EuroParlRadio

Theresa May’s position on Irish border is contradictory - Kelly

Seán Kelly, Fine Gael member of the European Parliament for Ireland South, was not impressed with British Prime Minister Theresa May’s reassurances at a summit last week in Brussels that there will be no physical manifestation of the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland after Brexit. Following a debate on Brexit at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, he said he was reassured by her words but her policy position is incompatible with that vision.

Ophelia shows EU disaster relief funding needs to be more flexible - Kelly

Seán Kelly, Fine Gael member of the European Parliament for Ireland South, is meeting with the European Commission today in Strasbourg to discuss EU disaster relief funding following storms Ophelia and Brian. The Irish government will have to assess the damage before requesting funds. Kelly says that current procedures make it difficult to deploy EU relief money quickly, an issue he is bringing up with the Commission.

EU pension plan for comfortable retirement – Hayes

A new EU proposal for a pan-European private pension plan may help to ensure people have enough money to live out their retirement years in comfort. That’s according to the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes. He’s just been appointed as the lead negotiator for the European People’s Party (EPP) on a piece of EU legislation for a new Pan-European personal pension regime. The plan is to introduce a new standalone personal pension product that can be bought or sold anywhere in the EU. Here’s Brian Hayes. 

Out words: European basis

Dur: 00:38

Ireland facing 'pension time bomb' – Hayes

Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland could end up on the poverty line in old age unless they sort out private pensions while they’re still working. That’s the warning from the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes. He’s just been appointed as a lead negotiator for a new EU initiative called the Pan-European Personal Pension Plan. The idea of the European Commission proposal is to enable people to have a simple and cost-effective retirement plan which would be portable across EU countries. Brian Hayes explains. 

Out words: industry charge

Dur: 00:34

Commission “ready to sacrifice” EU/Irish Agri for Mercosur deal– Carthy

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says he believes the European beef, poultry and agricultural sectors are going to be sacrificed in order for the EU to strike a trade deal with the Mercosur countries. The Midlands North-West MEP claims these sectors are going to be “on the table” with the Latin American countries when it comes to negotiating the final trade deal.

Out words: find out

Dur: 00:40

MEPs block attempts to exempt potentially damaging chemicals – Harkin

MEPs in the European Parliament have scuppered European Commission plans to exempt certain chemicals in pesticides from being identified as endocrine disruptors. They’re (Endocrine disruptors) substances that can cause serious damage to human health. According to the World Health Organisation, Endocrine Disruptors are suspected of altering reproductive functions in males and females. And the WHO says they can cause breast cancer, birth defects and other abnormal growth patterns. The Independent MEP Marian Harkin says these damaging substances can be found in many products such as pesticides and cosmetics.

Out words: of legislation

Dur: 00:40

Tariff-free Agri-Food Brexit proposal has potential – Hayes

A tariff free agri-food trade deal for the island of Ireland post Brexit is a good idea that should be taken seriously. So says the Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes. He was referring to recent news that the European Commission is considering such a proposal for Ireland after Brexit. Here’s Brian Hayes.

Out words: I welcome

Dur: 00:29

“Disintegration of Spain” on cards over Catalonia – McGuinness

The Catalan government says it’s going to hold an extraordinary meeting of its parliament on Monday to discuss the outcome of last weekend’s independence referendum. This follows vows made on Tuesday evening by the President of the Catalan region who said they would declare independence within a short period of time. Yesterday the European Parliament held a debate on the Catalan crisis. During it, the vice-president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said it was time to talk. The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says the implications of last weekend’s vote are very uncertain.

Out words: of clarity

Dur: 00:33

 

“Independent Catalonia” couldn’t be EU member – McGuinness

The Spanish government is rejecting any mediation calls to help defuse the crisis with Catalonia. During a European Parliament debate on Catalonia yesterday, the Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, said it was time to talk. However, the commission has said last weekend’s independence referendum in Catalonia was illegal. The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness believes Catalonia could not remain within the EU if it declares independence.

Out words: their country

Dur: 00:37

Commission Apple court referral “cheeky” – Hayes

The Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has slammed the European Commission’s decision to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice because it failed to collect €13bn in back taxes from Apple. Last year the commission concluded that Ireland’s tax benefits to Apple were illegal under EU state aid rules. It demanded the state recoup €13billion from the tech giant by January this year. However, the government disputed the ruling and it referred the case to the European Court of Justice. Brian Hayes says it takes time to set up the procedures to put the thirteen billion into an escrow account until the ECJ makes a ruling.    

Out words: of Finance

Dur: 00:34