EuroParlRadio

West of Ireland should get EU transport funding – MacManus

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says the Western Rail Corridor should be a priority as the EU revises its transport funding programme.

 

MEPs debated the Trans-European Transport Network this week.

 

MacManus says projects included in the plan receive 85 per cent of EU funding, meaning the cost for the Irish Government would be small.

 

He’s calling for the cash to be invested in the West of Ireland.

 

Out words: Derry city

 

Dur: 0:27

US return to Paris accord sends out strong signal – O’Sullivan

Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan says the United States’ return to the Paris climate accord sends out a strong signal to the world.

 

President Biden moved to reinstate the US in his first few hours in office.

 

The agreement, struck 6 years ago, seeks to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

O’Sullivan says the US will be an influential voice

 

Out words: hugely important

 

Dur: 0:24

O’Sullivan welcomes US return to Paris climate accord

Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan is welcoming President Biden’s moves to reinstate the US to the Paris climate accord.

 

The 2015 agreement seeks to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Former President Trump pulled out of the deal three years later.

 

O’Sullivan says having the US back around the table sends out a strong signal

 

Out words: carbon neutrality

 

Dur: 0:26

Irish MEPs call on China to let Dublin man leave the country

China should allow Dublin man Richard O’Halloran to leave the country according to two Irish MEPs.

 

The 45-year-old was subjected to an exit ban in early 2019.

 

Chinese authorities had been investigating the owner of the aviation firm he was working for but no charges have been levelled at O’Halloran.

 

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly hope to raise the matter in the European Parliament.

 

Kelly says O’Halloran should be allowed to return home immediately.  

 

Out words: him go

 

Dur: 0:31

Irish MEPs to raise Richard O’Halloran case in Parliament

Two MEPs are calling on China to allow a Dublin businessman leave the country after he was subjected to an exit ban almost two years ago.

 

Richard O’Halloran from Foxrock hasn’t seen his family since February 2019.

 

He travelled to the country to resolve a row involving the Chinese owner of the aviation firm he worked for.

 

No allegation has been levelled at the 45-year-old but the Chinese authorities are refusing to let him leave.

 

MEPs Barry Andrews and Sean Kelly hope to raise the issue in the European Parliament.

 

Andrews says China should make a goodwill gesture, if it wants to do business with the EU

 

Out words: the parliament

 

Dur: 0:37

Women more at risk in COVID crisis – Fitzgerald

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gender inequalities in the EU according to Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

 

She’s presenting a report on the issue to the European Parliament today.

 

It found the women are more at risk of contracting the virus due to disproportionately high representation amoung frontline workers.

 

Frances Fitzgerald says lessons must be learned.

 

Out words: go on

 

Dur: 0:17

President Biden “an extraordinary person” – Fitzgerald

Former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has described the new US President as “an extraordinary person”.

 

The Fine Gael MEP met then Vice-President Biden in Co Louth in 2016.

 

The President was in the country on a six-day visit to celebrate his Irish roots.

 

Frances Fitzgerald has fond memories of the trip

 

Out words: to people

 

Dur: 0:22

Fitzgerald warns against ‘vaccine nationalism’

Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald is warning against ‘vaccine nationalism’, saying EU cooperation has worked well.

 

So far, two COVID vaccines have been approved and a decision on a third is due at the end of the month.

 

The European Commission has also set member states a target of vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the adult population by the summer.

 

Frances Fitzgerald believes the EU is doing all it can to end the pandemic.

 

Out words: really well

 

Dur: 0:19

AstraZeneca vaccine must go through approval process - Fitzgerald

Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine must go through the EU approval process before it’s delivered to Ireland.

 

She was responding to confirmation from the Taoiseach that it won’t arrive until mid-February, if it gets the green light at the end of this month.

 

The Government had been in talks to secure early supplies so that rapid vaccination could start.

 

Fitzgerald says the delay shouldn’t come as a surprise

 

Out words: the country

 

Dur: 0:19

Biden will help defeat the global pandemic - Walsh

Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh says defeating COVID on a global scale cannot be done without the help of the United States.

 

She says it will be a top priority for Joe Biden who becomes the next US President in a few hours’ time.  (18.00 GMT)

 

Biden is expected to start implementing his response to the pandemic after being sworn in.

 

Walsh says it should make a big difference.  

 

Out words: European parliament

 

Dur: 0:24