EuroParlRadio

World doesn’t yet work for women as it should – Kamala Harris

The Vice President of the United States says the COVID crisis has seen women shouldering an increased burden of work in the home. And she says the virus has increased the risk of gender based violence.

Kamala Harris made the comments during a video address to the European Parliament this afternoon to mark International Women's Day. 

Vice President Harris told MEPs how the Covid crisis is impacting on women’s lives around the world.  

Out words: informal economy

 Dur: 1:00

EU “Farm to Fork” plans could damage organic food industry – Markey

Organic food producers could be negatively impacted by EU plans for a more sustainable food system. That’s the verdict of Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.

The European Commission’s planned Farm to Fork Strategy combines a range of measures for greener food production and healthier and more sustainable diets.

The plans include increasing the production of organic food in the EU to at least twenty five percent (25%) by 2030.  But Colm Markey says that high percentage could flood the market with organic produce and damage the industry.

Out words: be sustainable

Dur: 00:32

Rag trade under fire over unsustainable practices - Clune

The fashion and textile industry is coming under increasing scrutiny when it comes to environmental and sustainable practices.

The European Parliament this week called for tighter EU consumption and recycling rules. It’s all part of a move to achieve a sustainable, toxic-free and circular economy in the EU by 2050.

Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune says the textile industry can have a high carbon footprint with the humble cotton t-shirt being a particularly big offender.

Out words: the retailer

Dur: 00: 28

Irish lead in ‘world’s worst crisis’

Irish MEP, Barry Andrews, has taken the lead this week to highlight what he calls the world’s worst and most forgotten crisis. Millions of people in war-torn Yemen are on the edge of starvation. President Biden has promised to end the conflict. Now the European Parliament has voted through a resolution authored by Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews calling for a political solution, sufficient humanitarian funding and an end to arms sales to Saudi Araba which might be used in the conflict. The Dublin MEP says it’s also time to start preparing criminal cases against those who have committed war crimes.

 

Out words: For many years

EU needs to safeguard people from online abuse – Walsh

The EU needs to better protect people from abuse on social media platforms. That’s the warning from Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh.

MEPs this week called for democratic oversight of tech giants to safeguard freedom of expression. The European Parliament is demanding better regulation of Social Media platforms to defend democracy.  

Here’s Maria Walsh

Out words: in place

Dur: 00:30

Social Media giants must be regulated – European Parliament/Walsh

The European Parliament is demanding better regulation of Social Media platforms to defend democracy.  

MEPs this week called for democratic oversight of tech giants to safeguard freedom of expression.

There’ve been increasing concerns about the power of social media platforms and their role in facilitating hate speech and fake news especially during high-profile elections.

Fine Gael’s Midlands North-West MEP Maria Walsh, says people need better protections from the negative aspects of social media.

Out words: safeguards in

Dur:  00:28

MEP demands Government ‘roadmap’ on Brexit fund – Walsh

A Fine Gael MEP is calling on the Government to rapidly publish its roadmap for the Brexit rescue fund that will see over a billion euro coming to Ireland.

The five point four billion (€5.4bn) Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund is designed to help those countries worst affected by the UK’s departure from the EU.

Ireland has been allocated just over a billion euro of it (1.05bn).

Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh, MEP for the Midlands North-West, says her constituency badly needs access to the funds.

Out words: our constituents

Dur: 00:31

Repair not ditch your old toaster & washing machines – Cuffe

Consumers will increasingly be encouraged to repair goods like household appliances and other consumer products instead of discarding them.

MEPs in the European Parliament this week voted for a spate of initiatives to make the EU more sustainable and carbon-neutral.

It’s all part of the ambition to achieve what’s called a circular economy by 2050.  

The recommendations include giving consumers more power to get products repaired and to encourage all of us to recycle more of the items we use every day .

Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe explains.  

Out words: years ahead

Dur: 00:33

NI Protocol limited extensions should be considered – Markey

The problems with implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol will be discussed at meetings today between the EU and the UK.

British demands for changes to the Protocol will be on the agenda when European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič meets British Minister Michael Gove in London.

The British want the EU to extend grace periods up to 2023 to ease the implementation of the Protocol

Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey  says considerations should be given to limited extensions.

Out words: European side

Dur: 00:23

EU Needs to ‘hold the line’ on Protocol – Markey

Brexit is the reason behind the difficulties in getting certain goods from Britain into the North. And the Northern Ireland Protocol shouldn’t be blamed for those problems.

That’s the view of Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey.

The EU and UK are meeting today in London to discuss the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is demanding an urgent reset of the agreement.

However Colm Markey believes the EU should stand firm and not cave into pressures to change the Protocol.

Out words: the problem

Dur: 00:25