EuroParlRadio

Cork company could help eliminate deadly ash tree disease – Kelly

A Cork company could help to eliminate the deadly ash dieback disease that is killing ash trees. That’s the view of the Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly. He says the Cork based Treemetrics company has the technology and knowhow to help tackle the disease through their satellite and online technologies.  Ash dieback is a potentially fatal disease of ash trees that is caused by a fungus that has spread rapidly across Europe. Mr Kelly says the production of hurleys could be affected if ash trees in Ireland are impacted by the disease. And he’s encouraging the GAA to help Treemetrics to access areas where ash trees are grown.

Dur: 00:35 

Childers demands abortion rights in Ireland – European Parliament

The Independent MEP Nessa Childers today called for abortion rights to be introduced in Ireland. The Dublin MEP says that it is no longer acceptable that women in Ireland have to go to the UK to terminate a pregnancy. She said such a situation is an ‘appalling evasion of responsibility’.  Speaking at the European Parliament Ms Childers said the eighth amendment should be repealed and that women in Ireland should have the right to terminate a pregnancy in Ireland. 

Out words: to it

Dur: 00:21 

Childers calls for abortion in Ireland

The Independent MEP Nessa Childers says abortion should be available to women in Ireland. The Dublin MEP says that Ireland can no longer ‘export’ its abortion issues to other countries like the UK. Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Ms Childers described the situation of women in Ireland having to go to the UK to have an abortion as ‘an appalling evasion of responsibility’.

Dur: 00:40

Out words: of responsibility

Interview with Liadh Ni Riada, Sinn Fein MEP on being shortlisted for MEP of year award

EuroParlRadio's Editor, Karen Coleman talks to Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada about being shortlisted for a 2015 MEP of the Year award. 

Ni Riada ‘delighted and surprised’ to be shortlisted for MEP of year award

The Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada says it would be a dream come true if she won an MEP of the year award. The Ireland South MEP was recently shortlisted for the award. She was nominated on the back of her work on the LEADER programme. Ms ni Riada is the only Irish MEP up for one of the coveted annual European Parliament awards this year. However, she’s got to canvas other MEPs to support her and she’s up against stiff competition from the biggest group in the European Parliament – the European Peoples Party group. 

Out words: for votes

Dur:  00:35 

Greece needs solidarity not unworkable conditions - Harkin

The Greek government and people need solidarity and not unacceptable conditions. That’s the warning from the Independent MEP Marian Harkin. She has criticised the Irish government’s stance towards Greece. The Finance minister Michael Noonan has insisted that Greece cannot expect any write-down of its debts. However, Ms Harkin says that there are other solutions other than debt-write downs that could work. 

Out words: do now

Dur: 00:30 

European Parliament tackles challenge of affordable medicines

The challenge of ensuring patient access to affordable medicines has been tackled by the European Parliament. MEPs this week debated how best to ensure expensive medicines can be given to people who need them but who may not be able to afford them. The Independent MEP Marian Harkin says the EU needs to look at ways to fund the development of costly medicines especially those that are unlikely to be developed by the pharmaceutical companies.

Out words: it can

Dur: 00:19 

Skilful Negotiations key to Greek resolution – Hayes

Skilful negotiating skills will be required to reach an acceptable agreement that will work for Greece and the rest of the EU countries. That’s the advice from the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes. Mr Hayes was speaking ahead of Monday’s meeting of eurozone finance ministers when another attempt will be made to reach an agreement on Greece. Last night in Brussels, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he was very confident a solution could be found to what he called Europe’s humanitarian crisis. Here’s Brian Hayes.

Out words: your country

Dur: 00:13 

Syriza MEP says not surprised at Irish government’s unsympathetic views to Greek situation

A member the European Parliament from the Greek Syriza party says he’s not surprised at the unsympathetic stance the Irish government is taking towards Greece’s demands for an end to austerity. Konstantinos Chrysogonos is a professor of Constitutional law and Human Rights at Thessaloniki University and a newly elected MEP. He says the Government’s views reflect those of other centre-right parties in Europe such as Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats party.

Out words: everybody

Dur: 00:24 

Syriza MEP says no surprise Brussels talks didn’t achieve anything

A Syriza member of the European Parliament says the Greek government cannot deviate from its stated election aim to end austerity in Greece. Konstantinos Chrysogonos is a professor of Constitutional law and Human Rights at Thessaloniki University and a newly elected MEP. He told EuroParlRadio that austerity hasn’t worked in Greece or other EU countries and that other solutions must be found to ease the high debt situation in Greece.

Out words: of austerity

Dur: 00:18