EuroParlRadio

MEPs to demand 45 per cent renewables by 2030

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”

Ireland needs EU to commit to energy windfall – O’Sullivan

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”

Interview Markey on Ukraine & looming Famine in N Africa

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

Famine in North Africa looms if grain gets stuck in Ukraine – Markey

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

 

Interview Maria Walsh MEP on Covid & mental health in digital workplace

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

MEP calls for Right to Disconnect & EU mental health strategy – Walsh

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

Digital & remote working causing stress, burnout, depression - Walsh

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

Interview Sean Kelly on nuclear/gas “greenwashing” claims

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

Kelly MEP defends McGuinness on “greenwashing” claims

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

Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe on European Parliament’s ”green” aviation fuels

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