EuroParlRadio

Johnson’s Brexit approach “absolute nonsense process” – Alyn Smith MEP

Boris Johnson's attempts to get his revised Brexit deal through Westminster was “an absolute nonsense process”.  

That’s the verdict of the Scottish National party MEP Alyn Smith who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

He says Mr Johnson’s Brexit bill will require much more scrutiny and that the arrangements for Northern Ireland that have been made in the deal won’t stand up to analysis.  

Out words: to GB

Dur: 00:40

Protection of bees “critical” for health of the planet – O’Sullivan

MEPs in the European Parliament are calling for better research into how pesticides are impacting on bees. They blocked moves this week to weaken protection of bees from pesticides.

The Parliament sent the European Commission back to the drawing board after it came under pressure from EU countries to water down draft measures to protect bees.

MEPs say the Commission was compromised and that it ditched measures that would have given bees greater protection against harmful exposure to pesticides.

The Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan explains.

Out words: is critical  

Dur:  00:36

MEPs block moves to weaken bee protection from pesticides – O’Sullivan

The European Parliament today blocked moves to weaken protection of bees from pesticides.

MEPs sent the European Commission back to the drawing board after it came under pressure from EU countries to water down draft measures to protect bees.

MEPs say the Commission was compromised and that it ditched measures that would have given bees greater protection against harmful exposure to pesticides.

They’re now calling for the impact of pesticides on bees to be properly tested. The Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan says chemical companies are lobbying hard to water down any laws that could restrict the use of pesticides.

Out words: bee populations  

Dur: 00:21

 

Interview with Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy on threats from dissident paramilitaries

Karen Coleman talks to the Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy about two recent reports in the Sunday Times and Channel Four about threats from dissident paramilitaries from Northern Ireland.

The Sunday Times piece quoted Loyalist sources threatening to cause trouble if Northern Ireland became aligned in a customs arrangement with the Irish Republic because of Brexit.

And Channel Four recently aired an interview with a dissident republican who spoke about taking action against what he called the infrastructures of British occupation in the six Counties.

Out words: do it

Dur: 4:12

Carthy dismisses paramilitary threats from Northern Ireland

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy has dismissed recent threats from dissident paramilitary figures in Northern Ireland.

He was responding to questions about two recent reports in the Sunday Times and Channel Four.

The Sunday Times piece quoted Loyalist sources threatening to cause trouble if Northern Ireland became aligned in a customs arrangement with the Irish Republic because of Brexit.

And Channel Four recently aired an interview with a dissident republican who spoke about taking action against what he called the infrastructures of British occupation in the six Counties.

Matt Carthy says these people can’t be taken seriously.  

Out words: united Ireland

Dur: 00:27

Major changes to Brexit deal by MPs will be “meaningless” – Carthy

Any major changes to the Brexit Withdrawal deal will be meaningless. That’s the warning from the Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy.

He was referring to the possibility that MPs in the House of Commons such as the DUP could propose amendments to Boris Johnson’s revised Brexit deal that could fundamentally change it.

MPs yesterday rejected moves to ram the Brexit bill through the House in three days. They want more time to scrutinise the legislation.

But Matt Carthy says they won’t be able to significantly amend the deal.

Out words: of Parliament

Dur: 00:37

 

Interview with Frances Fitzgerald MEP on latest Brexit developments

EuroParlRadio's editor Karen Coleman talks to the Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald about the votes on the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons yesterday (22/10) and on the UK request to extend Article 50 that EU leaders will now have to decide on. 

Out words: to that 

Dur: 5:06 

EU will continue to be patient with UK on Brexit – Fitzgerald

EU leaders will now have to consider the length of time they’re going to give the UK for a Brexit extension.

The British Prime Minister is warning he’ll seek a general election if the EU proposes a three-month extension to the end of next January.

The Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says EU leaders will continue to be patient with the UK despite the current turmoil in British politics.

Out words: timetable again

Dur:00:28

Brexit extension “a rolling date” – Fitzgerald

MEPs in the European Parliament have been reacting to last night’s events in the House of Commons.

The Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says it was “a major step” that Boris Johnson secured support for his revised Brexit deal even though MPs rejected the rushed timetable to get it through. 

Now the European Council president Donald Tusk is recommending that the EU twenty seven leaders grant the UK an extension to Article fifty.

Frances Fitzgerald says the extension will have to accommodate the British political system as it may take time to reach a conclusion on the Withdrawal agreement.

Out words: fully completed

Dur: 00:30

EU states won’t want “no deal Brexit” – Cuffe

The President of the European Council says he’ll recommend that leaders of the EU twenty seven countries accept the UK request for an extension of Article fifty in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Donald Tusk tweeted those remarks last night following Boris Johnson’s decision to pause the process to ratify the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. That came after MPs rejected his three-day timetable to push through his Brexit deal.

Now the big question is what kind of an extension will the EU twenty seven give to the UK. The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says reaching that decision won’t be easy.

Out words: the border

Dur: 00:34