EuroParlRadio

Ireland had responsibility to collect €13bn from Apple – Harkin

The Independent MEP Marian Harkin says that Ireland should have collected the thirteen billion euro (€13bn) from the tech giant Apple that the European Commission says is owed in back taxes. The commission today announced that it has referred Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to recover billions from Apple. Last year the commission concluded that Ireland’s tax benefits to Apple were illegal under EU state aid rules. And it demanded that Ireland recoup €13billion from Apple and that it do so by January this year. However the government disputed those claims and it mounted a legal challenge against the initial ruling. But Marian Harkin says the state has an obligation to collect the outstanding monies regardless of the final outcome of the legal challenge. 

Out words: be used

Dur: 00:23

MEPs react to referral of Ireland to Court of Justice – Harkin

MEPs have been reacting to the decision by the European Commission to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to recover billions in taxes from Apple. Last year the commission concluded that Ireland’s tax benefits to Apple were illegal under EU state aid rules. It demanded that Ireland recoup €13billion from Apple and that it do so by January this year. However, the government disputed the illegal tax benefit claims and the initial ruling has already been referred to the Court of Justice. The Independent MEP Marian Harkin said Ireland was obliged to collect the thirteen billion regardless of the final court outcome.

Out words: of justice

Dur: 00:41

“Sackcloth and ashes” for Ryanair – McGuinness

Air passengers whose flights have been cancelled need to be dealt with better. And they need to be told how they’re going to be looked after. They’re some of the demands being made by the European Parliament. Ryanair got a bashing in the Parliament last night when MEPs vented steam over its recent bungling of cancelled flights. During a heated debate, MEPs pointed out that passengers had not received complete information on compensation. And they accused Ryanair of not providing the full range of re-routing options available to customers. The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says Ryanair needs to take stock of its mistakes.

Out words: the Parliament

Dur: 00:33

Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes on Catalan crisis

Full clip of the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes on the Catalan crisis. The European Parliament will debate the Catalan-Spanish problems this afternoon. 

Out words: of that

Dur: 1:42

European Parliament to debate Catalonian crisis – Hayes

The crisis in Catalonia will be debated in the European Parliament this afternoon. MEPs will discuss the outcome of last weekend’s violence following Catalonia’s decision to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. The leader of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont told the BBC yesterday evening that Catalonia would declare independence within the coming days. The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes says that, while the violence against the voters was disproportionate, the referendum was illegal.

Out words: yesterday

Dur: 00:33

MEPs wrap Ryanair on the knuckles over cancellations – McGuinness

The recent behaviour of Ryanair towards passengers whose flights were cancelled got a vigorous airing in the European Parliament last night. During a heated debate MEPs pointed out that passengers had not received complete information on compensation. And they accused Ryanair of not providing the full range of re-routing options available to customers. Some MEPs also said that working conditions on low-cost air carriers should be investigated by the European Commission. The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said Michael O’Leary’s ears must have been burning during the debate.

Out words: the company

Dur: 00:32

Ryanair has to abide by EU rules for abandoned passengers – Clune

Ryanair has to abide by EU rules and ensure that it provides all compensations due to passengers affected by its flight cancellations. That’s the warning from the Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune who is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. Last night MEPs debated the Ryanair flight cancellations debacle in the Parliament in Strasbourg. Deirdre Clune says the EU regulations on compensation are very clear 

Out words: the regulation

Dur: 00:36

European Parliament should support Catalans – Carthy

The situation in Catalonia will be debated in the European Parliament later today. Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont has said that the region will declare independence from Spain within a matter of days. The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says the EU should condemn the violence that was carried out by Spanish police against voters during last weekend’s referendum in Catalonia. However, the EU Commission has said the crisis in Catalonia is an internal matter for Spain. Matt Carthy has condemned the Commission’s stance.

Out words: to flourish

Dur: 00:38

Catalans “absolute right” to declare independence – Ni Riada

The Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada says the European Union should pressure the Spanish government to engage with the Catalonian leaders following last weekend’s independence referendum. The leader of the autonomous region has said that Catalonia will declare independence in a matter of days. The European Parliament will debate the situation in Catalonia later today. Liadh Ni Riada says the violence last weekend by police against the voters was a “huge attack” on democracy.

Out words: this case

Dur: 00:35

MEP highlights border counties dilemma in Brexit debate – McGuinness

The future of the border countries post Brexit was highlighted today in the European Parliament. MEPs voted on a resolution setting out the Parliament’s position on the current round of Brexit talks. During the Brexit debate before the vote, the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness referred to those counties that could be profoundly impacted by Brexit.

Out words: that happen

Dur: 00:32