EuroParlRadio

Brexit trade negotiations will be “very very difficult” – McGuinness

Brokering a trade deal with the UK will not be easy and the time pressure to get a deal done by the end of 2020 will make the negotiations even tougher.

So says the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The Midlands North-West MEP says she’s hoping the negotiations will not be as tough as those that led to the Brexit Withdrawal agreement.

Out words: things proceed

Dur: 00:33

Cutting pesticides must become future CAP objective – O’Sullivan

Harmful pesticides are damaging the health and fertility of our soils and jeopardising Europe’s bee populations.

That’s the verdict from the Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan. She was speaking in Strasbourg where MEPs this week called for the reduction of pesticides to save Europe’s bees.

They want the European Commission to beef up its Pollinators Initiative and to come up with new measures to protect bees and other pollinators. MEPs say the reduction of pesticides must become a key objective of the future Common Agricultural Policy.

Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.

Out words:  food system

Dur: 00:17

Malta PM must step down “without delay” - Cuffe

MEPs in Strasbourg today called for the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat.

They voted overwhelmingly for a resolution that expressed deep concern about the credibility of the investigation into the murder of the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

She was blown up in a bomb attack in 2017.

The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says the case casts a dark cloud over human rights and journalism in Malta.

Out words: this case

Dur:  00:36

European Parliament demands immediate resignation of Maltese PM – Cuffe

The European Parliament is calling for the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister of Malta.

MEPs are concerned about the credibility of investigations into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was blown up in a car bomb in Malta in 2017.

She was investigating alleged corruption within the Maltese government at the time of her death.

In a vote on a resolution today, MEPs warned that as long as Joseph Muscat remained in power, there was a real risk of ongoing investigations being compromised.

Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says the case raises many issues about human rights in Malta

Out words: that State

Dur: 00:27

MEPs condemn discrimination against LGBTI people – Walsh

The European Parliament today condemned discrimination and hate speech against LGBTI people in EU countries.

In a vote today MEPs expressed their deep concern at the growing number of attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in the EU.

Recent examples include homophobic statements during a referendum campaign in Romania and the move by Polish municipalities to declare themselves to be LGBTI free zones.

The Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh says such behaviour cannot be condoned.

Out words: members

Dur: 00:41

 

“Extreme goodwill” from EU to secure trade deal with UK – Fitzgerald

The Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says it’s unrealistic to assume a comprehensive trade deal between the EU and the UK could be completed within the next twelve months.

However she says the EU wants to do its best to ensure a good trade deal can be brokered between the two parties.

The Dublin MEP was speaking in Strasbourg where the European Parliament is holding its monthly plenary session.

Out words: be done

Dur: 00:20

 

EU-UK trade deal by end 2020 “not realistic” – Fitzgerald

Boris Johnson’s move to make it illegal to extend the Brexit transition deadline beyond the end of 2020 is hard to fathom.

That’s according to the Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

She says it’s unrealistic to assume a comprehensive trade deal between the EU and the UK could be completed within the next twelve months.

Out words:

Dur: 00:38

O’Reilly re-elected as EU Ombudsman – Kelleher

Irish woman Emily O’Reilly has been re-elected as the EU Ombudsman.

Ms O’Reilly won the majority of votes today in the European Parliament which elects the Ombudsman every five years.

She faced stiff competition from four other candidates including a judge from Estonia and a former Swedish MEP.

The Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher says Ms O’Reilly was by far the best candidate for the job.

Out words: as Ombudsman

Dur: 00:20

Political outlook of Europe will change post Brexit – Kelleher

The political outlook of Europe will change once the UK leaves the EU at the end of next January.

So says the Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher who was speaking in Strasbourg where the European Parliament is sitting this week. 

Seventy two British MEPs will leave their posts at the end of January. Their departure will have a significant impact according to Mr Kelleher.  

Out words: a change

Dur: 00:25

All-island conversation needed on Ireland’s future – Kelleher

The Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher is calling for an all-Island conversation on Ireland’s future.

The Ireland South MEP was responding to last week’s election in the UK which resulted in more nationalist than unionist MPs from Northern Ireland being elected to Westminster.

Mr Kelleher say those results show things are shifting in Northern Ireland and that a civic engagement is needed to explore Ireland’s future.

Out words: is premature

Dur: 00:36