EuroParlRadio

EU can’t dictate Repeal the 8th laws - Clune

Ireland’s decision on whether or not to repeal the eighth amendment should not be up for discussion in the EU. That’s the warning from the Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking ahead of a debate today in the European Parliament on attempts by the Polish government to make stringent abortion and reproductive health laws even more restrictive. Thousands of women in Poland have demonstrated against the proposal. And their protests echo similar campaigns in Ireland to repeal the eighth amendment which equates the right to life of a pregnant woman with that of an embryo or foetus.Deirdre Clune says Ireland alone should decide on its abortion laws.

Out words: government

Dur: 0.23

EU cannot interfere with abortion laws - Clune

Abortion laws are a matter for national governments and are not the business of the EU. So says the Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs today will debate attempts by the Polish government to clamp down on abortion rights in Poland.The Polish government is trying to push through a bill that would make all abortions illegal, with prison terms of up to 5 years for women who have terminations. However,the Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune says the EU should not interfere in domestic abortion laws.

Out words: themselves

Dur: 0.18

Give free rail tickets to young Europeans to boost enthusiasm for Europe – Hayes

MEPs in the European Parliament want to give free inter-rail passes to young Europeans to boost their enthusiasm for Europe.They’re suggesting eighteen (18)-year olds should be given a free return inter-rail pass so that they can travel around Europe and enjoy themselves.  The idea was first mooted a couple of weeks ago by Manfred Weber, the leader of the European Parliament’s main politicalgroup – the EPP [European People’s Party].  The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes, who’s in the same group, says such a move would help counter all of the negative news coming from the EU at the moment.

Out words: in it

Dur: 00:25

 

MEPs debate Free Inter-rail passes for 18 year olds – Hayes

Every 18 year old should be given a free return inter-rail pass so that they can travel around Europe and enjoy being European.That’s an idea being promoted by the European Parliament. Last night MEPs debated how they could bring this initiative about. They believe giving free inter-rail tickets to 18 year olds as a birthday present will help to counter all the bad news coming from the EU at the moment. The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes supports the move.

Out words: unemployment

Dur: 00:28 

Boylan accuses government of neglecting Halawa

The Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan is accusing the Irish government of not taking a stronger stance to secure the release of Ibrahim Halawa. The young Irishman has been imprisoned in Egypt since 2013. Anapplication for his release was submitted by his lawyers under the Egyptian presidential decree, law 140. This allows foreign defendants to be sent back to their country of origin before sentencing. However Ms Boylan says more forceful engagement is needed behind the scenes between the Irish government and their Egyptian counterparts.

Out words: counterparts

Dur: 0.28

Brexit ‘shocking’ and potentially ‘catastrophic’ – Harkin

The Independent MEP Marian Harkin says the British Prime Minister’s hardline stance on Brexit is ‘shocking’ for Ireland. The Midlands North-West MEP was reacting to Theresa May’s comments on Brexit last weekend when she addressed delegates at her party’s conference. The new UK PM said that Britain wasn’t leaving the EU today only to give up control of immigration again and to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Marian Harkin is calling for the government to plan properly and extensively for Britain’s exit from the EU in a couple of year’s time.

Out words: for ourselves

Dur: 00:33 

Government needs to plan extensively for Brexit – Harkin

The Independent MEP Marian Harkin is calling for the Government needs to plan properly and extensively for a British exit from the EU within the next couple of years. Ms Harkin is proposing that Ireland secures an agreement that would enable it to trade with Britain for an interim period before any tariffs would be imposed. And she says it’s imperative the government negotiates a proper deal on a range of issues from border controls to securing alternative markets for Irish industries currently exporting to the UK.  

Out words: diversify anyway

Dur: 00:40 

Halawa giving up hope of resolution - Boylan

The Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan says she’s very concerned about the mental health of Ibrahim Halawa, the young Irishman imprisoned in Egypt since August 2013. The 20-year old saw his trial postponed for the 15^th (fifteenth) time on October 2nd. His case has been adjourned until November 12. He was arrested in Cairo in 2013 after Egyptian authorities claimed he took part in violent protests in a mosque there. The young man could face the death penalty if he is convicted. Lynn Boylan says Mr Halawa is now refusing to see visitors and that his hopes of a resolution to his on-going incarceration are fading.

Out words: 12^th November

Dur: 0.21

UN Chief calls on MEPs to endorse Climate Change deal for humanity

The United Nation’s Secretary General called on the European Parliament this morning to ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement known as COP21. MEPs today approved the climate deal with an overwhelming majority of 610 MEPs backing it. The Paris Climate Change Agreement, which was reached in Paris last December, aims to limit the most dangerous impact of climate change by keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. During his address to the Parliament prior to the vote, Mr Ban Ki-Moon pleaded with MEPs to give the green light to the Agreement for the good of the planet.  

Out words: healthy planet

Dur: 00:37 

European Parliament approves Paris climate change agreement

The European Parliament this morning voted overwhelmingly to approve the Paris Climate Change Agreement that was brokered last year. Today’s vote paves the way for the Agreement to be ratified by the European Union. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below two degrees (2°C). The United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon addressed MEPs in the Parliament before today’s vote. 

Out words: societies

Dur; 00:35