EuroParlRadio

Von der Leyen a “good” “feisty” leader – Fitzgerald

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is a good leader despite the recent debacle over the Northern Ireland protocol.  

So says Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

Ms von der Leyen apologised to the European Parliament yesterday for the mistakes that were made in proposing the triggering of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The move was made to prevent vaccines from coming into the UK through the backdoor of another EU country.

Critics say Mrs von der Leyen operates within a small team and that she doesn’t consult her EU colleagues in the way her predecessors have done.

Here’s Frances Fitzgerald.

Out words: feisty way

Dur: 00:37

 

“No room for vaccine nationalism” – Fitzgerald

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for EU countries has been slow and “very disappointing”. That’s the damning verdict of Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

Her comments follow a debate in the European Parliament yesterday on the EU’s vaccination strategy.

During that debate the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen admitted mistakes had been made in proposing the triggering of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Despite that faux-pas Frances Fitzgerald says it is still right that the Commission remains in charge of the EU’s vaccination rollout.

Out words: is safe

Dur: 00:27

Repair and Reuse - MEPs vote on Circular economy - Clune

The European Parliament is recommending a spate of initiatives to achieve a sustainable, toxic-free and circular economy by 2050.

MEPs are calling on the European Commission to introduce laws that would impose sustainable standards for certain products placed on the EU market.

They want goods sold to be easily repaired, reused, upgraded and recycled.

Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune explains.

Out words: last longer

Dur: 00:30

“You did not get it right” O’Sullivan blasts EU boss

Irish MEPs fired a volley of criticisms at the European Commission President today during a debate in the European Parliament.

They were reacting to the debacle last month when the Commission wanted to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to prevent COVID vaccines from going into the UK through the backdoor of an EU country.

Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs that mistakes had been made and that she deeply regretted that. However she went on to say in the end they got it right.

But that self-congratulatory tone was slammed by Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan who spoke in the Parliament in Brussels.

Out words: this again

Dur: 00:31

Protocol cannot be renegotiated - Fianna Fáil

Billy Kelleher is urging the UK and EU to “work through” problems with the Northern Ireland protocol. In the five weeks that it has been in place, both sides have threatened to undermine it by triggering Article 16. GB trade with NI has also proven problematic despite so-called grace periods which were supposed to ease the way. Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, says there is a need to be flexibility, but the British should be in no doubt that the protocol is here to stay.

 

Out words: Citizens of Northern Ireland

 

Dur: 0’20”

Irish MEPs slam European Commission over Article 16 fiasco – MacManus

A number of Irish MEPs issued strong criticism this morning of the European Commission’s recent proposed triggering of Article sixteen of the Northern Irish protocol.

They were participating in a European Parliament debate on the EU’s vaccination strategy.

During the debate, the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen said mistakes had been made and that she deeply regretted that.

However, Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus had this to say to her.

Out words: the protocol

Dur: 00:32

von der Leyen “regret” not enough - Billy Kelleher

EU "regret" over the Article 16 threat is not enough, questions still need to be answered, says Billy Kelleher. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, finally spoke publicly about the Northern Ireland mistake in a debate in the European Parliament this morning. She promised to continue to protect peace. But Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher, will not let the issue drop. He says it is vital to find out what went wrong so that it does not happen again.

 

Out words: Alarm bells to somewhere

 

Dur: 0’23”

MacManus slams Article 16 “fiasco” in European Parliament debate

Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels this morning on the recent proposed triggering of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol.

The Midlands North-West MEP addressed the Parliament during a debate on the EU’s vaccination strategy.

Out words: thank you

Dur: 1:03

Battle against virus ‘a marathon not a sprint’ – von der Leyen

The battle against the COVID-19 virus will require foresight, endurance and stamina.

That was the warning this morning from the President of the European Commission during a debate in the European Parliament on the EU’s vaccination strategy.

Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs more coordination was needed on the supply of key ingredients for vaccines. And she said manufacturing surge capacity needed to improve.

Out words: immediately

Dur: 00:40

Poland needs abortion Citizens’ Assembly

Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly concept should be adopted by Poland as a way out of its abortion crisis, Grace O'Sullivan has suggested. The Citizens’ Assembly played an important role in the lead up to Ireland’s 2018 abortion referendum. The European Parliament has been debating Poland’s near-ban on abortion this week. Green MEP, Grace O'Sullivan, is very concerned Poland is headed the wrong way. She says Ireland successfully and honestly engaged with the public on the issue and Poland should now take the same approach.

 

Out words: Absolutely likewise

 

Dur: 0’22”