EU News Radio

High economic growth rate forecast for Ireland in 2021

Ireland is set to have a high economic growth rate compared to other EU countries in 2021.

That’s according to the European Commission’s Autumn report on the bloc’s economy which was published today. It states that Ireland’s economy is projected to grow by 14.6% in 2021. But that growth rate is projected to drop to 5.1% in 2022 and to 4.1% in 2023.

The report states that GDP growth in Ireland this year is driven by the activities of multinational companies and supported by a domestic recovery. The report says that private consumption is rebounding in Ireland as households’ saving patterns normalise. Domestic investment in construction in particular, is expected to register robust growth over the forecast horizon according to the report.

The EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni today said the overall EU economy is forecast to grow over the next few years.  

Out words: fuelling expansion

Dur: 00:40

EU economy ‘rebounding’ but facing ‘headwinds’ – Commissioner Gentiloni

The EU economy is rebounding from the pandemic recession faster than expected. That’s according to the European Commission which today announced details of its Autumn report on the bloc’s economy.

As Covid vaccination campaigns progressed, and restrictions started to be lifted, economic growth in the EU resumed in the spring and continued unabated through the summer.

The EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni today said the economy is forecast to grow by 5% this year. However he warned the EU’s economic recovery is now facing what he called ‘headwinds’. These include supply chain disruptions, rising energy prices, shortages of labour and increasing Covid cases across Europe.   

Out words: economic prospects

Dur: 00:33

EU court rules against Google on shopping comparison service

An EU Court has found that search giant Google abused its dominant position by favouring its own shopping comparison service.

The EU’s General Court in Luxembourg today published its decision on action taken by the European Commission in 2017. At the time the Commission fined Google (€2.42bn) two point four two billion euro “for breaching EU antitrust rules”.

The Commission accused Google of abusing its market dominance as a search engine by giving what it claimed was an illegal advantage to another Google product in its comparison shopping service.

The Commission had argued that Google was displaying its own shopping services prominently at or near the top of the first search results page irrespective of how good or relevant they were.  Rival  services were demoted to page four or lower, where they were not even seen according to the Commission.

European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta today said the ruling would ultimately benefit consumers.

Out words: unbiased choices

Dur: 00:38

Methane cuts will ‘immediately slow down climate change’ - Von der Leyen

The President of the European Commission says cutting methane gas emissions will provide positive benefits for both the planet and mankind.

Ursula von der Leyen was speaking at the official launch of the global methane pledge which over eighty countries have signed up to.

The pledge aims to reduce methane gas emissions by thirty percent (30%) by the end of the decade compared to 2020 levels. It was officially launched today at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.

Out words: methane emissions

Dur: 01:53

Methane cuts will benefit planet and people – Von der Leyen

A major global pledge to reduce methane gas emissions by thirty percent (30%) by the end of the decade was officially launched today at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.

The Presidents of both the US and the European Commission spoke at the launch of the pledge which over eighty countries have signed up to.

Ursula von der Leyen said reductions in methane gases would result in positive benefits for mankind and the planet.

Out words: ozone pollution

Dur: 00:21

EU & US launch global methane pledge – VDL

The EU and US have officially launched a global pledge to reduce methane emissions by at least thirty percent (30%) from 2020 levels by the end of the decade.

The launch of the pledge was made today at the COP26 climate change event in Glasgow.

During the launch, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said more than eighty countries had signed up to the pledge.  

She said reducing methane emissions will ‘immediately slow down climate change’.

Out words: hanging fruit

Dur: 00:35

EU index exposes Ireland’s gender inequalities in politics & corporate boards

The 2021 EU Gender Equality Index, which has just been published, shows that Ireland still has a low representation of women in the Dáil, government and regional and local assemblies. Women are also poorly represented on corporate boards of major companies compared to other EU countries. 

Overall Ireland comes in 10^th position out of 27 member states when it comes to having women in positions of political and economic power. Other EU countries such as Sweden, Finland, France and Spain perform much better. 

Davide Barbieri from the European Institute for Gender Equality which published the index, explains. 

Out: next years

Dur: 00:54

Ireland poor EU performer on women in power

Ireland ranks poorly among EU countries when it comes to having women in decision-making positions in politics and on boards of powerful companies. Overall Ireland comes in 10^th position out of 27 member countries which puts it just above the EU average.  

The 2021 EU Gender Equality Index, which has just been published, shows that Ireland still has a low representation of women in the Dáil, government and regional and local assemblies.

Women are also poorly represented on corporate boards of major companies.

Other EU countries such as Sweden, Finland, France and Spain perform much better when it comes to having women in positions of political and economic power.

Davide Barbieri from the European Institute for Gender Equality which published the index, has more.

Out words: for Ireland

Dur: 00:32

EU-US to launch Global methane pledge - VDL

The EU and US are to launch a global pledge to reduce methane gas emissions by at least thirty percent (30%) by 2030 at next week’s COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.

Today the President of the European Commission said together with US president Joe Biden, they would launch the pledge at COP26.

Legally required reductions in methane will impact Irish farmers as agriculture is a major source of methane emissions with livestock being big offenders.

But Ursula von der Leyen insists methane cuts are the way to go.

Out words:  this ambition

Dur: 00:23

 

G20 to commit to 70% ‘fully vaccinated’ world by mid 2022 – Von der Leyen

The world’s most powerful countries are to commit to having seventy percent (70%) of the global population ‘fully vaccinated’ by mid next year.

That’s according to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

She was speaking ahead of the G20 Leaders’ summit in Rome which begins on Saturday. It’s the international forum that brings together the world’s largest economies.

President von der Leyen today said they will commit to the goal of fully vaccinating seventy percent of the world’s population by mid 2022.  

Out words: shipped abroad

Dur: 00:37