EuroParlRadio

EU “complicit” in human rights abuses in Libya – Boylan

The EU is being accused of being complicit in the abuse and torture of thousands of refugees and migrants in Libya. The European Parliament today discussed the plight of migrants and asylum-seekers in Libya following reports about inhumane treatment and even slave trade there. The Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan says the EU is enabling the abuse and torture of migrants in Libya because of the funding it’s giving to both the body running the Libyan Coast Guard and the organisation running the country’s detention centres.  

Out words: rights violations

Dur: 00:28 

 

 

MEPs vote to extend EU investment fund

MEPs in Strasbourg voted today (Tuesday) in favour of extending the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) until the end of 2020. Also known as the Juncker Plan (after the EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker), its objective is to mobilise up to 500 billion euros worth of investment for projects in the area of infrastructure, energy, climate action, healthcare and transport. The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says he hopes Ireland will get the most out of the fund that it can.   

Out words: good use of it.

Dur: '45

 

 

Brexit to take centre stage in European Parliament debate tomorrow – Kelly

MEPs will tomorrow vote on whether or not “sufficient progress” has been made on the current phase of Brexit talks. The Parliament’s Brexit Steering group (BSG), chaired by Guy Verhofstadt has tabled a draft resolution welcoming the joint progress report presented by EU and UK negotiators last week. However, Mr Verhofstadt has also tabled two amendments stressing the need for negotiating in good faith following last weekend’s puzzling comments by the UK’s Brexit secretary David Davis. During an interview with the BBC, Mr Davis said guarantees on the Northern Ireland border - included in the joint EU-UK report - were not legally binding unless the two sides reached a final deal. The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says there’s no going back from what was agreed last week.

 

Out words: has been guaranteed.

 

Dur: 00:34

Brexit Border deal on Ireland “not negotiable” – Kelly

The European Parliament will this week vote on whether or not they believe sufficient progress has been made to move on to phase two of the Brexit talks. Last weekend in a television interview, the UK Brexit secretary caused consternation when he said that the recently brokered Brexit agreement on the border of Ireland, was merely a statement of intent. However, David Davis later said his remarks had been “twisted”. Today, in a tweet, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt described Mr Davis’s comments as “unacceptable”. The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says the Irish border deal that was agreed is non-negotiable.

Out words: non-negotiable.

Dur: '21

EU report calls for wide ranging measures to tackle money laundering & tax avoidance – Carthy

A European Parliament report is calling for wide-ranging measures to tackle money laundering and tax avoidance and evasion. The report, which was debated by MEPs in Strasbourg today, was produced by a European Parliament Committee of Inquiry. It was set up following revelations of tax avoidance and money laundering from the so-called Panama papers. The report found that some multinationals and wealthy individuals are able to exploit legal vacuums and escape paying their taxes. It says better regulation and stronger enforcement and monitoring of existing rules is needed to counter the practices of money laundering and tax avoidance and evasion. The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy, was on the Parliament’s inquiry committee.

Out words: all these

Dur: 00:34

 

EU report slams efforts to tackle Money Laundering & Tax Avoidance/evasion - Carthy

More political will, better regulation and stronger enforcement and monitoring of existing rules is needed to counter the practices of money laundering and tax avoidance and evasion. There’re just some of the recommendations made in a damning EU report that was debated in the European Parliament today. The report comes 18 months after a European Parliament Committee of Inquiry was set up following revelations of tax avoidance and money laundering from the so-called Panama papers. The report found that some multinationals and wealthy individuals are able to exploit legal vacuums and escape paying their taxes. The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy claims the Irish government is assisting multi-nationals in tax avoidance and that such a practice carries a high cost.

Out words: across the world

Dur: '37

Ireland must be kept at forefront of Brexit negotiations - Carthy

The Irish question must stay at the forefront of the Brexit negotiations at all times. That’s the warning from the Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy. His recommendation follows recent comments by the UK's chief Brexit negotiator David Davis. During an interview last weekend, Mr Davis caused confusion when he seemed to suggest the recently agreed deal on maintaining a soft Irish border post Brexit, was more a statement of intent than a legally enforceable thing. Mr Davis later said his comments had been twisted. MEPS will debate the Brexit deal this Wednesday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. They will vote on whether they believe 'sufficient progress' has been made to move the talks on to the next phase of negotiations. Here’s Matt Carthy.

Out words: political pressure.

Dur: 00:19

Double effort needed to get special status for Northern Ireland - Carthy

Sinn Fein will continue to push for a special status for Northern Ireland post Brexit. So says the Midlands North-West MEP Matt Carthy who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. While Mr Carthy acknowledges that progress has been made in the Brexit negotiations, he’s warning there is no time for complacency and that the second phase of talks will get even more complicated.

Out words: take place.

Dur: 00:40

Brexit jeopardising Irish neutrality – Boylan

Ireland’s position of neutrality is being jeopardised because of Brexit. That’s the claim from the Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan. Last night in the European Parliament, the Dublin MEP accused the government of pandering to the EU and its arms industry. She slammed last week’s vote in the Dail for Ireland to join a new initiative called PESCO. The aim of Pesco, which stands for permanent structured co-operation, is to pool resources and enhance the effectiveness of member states’ defence forces for missions under the EU’s common security and defence policy. Lynn Boylan says Pesco is a step towards creating a common EU army.  

Out words: always wanted

Dur: 00:18

Sinn Fein MEP accuses government of pandering to arms industry – Boylan

The recent Dail vote to join a new EU military framework was slammed by Sinn Fein MEPs in Strasbourg last night. The Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan last night accused the government of pandering to the EU and its arms industry when she spoke in the European Parliament. Last week the Government and Fianna Fail voted for Ireland to join the Pesco agreement on greater cooperation on security and defence issues. The aim of Pesco, which stands for permanent structured co-operation, is to pool resources and enhance the effectiveness of member states’ defence forces for missions under the EU’s common security and defence policy. Critics of the vote such as Lynn Boylan say it compromises Irish neutrality.

Out words: drones aircraft

Dur: 00:40