EuroParlRadio

Interview Kelleher MEP on climate-neutral buildings

The European Parliament today (Tuesday 14 March) voted for new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. And it says all new buildings should have zero-emissions from 2028.  

MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.

MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households. Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about today’s vote. Here’s that interview.

Out words: the regulations

Dur: 02:52

Government imagination needed for carbon-neutral buildings - Kelleher

The Government will have to be very creative and imaginative to enable people to live in energy-efficient buildings in the future.

So says Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher. He was reacting to today’s vote by the European Parliament on new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The measures include requiring all new buildings to have zero-emissions from 2028.  

MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding.  Here’s Billy Kelleher.    

Out words: housing stock

Dur: 00:30

MEPs back climate-neutral building sector by 2050 – Kelleher

The European Parliament has voted for new plans to make the EU’s building sector climate neutral by 2050. And it says all new buildings should have zero-emissions from 2028.  

MEPs were voting on the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.

The measures include increasing the rate of renovations of energy-inefficient buildings and improving information-sharing on energy performance. MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher explains.  

Out words: potential costs

Dur: 00:28

Interview Andrews MEP on Brexit & Windsor Framework

Relations between the EU and the UK are improving following the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework.

That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews. The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today (Tuesday 14 March) in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020).

The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.

EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman caught up with Barry Andrews in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss the Windsor Deal and what MEPs are saying about it. Here’s that interview.

Out words: few years

Dur: 05:23

Trust “built up” between EU & UK – Andrews

Relations between the EU and the UK are improving following the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework.

That’s according to Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews. The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020). The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.

Barry Andrews says the Windsor deal should pave the way for other agreements between the two sides such as energy cooperation, defence and support for Ukraine  

Out words: few years

Dur: 00:21

Enormous “safeguards” on Stormont Brake – Andrews

The state of EU-UK relations will be debated by MEPs today in Strasbourg. The debate comes three years after the Brexit agreement came into place (1st February 2020). The new Windsor Framework will also be discussed in the European Parliament.  

Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews believes there’s broad acceptance for the Windsor Framework. But he says, MEPs are nervous about the Stormont Brake and what it actually means. The Dublin MEP says he’s reassured the Stormont Brake won’t be abused.

Out words: the brake

Dur: 00:35

Clune hoping for new committee position

The European Parliament has voted to set up a new committee dedicated to public health. At the moment health is combined into one committee along with environmental issues. With many new green laws under consideration, there was a risk the committee could have become clogged up.  Deidre Clune has put her name forward to sit on the new health committee. She says the pandemic demonstrated why public health needs its own dedicated MEPs.

 

Out words: European citizens

Dur: 0’20”

European Parliament demands fertiliser action

MEPs have demanded EU action to help bring down the price of fertiliser. Up to 60 per cent of potassium fertiliser was imported from Russia before the war with Ukraine, according to the European Parliament. Since then, prices have gone through the roof, and that’s had an impact on farmers and food prices too. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, says there is a raft of measures the EU can take that will help to bring costs under control.

 

Out words: Into the market

Dur: 0’16

Medical devices will not be removed from the market

MEPs have voted to delay a requirement to re-register medical devices. An estimated 15,000 medical devices such as heart valves, breast implants and catheters needed to be recertified by next year. The European Parliament voted this lunchtime to give the medical industry more time to complete the paperwork. Those classed as ‘high risk’ devices will now have until the end of 2027. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says paediatric surgeon had warned there would have been just one suitable heart value left on the market. She says it is right that more time has been granted and she is adamant the extension does not undermine patient safety.

 

Out words: Abandoning quality

Dur: 0’17”

Green revolution may lead to job losses

The green revolution may lead to job losses in traditional sectors, Billy Kelleher says. Earlier this week, Ford announced thousands of jobs will be cut. The car manufacturer has previously warned it needs “40 per cent less labor” to make electric cars. Under a new EU law voted through the European Parliament, all cars and vans must be CO2-free by 2035. Ireland South MEP, Billy Kelleher, says workers will need to be reskilled to adapt to new opportunities.

 

Out words: There as well

Dur: 0’18”