EuroParlRadio

Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps should have been deployed to Turkey, says Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fáil MEP was previously chief exec of aid charity GOAL. In a speech last night in the European Parliament, he said 28 of the charity’s staff had been killed in last week’s earthquakes. Speaking this morning, Barry Andrews criticised the government for not sending a humanitarian team to Turkey and Syria as other European countries have done. He says Irish defence is underfunded and risk-averse.

Out words: Are missing

Dur: 0’20”

Barry Andrews has criticised the government for failing to send an emergency team to Turkey and Syria. It is now estimated that 37,000 were killed in the earthquakes last week. That horrific figure may still rise further. In the aftermath, 21 EU member states sent rescue teams coordinated by the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Ireland was not one of them. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, is demanding answers.

Out words: Defence forces

Dur: 0’22”

The Midlands North West region is falling behind economically, Colm Markey has warned. When EU regional funding was calculated for the period 2021 to 2027, the Midlands North West was classed in the middle, with a below-average GDP. But according to Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, the region is now lagging even further behind. He says experts need to be recruited to bring in more EU cash and help level up with the rest of Ireland.

Out words: Significant difference

Dur: 0’21”

County councils across Ireland could bring in more EU cash with an expert on board – that’s according to Colm Markey. The Fine Gael MEP wants every council to recruit an EU funding officer. He has raised it with the new local government minister who is said to be interested in the idea. MEP for Midlands North West, Colm Markey, says there is millions of Euro available in EU funds that should be better harnessed. 

Out words: In Europe

Dur: 0’14”

Asylum seekers need an efficient and fair way to seek refuge in Ireland, says Grace O’Sullivan. The Green MEP saw first hand the pressure at Europe’s border. Last month she travelled to Greece where migrants are desperately trying to enter the European Union every day. She is critical of the idea of making Europe into a fortress. Instead, the Ireland South MEP says those in genuine plight should be able to come and live here in Ireland.

Out words: Granted asylum

Dur: 0‘17“

A wave of “far-right agitators” are fuelling false rumours about asylum seekers in Ireland – that’s according to Grace O’Sullivan. Ireland received 13,000 asylum applications last year, but those come on top of the estimated 70,000 Ukrainians seeking temporary shelter here from the war. Ireland South MEP, Grace O’Sullivan, says misinformation is fueling discontent. But she accepts that local people have also been let down.

Out words: A huge problem

Dur: 0‘20“

The Midlands North West region needs the money which has been agreed, but has not yet arrived, says Chris MacManus. To respond to the economic blow of the covid crisis, the EU created a multi-billion Euro fund. €915 million in grants was allocated to Ireland. But the government admits that it has only recently made a request for the first tranche to be sent. Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus was critical of the fund when it was approved by the European Parliament. At the time he called it poor value for money for Ireland. But he now says, since the money was agreed, we should be benefiting from it and should not still be waiting.  

Out words: It’s been agreed

Dur: 0’22”

Millions of Euro which was supposed to be used to help the Irish economy recover from covid is “sitting on a shelf in Brussels”, that’s according to Chris MacManus. Ireland was allocated €915 million in grants from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The money is supposed to be used for investment projects and advancing the green economy. So far none of the cash has arrived. In a statement, the government said it has now made a “first payment request”, but Sinn Fein MEP, Chris MacManus, says other countries have already spent millions by now.

Out words: It’s frustrating

Dur: 0’20”

The EU must try to help women in Afghanistan despite the difficulties – that’s the message from Sean Kelly. The repression and violence against women in Afghanistan has been discussed this week in the European Parliament. The EU does not recognise the Taliban as the de facto government. But Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, insists there are things the EU can do to help women who want to come to Ireland and elsewhere.

Out words: They’ll be safe

Dur: 0’23”

Sean Kelly has revealed he has been working to try and help a woman and her family to escape Afghanistan. Since the Taliban swept back to power in 2021, women’s rights have been gradually dismantled. Laws now restrict women’s right to education, jobs, and liberty. In December last year, the de facto government (which is not recognised by the EU) banned women from attending universities. Fine Gael MEP, Sean Kelly, has been struggling to help a female lecturer escape and get to Ireland. He says she is in a particularly dangerous situation.

Out words: The situation

Dur: 0’15”