EuroParlRadio

Brexit deal cannot undermine EU’s Freedom of movement

Any Brexit deal brokered between the European Union and the UK cannot undermine the EU’s right to freedom of movement. So said the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Belgian MEP Guy Verhoftstadt who was speaking at a press conference in the European Parliament this morning. Last weekend the British Prime Minister Theresa May suggested that there would be no compromise on immigration to keep the UK in the EU’s single market. However Mr Verhofstadt says the free movement of people and workers must remain a key criteria for continual access to the EU’s single market.

Out words: internal market

Dur: 0.33

Northern Ireland cannot be forgotten on Brexit – McGuinness

The UK has to live up to its responsibilities when it comes to understanding the special case and needs of Northern Ireland during the Brexit negotiations. That’s the advice from the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness. The Midlands North-West MEP was reacting to the British Prime Minister Theresa May’s comments on Brexit last weekend. Mrs May suggested Britain would not compromise on immigration for access to a single market. However Mairead McGuinness warns the British Brexit negotiators can’t ignore Northern Ireland’s special situation.

Out words: the negotiations

Dur: 00:42 

Unclear how May can accommodate Northern Ireland concerns on Brexit – McGuinness

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness saysshe’s not sure how the British Prime Minister Theresa May can fully address the concerns of Northern Ireland during the Brexit negotiations. Ms McGuinness was reacting to comments on Brexit that were made by Theresa May last weekend. During the Conservative Conference Mrs May suggested there would be no compromise on immigration to keep the UK in the single market. Mairead McGuinness says such a stance would inevitably raise issues of border controls between the Republic ofIreland and Northern Ireland.  

Out words: agendas here

Dur: 00:42 

Sinn Fein condemn EU move towards common defence – Ni Riada

European moves towards a common defence policy have been criticised by Sinn Fein MEPs who say it will compromise Irish neutrality. During the week the EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for the setting up of a single and permanent EU military headquarters. Mr Juncker wants to forge closer military co.operation in Europe. He’s previously supported the idea of an EU Army. However, the Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada says greater military integration is the wrong move for the EU.  

Out words: retain that

Dur: 00:37 

Ireland’s tax policies ‘legitimate’ – Clune

Fine Gael MEPs have been defending the Government’s decision to appeal the recent EU ruling against Apple. The EU Commission declared that Apple enjoyed illegal tax benefits from Ireland and it said the multi-national needs to pay a whopping €13bn (thirteen billion euro) in back taxes to the Irish State. The Apple ruling was debated in the European Parliament during the week. Most of the MEPs who spoke during the debate were in favour of Commissioner Vestager’s findings. However, the Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune spoke out against the ruling as did her Fine Gael colleagues. She says the EU decision on Apple ‘doesn’t stack up’.

Out words: that’s legitimate

Dur: 00:38 

Apple accusation ‘doesn’t stack up’ – Clune

The FineGael MEP Deirdre Clune is insisting the EU Commission’s recent ruling on Apple’s tax arrangements with Ireland was wrong. The Commission declared that Apple enjoyed illegal tax benefits from Ireland and it said the multi-national needs to pay a whopping €13bn (thirteen billion euro) in back taxes to Ireland. The European Parliament debated the Apple ruling during the week with the EU Competition Commissioner Margarethe Vestager. Most of the MEPs who spoke at the debate were in favour of the Apple ruling. However, the Fine Gael MEPs were against it. Here’s Deirdre Clune.

Out words: inparticular

Dur: 00:30 

Sellafield safety issue a matter for EU not just UK - Matt Carthy

The safety record of the Sellafield Nuclear processing plant in the UK is an issue of European concern and not just a British one. That’s according to the Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy. He’s calling on the EU Commission to put pressure on the UK government to shut Sellafield down. The Midlands North-West MEP wrote to the EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime and Fisheries following the recent BBC Panorama programme which exposed a catalogue of safety concerns at the nuclear site.

Out words: andIreland

Dur: 00:35  

Carthy calls on EU to tackle Sellafield

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy is calling on the EU Commission to tackle the concerns raised about the Sellafield Nuclear processing plant in the UK. Mr Carthy has written to the EU Commissioner responsible for the Environment, Maritime affairs and Fisheries. The Midlands North-West MEP sent the letter following the recent BBC Panorama programme which exposed a catalogue of safety concerns at the nuclear site.

Out words: andfor all

Dur: 00:22 

€200,000 EU prize for female entrepreneurs – Clune

If you’re a female entrepreneur runningyour own business then you may be in with a chance of winning up to one hundred thousand euro in an EU prize. The prize is being funded by the EU research and innovation programme called Horizon 2020. The idea is to award female entrepreneurs who’ve been innovative in their businesses. Previous winners have had significant achievements in areas as diverse as immunology, telecommunications and software development. The Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune explains what women entrepreneurs will need in order to apply for the prize.

Out words: for themselves

Dur: 00:28 

EU prize for female innovators – Clune

The Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune isencouraging women entrepreneurs in Ireland to apply for the 2017 EU prize forfemale innovators. The EU prize, awards female entrepreneurs who havesuccessfully brought innovation to market. The winner of the prize will get onehundred thousand euro. And another hundred thousand will be given to threeother entrepreneurs. The application process was formally opened by the EUCommission on Tuesday. Previous recipients include an Irishwoman who pioneered space technology that’s being used by the InternationalSpace Station NASA. Here’s Deirdre Clune. 

Out words: come forward

Dur: 00:30 

Deirdre Clune has put a link to information on the prize on her website DeirdreClune.ie