EuroParlRadio

Interview with Billy Kelleher MEP on European Year of Youth 2022

The European Parliament has just backed an initiative to declare 2022 the European Year of Youth. It promises to give young people a stronger platform to ensure their voices are heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher believes young people in Ireland and across the EU need to be listened to and consulted on the issues that are important to them.

Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) spoke to Billy about the European Year of Youth next year.

Out words: out there

Dur: 04:34

Young people to be EU focus of 2022 – Kelleher

The European Parliament has just backed an initiative to declare 2022 the European Year of Youth. It promises to give young people a stronger platform to ensure their voices are heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher believes young people in Ireland and across the EU need to be listened to and consulted on the issues that are important to them.

He says the impact of the Covid pandemic on young people in particular will have to be acknowledged.

Out words: the future

Dur: 00:31

UK-EU assembly can solve NI democratic deficit - Andrews

Northern Ireland politicians must have a chance to scrutinise EU law applicable in the province – that’s the demand from Barry Andrews. The Dublin MEP is part of the UK-EU parliamentary assembly which is still being set up. At the first meeting for the EU delegation, Barry Andrews called for a special unit to deal with issues involving Northern Ireland. He says a way must be found to resolve concerns about a Brexit democratic deficit in the north.

Out words: More regular basis

Dur: 0’33”

Andrews hopeful for Christmas Brexit progress

At least one Brexit problem could be resolved later this week – that’s according to Barry Andrews. The UK and EU have been in discussions for months over problems with the Northern Ireland protocol. One of the issues they are trying to resolve is ensuring Northern Ireland can continue to access British-approved medicines, whilst also being in the EU’s Single Market. Brexit minister, David Frost, and the European Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, are due to meet again on Friday. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says if they come out of that speaking along the same lines, it will be a mark of real progress.

Out words: Peaceful Christmas

Dur: 0’23”

Ireland to fail climate targets without homes rethink - Kelly

Ireland and the EU will miserably fail to meet climate targets unless we sort out our homes – that’s the stark warning from a Fine Gael MEP. Sean Kelly has drafted a report for the European Parliament being put to the vote this week in Strasbourg on the energy performance of buildings. He has found we are retrofitting far too many homes with better insulation, and new housing too often still falls short of net-zero ambitions. He estimates our homes need to cut greenhouse emissions by 60 per cent, and heating emissions by 18 per cent, if we’re going to get back on track. But he says – one bit of good news – building better will create lots of new jobs.

Out words: Electricians

Dur: 0’25”

MEPs endorse 2022 to be Year of Youth – Kelleher

The European Parliament today voted in favour of making 2022 the European Year of Youth. The vast majority of MEPs backed the EU initiative that aims to engage young people across the bloc in a range of youth-focused and youth-centric activities.

The 2022 European Year of Youth promises to give young people a stronger platform to make their voices heard especially when it comes to shaping policies at an EU, national and local level. There will be a special focus on young people with fewer opportunities along with mental health issues.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says the Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on young people and that it’s right they're  prioritised in 2022.  

Out words: of life

Dur: 00:34

MEPs vote on curbing unfair practices by big online platforms – Kelleher

Big online platforms like Google, Amazon and Facebook may be subject to much stiffer operating procedures within the EU following a vote in the European Parliament today. (Vote today - Results tomorrow) 

MEPs have been casting their ballots on updated rules on what major online platforms can and cannot do in the future.

The proposed Digital Markets Act is supposed to ensure a level playing field for all digital companies, regardless of their size. The new regulation 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.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says the new rules are needed in an era when more and more of us are shopping and selling online.  

Out words: service providers

Dur: 00:33

Kelly elected Brexit vice-chair

Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, has been elected First Vice Chair of a new Brexit group. The UK-EU deal, signed nearly a year ago, promised to set up a joint parliamentary assembly. Each side will have 35 members. The MEPs have already been selected and Sean Kelly has now been voted a leading role. He says the assembly will by-pass the rhetoric and help to find the best way of making Brexit work.

Out words: And the EU

Dur: 0’21”

Ireland is David v tech Goliath – Green MEP

Ireland’s ability to take on the tech giants is under-resourced – that’s according to one of our MEPs. The European Parliament has been debating a new law aimed at trying to get the tech firms to take more responsibility and not place unfair conditions on consumers. The result of a vote on the Digital Markets Act will be announced on Wednesday morning.  Because many of the big companies are based in Ireland, these are issues that the Irish Data Protection Commission monitors. Dublin MEP, Ciarán Cuffe, says he has raised with government officials the need for the Commissioner to be granted more money to be able to do a job better.

Out words: Where needed
Dur: 0’21”

Long clip – Fitzgerald on online violence against women PODCAST

The European Parliament is expected to call for more to be done to stop gender-based cyber violence which has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MEPs are today voting on proposals to introduce new measures to tackle cyber violence against women and LGBTI people. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated one in ten women have already experienced a form of cyber violence since the age of 15.

During a debate on gender-based cyber violence last night, Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald said it was becoming an “increasingly pervasive and common form of violence against women”.  

Out words: is stopped

Dur: 01:46