EuroParlRadio

Greater app and social media choices for consumers – Markey

Some of the world’s biggest tech giants are likely to face tough new operating rules in the EU following a vote in the European Parliament this week.  

MEPs overwhelmingly backed the EU’s proposed new Digital Markets Act which is designed to curb the powers of big online platforms such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook.

The proposed rules include what’s called an ‘interoperability’ requirement which would let users uninstall pre-installed apps on their platform and use different software. It means different digital products or services would be able to interact and work with one another.

Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey explains what that means.

Out words: currently  

Dur: 00:16

Ireland must address transport poverty - Cuffe

Ireland needs a rural transport plan – that’s according to Ciarán Cuffe. The European Parliament has been debating how people are held back by transport poverty. There's particular concern about areas of the country where people cannot afford a car and public transport connections are poor. According to Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, that’s something that needs to be addressed in Ireland as well as across Europe.

Out words: Joined-up thinking

Dur: 0’20”

Buy Irish or EU to avoid customs surcharges - MacManus

A Sinn Fein MEP is urging people to buy Christmas presents from within the EU to avoid customs surcharges. Since the UK has left the EU, packages from Britain are now subject to VAT and customs duties. It doesn’t apply to anything purchased from Northern Ireland because the north remains in the EU’s Single Market. Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus, claims some websites sound like they are based here, but people get a shock when presents are delivered from Britain and are subject to additional fees. He has raised concerns with the government and the EU and wants to make sure consumers are not being misled.

 

Out words: Consumer protection

Dur: 0’26”

Beware Christmas shopping shock - MacManus

“Tens of thousands” of people have got an unexpected bill with their Christmas shopping – that’s according to a Sinn Fein MEP. Since the UK has left the EU, customs duties must now be paid on goods bought from mainland Britain. On its Brexit website, An Post states that most online shops will include all the applicable fees at the check-out, but if not “a customs charge will be applied before we can deliver your item”. Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus, has raised the issue with the government. He wants all Irish consumers to get fair warning before they buy.

Out words: 0’21”

Dur: They weren’t expecting

MEPs vote for curbing unfair practices by big online platforms – Markey

Big online platforms like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are set to face stiff operating procedures within the EU following the results of a vote in the European Parliament.

The vast majority of MEPs have just supported EU moves to put an end to unfair business practices by the world’s digital tech giants.

They’ve approved the proposed Digital Markets Act which aims to stop so-called gatekeeper platforms from imposing unfair conditions on businesses and consumers. These include ranking their own services and products higher up than other smaller competitors.

Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey explains what the proposed new Act will do.  

Out words: player dominance

Dur: 00:23

European Parliament backs Kelly’s green homes push

The European Parliament has backed Sean Kelly’s demand to make our homes hugely greener. The EU has ambitious climate targets which the Fine Gael MEP warns will be missed unless the emissions from housing are drastically cut. MEPs voted in favour of his report today in Strasbourg. Sean Kelly says year-on-year targets are needed, but once European governments – including Ireland – go for it, progress can move fast.

Out words: Momentum pretty quickly

Dur: 0’24”

Tech firms know more about us than we do - Cuffe

The EU should give people the power to opt out of giving away all their data online – that’s the view of Ciarán Cuffe. The European Parliament has just back a new law to try and get the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon to play fair. Another new law, currently being negotiated, will, it’s hoped, give consumers more power over their online experience. Dublin’s Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says the internet should be people powered.

Out words: To navigate

Dur: 0’24”

Make gender-based cyber violence a crime – European Parliament

MEPs in the European Parliament are calling for gender-based cyber violence to be made a crime. The majority of MEPs have voted for the introduction of new EU measures to tackle online violence against women and other people subject to cyber abuse such as those from LGBTI communities.

The Parliament says such crimes should encompass a range of offensive actions including online harassment and stalking, recording and sharing images of sexual assault, threats of violence and sexist hate speech.  Seven out of ten women have experienced cyber-stalking, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says the Covid pandemic has led to a significant increase in online abuse of women.

Out words: against women

Dur: 00:21

Schools must stay open - Clune

It is important to keep schools open until the end of term – that’s the view of Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune. The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to meet tomorrow. It is expected that Nphet will make recommendations on what new restrictions might be required. The Tánaiste said earlier it is likely the Omicron variant will make up the majority of cases in Ireland by next week. At a European level, politicians are also urging keeping to health measures and a speeding up booster vaccinations. Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Deirdre Clune, said she really hopes the Christmas holidays can stay on schedule.

Out words: Busy household

Dur: 0’22”

Omicron: Clune reacts to Tánaiste with “stick with the plan”

Deirdre Clune has given a ‘keep calm and carry on’ message in the face of alarming covid concerns. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said in an interview earlier that Omicron will likely become the dominant strain of coronavirus in Ireland as soon as next week. But Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says we know more and more about the virus and the government has a strategy for how to handle it.

Out words: Hospital admissions

Dur: 0’21”