EuroParlRadio

Parliament’s refusal to allow Catalan MEPs take seats – “an indictment” of EU – Daly

The European Parliament began its new term this morning as thousands of Catalan nationalists, whose MEPs are barred from entering the parliament, demonstrated outside the building in Strasbourg.   

The protesters are demanding that three Catalan separatists who were elected to the European Parliament in last May’s elections, be allowed to take their seats.

The men have been denied access because the Spanish authorities haven’t verified their credentials.

The Independents for Change MEP Clare Daly says it’s an outrage that they cannot take their seats in the Parliament.

Out words: an outrage

Dur:  00:36

MEP job “going to be incredibly challenging” – Daly

Irish MEPs who were elected in last May’s European elections are attending the first plenary session of the European Parliament’s new term which is taking place in Strasbourg this week. 

Eight new Irish MEPs were elected out of a total of thirteen. The eighth, Barry Andrews from Fianna Fail won’t be able to take his seat until the UK leaves the EU.

However, the other seven new MEPs are figuring out how to deal with the EU institutions and all the bureaucracy that comes with the job.

Clare Daly, a Dublin MEP from the Independents for Change says she’ll have to work hard to get heard.

Out words: here for

Dur: 00:35

Fight for Europe’s top jobs about “positions and not policy” – Cuffe

The European Parliament is holding the first plenary session of its new term in Strasbourg today. MEPs were supposed to have voted today on the presidency of the Parliament.

However that vote has been delayed until tomorrow because of the problems EU leaders have in reaching an agreement on who should be the next president of the European Commission.

One of the leading candidates for the Commission job is the German MEP Manfred Weber. But powerful EU leaders like the French president Emmanuel Macron aren’t supporting him.

And whoever gets the Commission’s top post will influence who gets the presidency of the European Parliament.

The Green Party MEP for Dublin, Ciaran Cuffe says the current battle for the EU’s leading position isn’t focusing enough on what policies they’d implement.

Out words: of policy

Dur:  00:42

 

Interview with Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes on leaving EU politics

EuroParlRadio's Editor Karen Coleman talks to the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes about his decision to leave EU.  

The Dublin MEP is stepping down from the European Parliament after serving five years as an MEP.

He’ll take up his new role as the CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland after he finishes up in Brussels and Strasbourg. 

Out words: no brainer

Dur: 7:26

Frozen MEP seats result of “Bizarre Brexit situation” – Clune

Candidates contesting the European elections will be busy this weekend canvassing for votes.

The Ireland South and Dublin constituencies have each gained an extra MEP seat following the re-distribution of some of the British European seats. However, the winners of the final seats will have to wait in the wings until the UK actually leaves the EU.

The Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune who represents the Ireland South constituency says it’s one of the peculiar results of what she’s calling the “bizarre Brexit situation”.

Out words: goes on

Dur: 00:26

Hayes offers advice to winning MEPs in European elections

The outgoing Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has completed his last European Parliament session in Strasbourg.

The Dublin MEP is leaving European politics and taking up a new role as CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland.

Mr Hayes has this advice for those new MEPs who will enter the European Parliament for the first time following May’s EU elections.

Out words: it’s complicated

Dur: 00:37

“Cold storage” MEP seat raises legal issues – Ni Riada

The Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada says the addition of a fifth MEP seat in her constituency could throw up legal challenges following the election.

Both Ireland South and the Dublin constituencies were given two extra MEP seats following the redistribution of some of the UK’s European seats after Britain voted to leave the EU.

However the likely participation of the UK in the European elections means the final winner in both constituencies will have to wait on the side-lines until the UK finally leaves the EU.

Out words: facilitating that

Dur: 00:36

 

“Sad” to leave EU politics but looking forward to next chapter – Hayes

The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes says he will be sad to leave EU politics but that he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his professional life.

The Dublin MEP is stepping down from the European Parliament after serving five years as an MEP.

He’ll take up his new role as the CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland after he finishes up in Brussels and Strasbourg. 

Out words: completely different

Dur: 00:27

Hayes hopes UK never leave & have second referendum

The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes says he hopes Britain will never leave the EU and that they will have a second referendum which will result in a win for the Remainers.  

The out-going Dublin MEP was speaking as he was getting ready to pack his bags from the European Parliament for the last time.

He is bowing out of EU politics to take up a job as CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland.

Out words: Brexit occur

Dur: 00:28

4th Dublin MEP seat raises lots of “unknowns” – Boylan

The last winning MEP candidates contesting the EU elections in the Dublin and Ireland South constituencies will effectively be assigned to a sub-bench because they won’t be able to take their seats in the European Parliament.

So says the Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan.

Both constituencies were given an extra MEP seat after the Brexit referendum. A proportion of UK MEP seats were redistributed to a number of EU member countries including Ireland.

However, the final two winning candidates in Dublin and Ireland South will be left in limbo until the UK actually leaves the EU.

 

Out words: four seater

Dur: 00:18