for all new vehicles to be fitted with a wide range of advanced safety systems within three years.  

They include intelligent speed assistance, alcohol breathalysers and driver drowsiness and attention warnings. Vehicles will also have to have emergency stop signals and black boxes that will record what went on in a vehicle directly before a crash.

The Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, who is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee explains 

Out words: as well

Dur: 00:36

Hogan’s “too soon to tell” Brexit emergency package “not good enough” – Carthy

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says the EU is not moving fast enough to provide emergency support to those businesses and sectors that are being damaged by Brexit.

The Midlands North-West MEP is calling on the EU to start organising emergency support now as jobs are being lost and businesses such as those in the agri-food sector are losing money.

He says Ireland’s EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan is moving too slowly and that the EU needs to accelerate its support to those who need it because of Brexit.

Out words: the road

Dur: 00:29

EU needs to provide Brexit emergency support now – Carthy

The EU needs to provide emergency support now to those businesses and sectors in Ireland that have already been hit by Brexit.

That’s the demand from the Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy. He says jobs are being lost and businesses and farmers are losing money because of the impact Brexit is already having on them.

The Midlands North-West MEP says the EU should provide assistance now and that it can’t delay providing help to those affected until the UK actually leaves the EU.

Out words: they’re required

Dur: 00:40