 to a very special 9 till noon show. I suppose here in Brussels it's the 10 to 1 show because we are an hour ahead here. We're live from the EU Parliament in Brussels and we're going to be discussing all things EU, how the Parliament works, what's it do, what's its future like and maybe you've got some questions in relation to that. As I say, we've a whole host of guests coming up over the next three hours. The usual numbers apply 08, 6, 625,000 WhatsApp or text that number 08, 6, 625,000. You can give us a call on 07, 4, 9, 1, 25,000 or email comments at highlandradio.com. If you wish to watch the show, you can watch us live here from Radio Studio 2, I believe it is here in Brussels, by going to our socials YouTube, Highland Radio Ireland or across our Facebook pages and also on our website, HighlandRadio.com. Let's have a look at the papers. We're doing this a little bit different this morning, so hopefully it works okay. We'll start with news that Justice Minister Simon Harris has said plans to overhaul Ireland's defamation laws will stop if it acting as a rich man's law under the proposed new laws, juries would be abolished from high court defamation cases. There's also a provision to allow a plaintiff or defendant to lodge an offer of settlement which will be taken into account in defamation costs. That is an area that still needs looking at. The Irish Daily Mail this morning, the defence forces barely tolerates women members. A damning new review into allegations of bullying, abuse and harassment in the military is found. The report uncovered a litany of criminal and deviant behaviour that women in the army were subjected to over four decades, which Tarnashta and defence minister Meeho Martin said left him with a degree of disgust. Regular listeners of the show would know we've talked about women or talked to women who have been in the army and have subjected to this type of experience and it is unpleasant and it's welcomed to hear that it's being acknowledged now but we just have to see what happens going forward. The review conducted by an independent panel of experts found that the defence forces barely tolerates women and it's worst verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abusing women in its ranks. That is the Irish Daily Mail this morning. Let's see what else is making the front pages. At 8.57am on Monday, Audrey Elizabeth Hale sent a friend a disturbing farewell message issuing a dark warning that something bad is about to happen. This is the story of a chilling farewell message a killer sent to friend minutes before shooting free. This is the awful story from the United States. Minutes later, the 28-year-old transgender ex-pupil embarked on a bloody gun rampage at a Christian elementary school for children as young as three in Nashville, Tennessee. Chilling CCTV footage shows the heavily armed shooter in camouflage trousers and a tactical vest blasting through a locked door at the convent school before stalking the corridors. And can you allow yourself to imagine what those young students must have been going through in that awful, awful moment? But unfortunately, and we were talking about this yesterday evening, it's hard to get your head around that it happens so regularly and it really, really does. And it's such a polarising topic in the United States still there seem no further to a solution that might see children not being gunned down in a place where they should be incredibly safe. Housing, of course, continues to dominate the headlines, running scared over dull eviction ban. Vote is another headline. The government is expected to win another two votes in the evictions ban tonight. But there were angry scenes, well, I think it's later this morning, actually, at least one of them. But there were angry scenes in the dull yesterday when the first motion on the contentious issue was debated after Sinn Fein introduced a motion calling for the ban to be extended. The main opposition party was denied the chance of a vote on their proposal when the government introduced a counter move known as recent amendment, which stops the vote on the main issue going ahead. Last night, Sinn Fein's housing spokesperson, Owen O'Bryn, accused the government of running scared by attempting to suppress tonight's vote. Sparks are also expected to fly this morning when a formal motion of no confidence referring specifically to the eviction ban is tabled by Labour. The government's hoping to win both motions after beating a similar motion last week by 15 votes, but how deep will they have to dig to buy the support of the independence, I wonder. It emerged last night, late last night, that the margin of victory on the motion of no confidence may be narrower than anticipated by the government as many independents are indicating that they will now abstain in the vote. If the coalition does lose tonight's vote, the government will fall. Sinn Fein had tabled legislation that would extend the eviction ban, which was not approved by the government until January 2024. However, the government said the door declined to give the bill a second reading, as it had already agreed to end the eviction ban on March 31st at cabinet meeting, and I heard one of the government representatives criticising the wording of the motion from Sinn Fein, which was, to all intents and purposes, the exact same as the government's own motion or own legislation, but without with a different date. Right, on to the mirror now. The family of brave pit bull attack victim, Alexandre Mizan, have held new laws cracking down on dangerous dogs, saying it should help ensure no one else will suffer like he did. The devastating injuries suffered by the 10-year-old last year sparked a fresh review of rules in place surrounding dogs. Yesterday, the government approved new proposals to double fines under the control of the law, which is a very important principle for the government to take into account. The bill is set to be implemented from 2,500 to 5,000 euro. At least 40 new dog wardens will also be hired along with other measures being put in place. That is critical because there is no point having the laws and the regulations if there is no fear of them being enforced, and that is where we are at the moment, I think. So more dog wardens have to be welcomed. Who is behind this? It is agriculture Minister Charlie McConnlog, who also sought backing from colleagues for recommendations from a working group examining dangerous dogs to increase fines. Alexandra spent seven weeks in Cromland's Children's Hospital under a going treatment after being mauled in his housing estate in Enosgorthy County, Wexford, on November 27th. Do you think that actually goes far enough? We have heard calls locally before in the past, haven't we, that really there should be like a test or a bar that you must reach before you can own a dog, 0860, 25,000, if you want to view on that. We went through Dublin airport yesterday pretty cool, no problems, plain sailing, but it might be different when it's busier. Dublin airport has unveiled a 15 point master plan, sounds ominous, doesn't it, to make journeys more pleasant. The changes include less clutter, new eateries, faster wifi and a dedicated family zone. It's aiming to get the majority of passengers through security in less than 20 minutes and has vowed a better taxi experience and more boss options. There will be a major focus on making the airport cleaner with an extra 1500 cleaning hours as well as 120 cleaning inspections every day. Let's see how that pans out, we wish them well in their endeavours. We're on the road to ruins, another story in the papers today, motorists are being hammered with soaring fuel prices as almost one in four, that's 23% of us report they're paying over 300 euro a month to fill the tank. Overall more than half of motorists are paying more than 200 a month as another 33% of those surveyed revealed they were spending between 201 and 300 a month. It all very much depends of course how much you use the car, doesn't it, and we in the Northwest are forced to. Let's just put it like that, we don't have alternatives. So we are invariably going to be in the higher scale of that average. And still persistently, persistently, and I noticed yesterday, there are massive variations in different parts of the Northwest. In letter Kenya you can get petrol in the low 50s, 150s, like 154, 155, the further south you go, 168, it still don't understand exactly what the difference is between two parts of the same county. But anyway, these price increases have led to seven out of ten drivers to say fuel is now the top financial concern when it comes to running a car. The same percentage also say they are cutting back on driving because of the exorbitant price of fuel, again 08, 660, 25,000, if you wish to have a say in that. Enoch Burke was back in court yesterday, I was watching some of the live tweeting, the judge in this instance seemed to not want to take any of his shenanigans, can we put it like that? A brother of Sac's school teacher Enoch Burke pleaded not guilty yesterday to a breach of peace and connection with the outbursts in the Court of Appeal. Simon Burke is 24, though he looks much younger. A barrister at law said, or he told Cloverhill District Court, we are not in North Korea, judge, we are to be thrown into a cell and not to be told and it's cut off there, I can't see, but I think you get the gist of it here. Let me see, I can pick it up here. He remains in custody and said yesterday that he should have been sitting his drafting exams in King's Inn as he demanded a speedy trial and accused Gardie of telling lies. He will learn his hearing date today. The student had been arrested following chaotic scenes where Gardie intervened in the Court of Appeal in the four courts after a judgement was handed down in teacher Enoch Burke's case on March 7, but he himself was in court yesterday as well. What do you think about this story relating to Kelly Harrington? She issued an apology yesterday, I believe, after she was caught off guard in an off-the-ball interview. It's off the basis of a tweet she sent. Kelly Harrington, we read, has said she does not want to engage in politically sensitive matters after being grilled about a deleted social media post. Boxer Kelly, 33, refused to answer questions during an interview on news talks off the ball about a tweet she shared last October. The Olympic gold medalist retweeted a video from GB News five months ago which featured Dutch commentator speaking on the death of a 12-year-old girl in France. In the clip, the commentator said, I woke up this morning to see the news of another young European girl who was sacrificed on the altar of mass migration. We have four people in custody, all migrants coming from Algeria. Harrington commented at the time, very, very sad, a powerful message from Eva Vladinger-Brok. Our own leaders should take a listen. Now, after that interview, she was subjected to an awful lot of negativity of course. I don't know maybe if she should have been engaged in a different platform subsequently to try and tease out her views, maybe give her a better understanding, give her an opportunity to speak. I don't know, I just am not fully comfortable with one wrong, seem to be addressed by another wrong where someone is completely and utterly wiped out. But anyway, if you have any views on that 08, 60, 25,000, dissident Republican terrorists are desperate for a kill. It was warned yesterday in the wake of the MI5 raising the terror threat level. The spy agency increased the threat from substantial, where an attack is likely to severe, where one is highly likely. The reasons behind that we don't necessarily know. On to the locals now, and I believe this is the Innishone Independent. The Innishone woman who lost her father and nephew in a boating accident off the Malin Head has called for public inquiry into maritime safety and for the immediate implementation of recommendations made at the inquest into the deaths. Donna Marie Keenan from Burt lost her 63-year-old dad, Jerry Doherty and her 16-year-old nephew, Thomas Weir, when they're at 19 foot boat capsized off Malin Head on July 17th. You can read more about that in the paper of course. Let's see where else are we? I've just read that one. And lastly, did you see, I think it's lastly, actually we'll just stick with this story for now, because a few months ago, at the centre of the defective block scandal, has been given two months to decide whether to contest a case over its non-compliance with planning conditions. Donagall County Council has brought legal proceedings against Cassidy Brothers, concrete products limited. The company's been given until the end of May to either plead guilty or fight the case. Right. Okay. I think that's about it, isn't it? There are more stories we'll get to as the morning wears on. 08 660 25,000. You can give us a call on 07 4 9125 thousand. We've got a whole load of guests coming into studio over the next couple of hours. We'll also be talking about a conference on the Good Friday Agreement taking place here in Brussels later today, which we're hoping to attend. So if you have any questions, any comments about EU matters, how the impact to you? Do you feel the impact to you? Do you feel disconnected? Maybe you feel connected. I don't know. I don't want to put thoughts or words in your mouth. I have that ability, of course. 08 660 25,000. That's what's up in text number. Give us a call on 07 4 9125 thousand comments via email to comments at highlandradio.com. And if you want to watch the program, our guests are about to join us now. Get on to our social media. Watch us live from Brussels. YouTube Highland Radio Ireland across our Facebook pages on our website. Click watch live. Get involved there. We want you on board. All right. We're going to take a quick break. Stay right where you are. We'll be back as I say with our first guest in just a couple of minutes. 18 minutes past 9 in Ireland here where we're sitting at the moment. It is 18 minutes past 10. We're joined in our studio here now by MEP Luke Ming Flanagan and independent and also Johan Wake, European integration international trade law and policy. Is that it? Yes. And Arab Gulf States and European Union. I got there in the end. Okay. Before we get on to all matters European Luke, any update on the EU's role in the defective concrete crisis in Donegal at the moment in terms of any moves that they may be inclined to make or I think this visit's upcoming. I'm not sure. I don't want to spring that on you. Are you across that at the moment? Yeah. Excuse me, Greg. And last day we had the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament which the Mike action group made a presentation in front of a couple of years ago and impressed them. A petition was kept to open and last Thursday basically at the Petitions Committee at the coordinators meeting where they decide what that committee is going to be doing for the next six months with my group put in a request that they visit Donegal. They call it a mission to use the Brussels speak. We didn't expect the group to agree to it because there was a couple of other applications to go to Spain, etc. But thanks to the left MEP Sira Riga they ever agreed to come to Donegal. So that means from the point of view of the people who have their houses basically in this horrific position it means that MEPs from that committee will actually come out and see them for themselves firsthand and I know they've heard about them but when you see them I don't need to tell you, I've watched what you've been doing, I've watched your Twitter accounts when you see them you really really get the idea of how horrific the situation is. So in October of this year that committee is going to come out, it's going to look at what's happened, it's going to report back to the committee is from that ideally they will propose that infringement proceedings be taken against Ireland and that they encourage the internal market and consumer affairs commission to push this further. We also have a meeting we're basically at the moment preparing a meeting with that same director general of internal of consumer affairs with the mica group in the next couple of months. So at the moment we're talking to them and basically we're trying to have the maximum possible effect. There is a quicker way around this that the government actually do it. I would prefer if we didn't have someone coming over observing and telling us the right thing to do in the same way as the IMF did with our finances, but unfortunately that's where we are but this isn't going away and the EU are now focusing on it. Sorry Luke, is this moral support or might it actually progress things? Because the government will argue that we've put in place an enhanced scheme that is better than the one that went before it. We're taking regulation and assessment and all that much more seriously. What are you on about here? What else do you want us to do here? So like they will be able to make that argument. So other than this being really very, very significant do you think it progresses the plight of a frustrated homeowner listen to this program this morning and that's not in any way to put it down. It's a very good question and if you had asked me a year ago I would have said the main rule that I would have in this is to shine a light on it and to put pressure on the authorities in Ireland but I'm delighted to say they're actually taking it even more serious because there are regulations out there within the European Union on standards for building materials and to me and to the Micah Action Group it's quite clear that these standards haven't been followed and we have cross-party support on this we have support from an EPP an EPP called Peter Yar who I work with on the Agriculture Committee and I quote what he said what is the point in having European rules and regulations if they're not enforced so they are taken this seriously and I have to say more seriously than I thought they would and I have to say it's a somewhat tempered my Euroscepticism in fact every week that I'm here it is tempered somewhat Well that's worrying Well you work on the basis of you work on the basis of what you're presented with if you see good things you pointed out if you see bad things like putting more money into basically what is a European army called Kisco by another name you will oppose that but if I see good things I'm going to support them because otherwise you're just a populist Right okay and thank you very much for the update in that right so we have Brexit MEPs they're no longer in the chamber here but there does seem to be now I'm not stating it as a fact but there does seem to be a growing anti-EU sentiment far left far right they gained so Johan let me ask you what do you believe the future of the EU looks like because even in Ireland and our own country I wouldn't disregard the anti sort of EU Irexit movement because you do that at your peril I believe not that it's up for me to oppose them don't get me wrong what do you see for the future of the EU Well it's hard to say I would not really agree if there is an EU anti-sentiment I think you should narrow it down to the nationalistic atmosphere because what we see especially since Covid that people start to revolt in the sense that people say okay we are not happy with the lockdown we are not happy that prices go up is this to be blamed to let's say the European Union because the European Union for the average EU citizen is not very visible the treaties have outlined that there is EU citizenship but the EU institutions so to speak are far away from the average EU and me so there should be let's say more information I think the Brexit is basically due to two factors there was populism because Nigel for us misinformed or ill-informed if you see it like this the public so I think that the average Brexit voter already regrets that the UK is out of the European Union because there are no possible benefits now they have let's say a different relationship with the European Union we have seen that our problems when the Brexit effectively took effect but it is really also perhaps maybe a positive thing the Lisbon Treaty provided for this because before there was never ever an accent cross so a member could say I would like to be in the European Union but there was no possibility to test it so this can create a president let's say for other member states I don't see immediately that there is any member state who will accept the European Union and perhaps maybe the experience of the British is the greatest advertisement for staying in the EU I would say so because the European Union I think it's pretty much undeniable I think it's all gone to bottom I think it's really an issue like the European institution could be more proactive the Lisbon Treaty or at least the Lisbon Treaty before was voted down in the Netherlands and other countries in France they say the populace said no yes in Ireland too, twice I think so in 2009 just before the ratification I think the Irish had to have certain protocols, exceptions to it but it's fairly important that the European citizen understands what the European Union is for that this is not a whole supranational state so this is not really moving in a very centralized Brussels bureaucracy there is still some influence by the member states but can I just give you a typical example before I bring Luke in here I think yesterday they got the ban on petrol, diesel internal combustion engines across the line yesterday I think the Germans were holding out but I understand that that now has been okayed from 2035 so if you're sitting in Ireland in Donegal, you're in Roscommon or Lytrim and you very much rely on your car you say, you feel that well that is Europe, that's Brussels now taking my ice engine car off me that's the relationship it seems that we have with Europe do you know what I mean so whilst we might not understand everything that goes on the headlines that come out always seem to be they're taking our fish they're taking our cars do you think there's a role maybe I'm not saying that's the reality I think people, governments MEPs, whoever it might be have to counteract that and talk more about the work that's done well it's definitely also an issue about let's say European integration this is 27 member states who act and decide together so what is probably good for one issue like the Green Deal is probably not so good for let's say what you mentioned here in terms of the motor industry so there are lobby influences of structures at work who try to get the best deal from European integration it is also not so that the individual EU member states does not have an influence this is a democratic institution you can say there is a democratic deficit but generally this is a democratic institution which is rule based and the public does have an influence either by direct or indirect elections and they can participate there is a civil dialogue thank you for that I want you to come in I just want to comment on the idea of this thing of the rise of the far right and the far left the first thing you've got to do is what do you define as far left and what do you define as far right do you define far left as now far left is described as saying people should have a house now far left is saying you should have a higher corporation tax of 12.5% when it was 50% and above 60% in the United States of America during its most prosperous era in the 1970s so to define what's far left now it is in political science terms the overton window has moved extremely to the right and what was considered a middle ground now is considered the extreme left but from the point of view of the growth of the left and the right I'd have to say unfortunately it would be incorrect to say there has been a growth in the left there has indeed been a growth in the right fine in France they did the left had quite well in the parliamentary elections but in other countries that is not the case and it may well it probably will happen in France in the European elections but I don't see a rise in the far left within the European Union from the point of view of the European Union having an influence let's say for the people of Donegal my most direct experience about the European Union is my participation in the Common Agricultural Policy Review people are probably a bit bored of me talking about it but this is my core experience of dealing with the European Parliament and how the Parliament deals with Council and how they deal with the Commission in a trilog and what I can see is that from the point of view of Donegal the European Parliament had a role in setting minimum amounts that farmers in Donegal would get setting a minimum amount for the convergence of payments at 85% whereas the Council wanted to set it at 70% this was worth and you can check out the figures tens of millions of euros to the people of Donegal then there's another line in that text when it comes to peatlands and when it comes to carbon-rich soils it's a thing called Gaiaq II it is a provision that's put in there if you want to farm on those lands we fought tooth and nail that a agricultural activity would be guaranteed quote on quote in that regulation we got it in there so it meant then that when the plans were put together at a national level Charlie McConnlough had no choice but to give a minimum of that amount of money to the people of Donegal he had no choice but to take 10% of the overall cap budget and give it to the poorer farmers we left him without a choice he had a choice to go further without what the European Parliament did and without the decision that we made Donegal would be tens of millions of euros tens of millions of euros less well off and finally I was against the Lisbon Treaty but look you learn things as you go along in life and in the Lisbon Treaty because of the Lisbon Treaty as an MEP who hitched his first meeting eventually got elected became the representative for our group the left became one of eight MEPs who got to negotiate basically a third of the European Union budget it meant that we had actually a voice in the room so while it isn't perfect it's certainly better than not having a say but I was disappointed given that most of the governments would have supported the Lisbon Treaty during trial log negotiations they tried to deny it existed they tried to deny us a voice what we fought hard and we did get heard but it wasn't because they wanted to listen to us it was actually because they had no choice and while I didn't support the Lisbon Treaty the people who did support it then in the trial logs didn't actually support it there I do support it now because it's there and that's the law and we do have an influence I didn't think we would I wish we had more but I have to say I was prove wrong and I'm delighted I was prove wrong yeah okay and that's the voice there of MEP Luke we also have Johan Wake with us as well we'll be back with more from our two guests and your questions coming into them on 08 660 25,000 or on 07 491 25,000 after we take this quick break watch the show live we are indeed we're just having a chit chat here of my fault of course we're still in the company of our guests Luke M. Flanagan MEP of course what's the European view of what's happening in Ukraine I'll start with you Johan or your view in that you know there is a sense as well in Ireland and I'm sorry to talk about senses and stuff like about you know the feeling that there's an increase in the left and the right and all that type of stuff but I just want to sort of I want to try and capture the what people are feeling and the conversations we're having in our kitchens and front rooms there is sort of a sense that Ireland has been dragged out of its neutrality that you know there was a recent comment made by a senior government representative that talked about we need to have a conversation about our neutrality but the position was as if it were to for us to get rid of it right as opposed to strengthening it or actually a conversation don't forget that word because apparently it's been immature up until now we will always want to mature one right so I'm kind of conflate in issues here too as well but as well Europe is very heavily invested in what's happening in Ukraine and backing Ukraine what's your overview of what's happening Johan on a European perspective and maybe we can get Luke's view on the Irish perspective then well there can be no doubt there is definitely a moral obligation not least from the European Commission the Council the European Parliament because they created expectations I'm not speaking about the statements which have been made immediately following the invasion of the so-called special operation of Vladimir Putin but we have to be realistic when the events already started in Ukraine in 2004 then it went back to 2014 in 2014 when Vladimir Putin invaded the Crimea the world stood by there was no intervention so it was basically okay he can't get away with it that meant that the European Union did not really seize the momentum to create let's say on possibilities there was an association agreement this association agreement got some opposition in my own member states which is the Netherlands there was a kind of referendum or at least there was a call for a referendum to block this but the association agreement nevertheless went ahead now we see that this is there is no solution immediately in sight this is going to be costly is it going to be costly for the average consumer that is the key question because the European institution are very generous in donating money because they stimulate that the member states follow their advices but what we see is that the average consumer is beginning to think first there was Covid which prices wound up salaries were a little bit you know discussions for the trade unions and then suddenly we have this war in Ukraine which is very costly the question now is can Europe sustain this because we have a looming issue with the banking sector again so everybody is now beginning to remember what happened in 2008-2009 and now the consumer is beginning to say ok what is next and this is a tricky situation because we have spoken about far right we have spoken about far left all kinds of parties with a populistic angle will bank on this and this might create certain sentiments saying ok I can support the Ukrainians but this year will be very decisive because support will win it will definitely go down if there is no solution because nobody is speaking really about peace but the EU is not exactly making any suggestions that it's keen to talk peace either unless I've missed it it just all I hear is you know more and more weapons more and more tanks are we going to send planes you know why do you think the EU would not be interested in maybe a negotiated settlement or that seems to be we even had the Ireland's T-Shark Premier saying that we need to stop Putin in his tracks that's coming from a supposedly neutral country exactly if you remember well everybody last year in the end of April was saying ok we have to watch carefully what Vladimir Putin is going to say on the first of May because the first of May is a traditional national day in the Russian Federation he was expecting that Vladimir Putin was going to declare full war because they were saying ok special operations will now become a full war but it didn't happen in fact his speech on the first of May was pretty moderate that would have been let's say an opportunity to say ok let's see this as a kind of opportunity to open some kind of back channel negotiation and not with a high profile person like Emmanuel Macron because he had a political agenda because of the French presidential election but why not a person like Angela Merkel she has let's say a similar relationship there isn't it? A relationship with Vladimir Putin this could have create let's say a kind of opportunity There's no appetite for that? No I think that it is fair to say that the European Union and the Americans would like to give Vladimir Putin let's say the final blow they would like to wipe him out indefinitely and hope that the opposition would be dangerous though because this is a person with access to extremely end of game weapons effectively I mean and of course too you've got external parties as well looking on with great interest this is draining the west let me put it like that as well I'm sure the Chinese are watching on with great interest the North Koreans elsewhere other members of BRIC ETC I think one of the problems in this conversation is and I think what you said was really interesting and very instructive and informed is that there's a lot of people who listen to you would immediately say oh you're being soft on Putin as if that's going to solve the problem saying that what you said makes a lot of sense but to even have that conversation is difficult now because it's an immediate thing if you're talking about peace you can talk about peace because the Ukraine aren't the aggressor we know they're not the aggressor it's clear that Vladimir Putin is whatever describe him in every negative terms you want he is a rotten individual but saying that doesn't solve the problem but what you've said there makes an awful lot of sense but from the point of view of Ireland like what's Ireland's contribution to this like what significant difference militarily can Ireland make we can't make any difference significant military difference to Ukraine here so the idea that we get involved in that sense is silly because we gain nothing and we lose something potentially when this war does come to the end from the point of view of someone who can be a peace broker, someone who can be talk to someone who can be voices conversation with the people because you know it does obviously Greg we have had the conversation with the people and even after and initially my thought was oh my god I'd nearly want to go out and fight myself because when I seen the first pictures I thought Jesus if that was my kids I will do anything but when you sit down and you rationally think about it as the Irish people did then with all of that emotion there if they're surveyed and asked do you still want to remain military neutral and I was shocked but I was so proud of the people they came back in two thirds of them and Moore said they wanted to remain military neutral so the people of Ireland even in the heat of this in an emotional time are still saying no it isn't that we don't want to help anyone we want to do what's practical what can Ireland do best What about politically neutral are you happy that we politically have picked a side I think there is absolutely no harm in pointing out the bleeding obvious that Vladimir Putin is an absolutely horrific individual and what he has done is wrong but from the point of view of us saying our t-shirt coming out saying pretty much that we need to eradicate him what can Ireland do to make that happen absolutely nothing is saying it making it any more likely to happen no is it making us any is it making us any safer no language would you like him to be using well he needs to use the language of we need to find a negotiated settlement on this that the Ukrainian people are happy with that basically brings an end to basically putting people through a meat grinder which is what's happening like it really is terrible like and I'm thinking on young Russian men and women as well that probably don't know precisely what they're being sent into like battling over a city of no consequence whatsoever the incredible incredible loss of life and we're all funding that as well and then it seems to be no effort at all to try and even you know even if you mention a ceasefire it's shut down by them saying well that's just going to give Putin a chance to regroup do you know we've no you know what I mean so even if you try and one of the questions you were asking I think what did you send through to us was the amount of money that's been spent there is it money being well spent and look I can come on here and I can give you my opinion and say this and that about it but as an MEP I do have a role I am a member of the budget control committee the budget control committee probably the dullest committee in the European Parliament but probably the most important one it looks at how every last cent of your money all the people are listening here is spent and at the last coordinators meeting I'm a coordinator for our group on that committee we discussed whether we would invite the Ukrainian interior minister into our committee to talk to them about how the money is being spent because remember two things can be true Vladimir Putin can be a monster the Ukrainian people are going through hell but it can also be true that there is a lot of corruption in Ukraine and the European Court of Auditors have brought out a report it's headed by a Dublin man Tony Murphy brilliant one of the best European Union people I have met and they have produced reports to show that there is massive corruption we need to help the Ukrainian people we will help them more by scrutinizing how that money is spent so I'm hoping and it looks like it will happen that the budget control committee will invite ministers from Ukraine to explain to us exactly how the money is being spent and that's a good forum to do it Johan, sorry if you want to follow on I would like to make a comment because wasn't it so that Vladimir Putin was a little bit neglected we have to go back to 2007 the story is not well known but it is completely ignored by the discussion which we have since the year in 2007 to my knowledge Vladimir Putin spoke in Munich to the animal security conference he was saying like okay I see that the European Union is becoming a bigger entity in terms of membership that was not a problem for him but he said something like they are also taking on board these countries as NATO members so I see the NATO coming in my direction but I just put to that though his invasion of Ukraine brings him closer to NATO yes but he said kind of reaching out we are living now in a post-Soviet era we need to think about a new security structure this was reaching out the European Union and the United States of America should have known this they should have recognized this kind of talk and saying okay maybe he is right because we are not really exactly friends but we need to figure out a new kind of structure it didn't happen so in 2008 Vladimir Putin tested the waters in Georgia in Chachnia Dagestan was there a reaction Vladimir Putin said okay you never know what I can expect from the West so he prepared a war economy which the European Union did not so now we are speaking here about 70 billion euros it's lost it's gone it's never going back so could this have been prevented let's say in 2008-2009 momentum and not only that Luke would you agree to some extent and this is in no way to backpute as such we can't ignore the fact that not only maybe did we not speak to him in the context we were just talking about but NATO, the West America, Europe poked him they poked the bear to some extent too yeah without doubt to what end like well at the end to get rid of Russia they see as a problem forever and ever but it was never going to be that simple but all I know is it's an absolute and utter mess now how does it end Luke and before we take our final subject how does this end because I don't see anyone really motivated for it to end and we don't know where this might go but at the moment I don't see any end I don't see any end to this all I see is from both sides is that as in I don't mean from the Ukrainian side but from the NATO side from the US side there can be no peace negotiations we need to get them completely and utterly out of Ukrainian territory even though there's a contradiction there in that they didn't go to war with them when they went into Crimea but now a solution will have to involve them leaving Crimea it seems like the standards are higher now that they've decided to go to war but you see if Crimea were on the table Putin and listen a lot of it's about saving face I presume he could make a very strong argument that in the east of Ukraine he has achieved his set goals like he could sell that that he has I mean he's annihilated it he could but if Crimea is not on the table I don't see how any solution can be found I'll ask the same question to you Johan do you see an end to this and if so how yes I'm not pessimistic we see that a new power broker is emerging on the world stage we have seen that the Chinese have kind of broker an agreement between the Saudis and Iranians and we still have to see how this is going to be played out but it's well known the world is moving to a multi polar with eventually a new center of gravity nobody was expecting that this would go violently but it is not unlikely if it is not China we have also seen that the king of Bahrain has recently proposed that he is willing to make an effort to bring the parties together because we should be realistic Faisalansky has a peace proposal somebody has to capitalize on this and we don't really know what is happening back channel wise so if let's say the Europeans and the Americans can live with the idea that Vladimir Putin and Zelensky are going to sit together with let's say a neutral partner because this is definitely okay just let me ask you right let's just imagine right that it's not actually Zelensky making the shots or calling the shots here right and he kind of would have to get some approval from Brussels or Washington will that be forthcoming like is there a international appetite on this side so to speak for an end to this effectively proxy war maybe I see it wrong but I think that Joe Biden gave a strong signal we have seen this debate about towing more military equipment to the front lines but this military equipment is usually only reserved for NATO partners because it has to do with a qualitative advantage on the front line all the sudden these fighter jets needed to be downgraded because if they are going to be delivered there is a risk that such a shutdown can deliver let's say western technology to the Russians this was not to the lightning to certain countries but then suddenly Joe Biden said okay Zelensky does not need these fighter jets so that is in my point the first observation that the Americans are willing to say okay we are not going to deliver all kinds of weaponry at all costs but everyone hasn't suffered out of this either there's an awful lot of ordinary people have suffered but if you're involved in the fracking industry in the United States of America if you're involved in exporting gas providing weapons it's been open season for them and for those people who want to push back on moves to something about climate change on biodiversity loss we've had proposals from the European Union where we should grow grain on every last bit of environmentally friendly land that's there because if we don't we'll all starve so lots of people have taken advantage of it and now we have too much grain but they haven't rode back on that we still have ignoring environmental concerns we'll skip going to the break and then I'll take a double head into 10 and then I can let you guys get on with your very busy agendas you talked about corruption in Ukraine and I'm not saying it's corruption as such but there's quite a controversy Katarge I think it was referred to here we were talking about that at home as well because we only focus on the negative things you see as the reputation of the EU been damaged or is it damaged or what? Well I didn't have an amazingly high opinion of the EU when I got elected in the first place anyway so my opinion did go up but this certainly didn't help but I'll tell you from an MEP's perspective sitting in the chamber listening to an MEP that I thought was on the side of social justice standing up and saying and at that time I was going will I watch the World Cup? Can I watch this knowing what I know and then I heard a particular MEP that I trusted stand up in the European Parliament and say hold on a minute you've got it wrong there have been a lot of improvements there's no one writes in Katarge when it comes to workers' rights we are working on this we are talking to these people things are changing now I was looking for an out because I wanted to watch the World Cup but I'll tell you straight I left the chamber that day going maybe I've got it wrong I watched the whole of the World Cup the guy who made the speech is currently in prison What do you think did that damage the EU's reputation? There is a sentiment where certain people begin to say as the European Parliament more interested in blatant money making rather than serious or credible lawmaking that is definitely an observation You're going to have to answer that question you can't pose it No but there is definitely a perception in terms of image of the European Parliament this is maybe also the reason why the Kataris sought access to the European Parliament because in the Gulf there is another perception that dealing with cake bags is not unique to the Arab world it's well known that Brussels has a reputation there are more than 20,000 lobbyists around here if you go on a Thursday evening here to Plas Luxembourg you can see them, you can meet them but what are these people doing? I don't know but I want to get my hands on some of this EU money what do I have to do? who do I have to sell my soul to? Obviously they don't rate me very highly because none of them have come to me the only lobbyists who come to me are small scale farmers small scale fishers etc the big ones tend not to come there we should not be naive I mean everybody is focusing to the parliamentarians and to let's say other institutions and lobbyists but isn't it so that European industrial world has a substantial interest in these countries because face the reality we always speak in the European Parliament in the Council, in the Commission mandatory political dialogue and trade deals human rights, rule of law fundamental freedoms civil liberties but the European industries the builders who built the stadiums the architects who designed these buildings from which countries are they so there is that kind of sentiment when the European Parliament says okay we have a co-decision on this or that proposed legislation these lobbyists say wait a minute we have an interest we don't want this security on let's say the construction site we don't want let's say restrictions and labor hours and these kinds of things and the situation improved and the labor camps because this is all about blatant money making you cannot blame the Arab gold states it's also the responsibility also from let's say a European perspective because we have vested interest economically seen there is talk of cooling off periods after people stop being MEPs I think that should be extended to two years I think it should also be there for parliamentary from going off working working in industry that you had previously made decisions on potential regulation and legislation and likewise for parliamentary assistance you can have someone working on an environmental file one day and then you can have them working for the oil industry the next day you can have someone working on the ECON Committee in the European Parliament MEP from Ireland and then you can have them working on behalf of the Irish banking you can have someone working for the road safety authority one day and then working for insurance companies the next it happens all over the place Luke and Flanagan MEP thank you so much for calling into us Johan thank you so much as well it's been really interesting for me to get your insight Johan Wake we'll be back with the weather after this break thank you very much the one and only Tom Jones is back we'll be there join us as Highland Radio had the road to see the timeless legend at the headlines Bellzonic 2023 Friday 16th of June your trip includes luxury transfers bed and breakfast in the four-star Clayton Hotel Bellfast and your standing ticket to the outdoor event contact us today on 07491 25,000 to see Tom Jones at Ormo Park Bellfast Friday 16th of June some people get up early every morning but on the morning of May 6th we want everyone to be up for the most important sunrise of the year whether it's your first time or 10th time join Pieta and Electric Ireland for this year's darkness into light on May 6th Wednesday we'll begin dull, damp and breezy with patches of mist and drizzle a band of more persistent rain will move up later in the morning while sunny spells will develop in the afternoon thundery showers will follow too with possible spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms blustery and fresh and gusty south west winds strong at times in the west another mild day temperatures 13 to 15 degrees and strangely well not strangely but I wasn't really fully aware of it the weather here in Brussels very similar to that in beautiful Donegal all right stay with us over the next couple of hours we're going to try and give you more of an insight and I know it's a different type of a show but I hope you're enjoying it a little bit more of an insight as to what goes on over here in Brussels and how it might impact us we're also going to be talking about a conference a good Friday conference which is coming up which is taking place here we're going to go and have a look at that and see who we can talk to that's a little bit later on so stay tuned stay where you are and just to remind you of the contact details 08 660 25000 that's your whatsapp that's your text and give us a call to an 07 491 25000 so as it approaches 10 o'clock at home 11 o'clock here in Brussels we're going to take a break now for the news and obituary notices stay right where you are sleep specialist today massive metro sale now on 9 o'clock noon show here we're broadcasting live from the EU parliament and we'll be joined very shortly by MEP Maria Walsh of Fina Gale and we're going to talk about how this place works and what MEPs do here as well some of your comments coming in I understand that 300,000 Ukrainians have now been killed along with 160,000 Russians as a listener which comes to close to half a million in total can parliament intervene to put an end to the rising toll well you heard from our two earlier guests in relation to that Ireland is facing a disaster with housing our government we're stuck because of EU policy re-Airbnbs and our boats can't fish in our own waters it feels like Ireland is being punished for Brexit there is a sense out there whether it's provable or not that our fishing rights were a key sacrifice you could say to getting Brexit over the line there is that view out there as it relates to the Airbnbs I'm not sure everyone wants that Airbnb policy to come in Ireland but we shall see another person says the left are destroying the country Lisbon Treaty made us vote twice because they didn't like the first answer another at this stage I'd rather be poorer than have open borders policy and see our children being able to build homes and raise families not to leave our shores to other countries now the one thing I will say on that and perhaps it's not for me to say the housing crisis the difficulties in people being able to build on their own lands the provision of housing that all the problem I think everyone can see there's a problem that predates anything that happened in the last couple of years but I understand your point of view another huge respect for Luke Ming Flanagan and other people have to keep their thinking as clear as possible when making decisions I think what is wrong in Russia is being isolated and that is not going to solve anything I think we need to look back to the Cuban missile crisis and see our major war was averted there and otherwise the UN not having more other say in finding a solution what is their role in this what is the opinion of Hunter Biden in the Ukraine and the discovery of his laptop I'm not sure that's a huge concern to the people of Ukraine but I appreciate your text I very much agree with Luke Ming talking a lot of common sense another question on a good Friday just let's intervene the European conversation I'm not sure I thought that was done away with Caroline probably be able to tell me do the pubs open on a good Friday if not Kevin certainly will my daughter Shona McLaughlin is in Brussels with Karin Donna Community School I want to thank the school and staff who made the trip possible the students having a great time we're listening from Malin this morning in from her mom where are they it's a shame we couldn't have got a couple of students from Karin Donna on and right okay we are going to take a break we're going to have the bingo numbers for you a quick break and then we're going to be joined by MEP Maria Walsh to talk through a number of issues we've got so much more coming up between now and I don't know what time it is now in 12 in Ireland now in one here in Brussels we'll be back after these okay the time is 12 minutes past 10 you're very welcome along to this special 9 till noon show broadcasting live here from the EU Parliament in Brussels if you have any questions on the workings of the EU its role its future get in touch with us 08 660 25000 08 660 25000 or call 07 491 25000 listen we were delighted to welcome the invite to come here because a lot of the decisions that impact on your lives are made here and I just feel as of late and I'm joined now by MEP Maria Walsh I just feel that and it's not down to the likes of yourself published plenty of press releases and maybe it's down to the likes of us that maybe don't publish as much of them as we possibly should I just get a sense that maybe seven eight nine years ago my timings are all off maybe it's ten years ago I don't know that it felt like you know our MEPs were more part of the news cycle with councillors and TDs and you work with lots of different radio stations and papers do you find it hard to get your stuff out there yes I find it in first note that he requested his coffee at eleven whatever it is he's very demanding here since he stemmed it to the part of it I don't know where to learn this from Maria I don't know where to learn it from but in to your answer a very serious question I do and I remember over the 2019 campaign speaking with people asking I mean fundamentally I put my hand up and got involved based off asking ten friends multiple reasons why but this was really the catalyst for me ten friends across various networks in my life saying what does an MEP do and who's your MEP and none of them came back saying I don't know so the conversation then became quite big for me in terms of why is there a disconnect and then you run you get elected fortunately and I've my team and I do like all MEPs multiple work and trying to make the piece of what happens in Europe what happens in Ireland and make that piece a little bit more connected and it's a really hard sell to sell I do one put hands up and think the media have a significant role in that because as I say the MEPs are out here they have press people they're accessible you know pretty good I mean you're very accessible but I mean across the board Luke Ming we've spoken to and others and I just think there's a lot of aspects of ourselves and others perhaps need to do a bit more and that's not doing anyone a disservice if there's journalists listening that do lots of it I don't mean it like that I'm sort of making it as an overview I would imagine and this is from speaking to you and your team and then many living in communities you know what happens in Europe seems very far away I think our lads and ladies at a national front don't do us any service either and I tell this to my party all the time you know if it's a good day it's even going exactly where it's really important because it might be propped and supported by EU funding and sometimes you know it's phrased and I don't want to talk about any particular TDs because I think it's across the board and I think it will be across all parties which is ever sometimes it suits them even though maybe the EU has had a role in the positive news it's like the big bad wolf we took them on and we won which does do you many favors it does a disservice to democracy here and we have 13 MEPs why we're a small country hopefully more in next year and why we're a small country we play a very big role in democracy building in various political parties right across the the EU and that really needs to be recognized plus we hold a multiple EU positions as a small country you know I heard MEP fan against week of Tony Murphy president like a phenomenal role to be sitting in but the cell is often very difficult at home which is frustrating but where there's a will there's a way yeah now you know I mean you get the sense that what does the EU do it's taking away our fishing it's taking away it's trying to take away our farming it's taking away our cars it's taking away our turf you know like that's I think a perception that's out there I mean that effect like what I presume all these same conversations happening in every other country as well yes from the fishing I do agree and I know a previous text had come in around that decade to go that the 70s I know that because we sold our we sold our fishing rights and certain names we've mentioned I mean that happens every time we have a talk about fish and we have to be fair to that and we have to be there you can't you can't pivot around what has happened what in my eyes the EU and us being here and the EU being within the Irish legislation and community for me is you know this year we celebrate our 50th anniversary the removal of the marriage bar was as a young female our first step into what equality feels like we still have a long way to go just this morning I was debating equal pay for equal work this is the marriage bar that's still leaving women very short changed in terms of pensions absolutely so we we've made progress but we still have the hang over we have we and you but you could do that in various sectors you know when you look at the as well just to finish off in terms of equal pay for equal work 50 years on we're still trying to make that work other other countries in the EU buy into it some don't for us and for me as a young representative from the west of Ireland I think it's incredibly important now the next iteration is making sure the pension pay gap is removed so that we don't continue to have generations left out from access to opportunity or financial security when you take it agriculture I mean while it has it's good pros and indifference and I know MEP Flanagan and I believe you're going to speak to MEP Markey later on to two reps from the agriculture committee you know for us we also can't be ignorant to the fact that we have received billions of funding to make sure the likes of farm safety is there the likes of access to land for young farmers is there a hell of a lot more work to do but it certainly has given us a space to develop our side of the country and I think that's incredibly important absolutely it's important to be critical but we need to be fair within that critic and I'm not saying it's separate to I think a lot of conversation about farming at the moment is is that you know farming yes it is a major contributor to the climate problem but it seems almost fashionable to blame it all on farmers and then it pitches the society against farmers not society sorry those who aren't in farming against the crying farmers and sometimes I think it suits the decision makers to sow those seeds to get things across the line because if you're criticising a farmer you're not criticising maybe the person that's actually making the decision fundamentally and I've stressed this so many times before you know farming is not to blame we are in a crisis of food security long before the war against Ukraine started we have a lack of equality when we come to payments across the country across the EU and I think for a country that is golden standard in produce we as consumers need to adapt and understand that food doesn't come from shelves while we might buy it there it certainly comes from really hard work but I think farmers in the many I was on a farm in Kildare just Monday farmers are trying to be innovative and we need to make sure here as representatives that we're removing as much red tape as we can for them to do exactly what they've been doing for generations similar to our fishermen and women I mean they've been the custodians of our green and blue landscapes for decades so we've got to get them to do their job should they wish to do it and I think you know even if it felt like you know the EU was working with fishers to some extent because you might be familiar with the fact that at the moment they might still be in the waters we had two of the world's biggest fish factories which have been responsible for mass fish kills off the Spanish coast for an example and we have them fishing in Irish waters decimating stocks not just the stocks that they're fishing now the logical thing would be to say right okay well you have the quotas but you need to fish them in smaller boats with smaller nets because it's more green it's more sustainable right so if you're a fisher that can't get into those waters and you see what's going on and you know it's actually really really poor environmental practice it's very frustrating and I think it wouldn't be really hard to sort of you know sort those type of things common sense stuff Maria yeah the low hanging fruit as we say absolutely and I agree and as we move towards more pressure on the fisheries with deals with Norway and making sure that other boats are not coming in we need to do that's why it's incredibly important here in the parliament that when we are making one deal we're not jeopardizing the livelihoods of another I completely agree with you so before we get on to some other talking points I want listeners to get involved I'll wait 60, 60, 25,000 so I think to what people struggle with is where decisions are made and how it works right so you're going to break it down into simple terms, simple man terms for me here right and if anybody knows the answer please text it as soon as you can so decisions are made in Europe right and then they're interpreted enforced by government like how does a decision making Europe end up affecting a person in a European nation from an Irish standpoint about 70% of legislation changes at home in Ireland come from here so we have our council our commission and then our parliament we're elected official 705 the seats will increase so we briefly mentioned there's whispers Midlands Northwest which is we'll see an extra seat I certainly welcome that we take, we've probably one of the biggest constituencies in Europe given we're half the size of the country so 705 get elected our commission which is where Commissioner McGinnis sits on Ireland's behalf represents and puts forward a number of work programs and they're like the bridge between what we as elected officials here in the parliament in terms of scrutiny around legislation, what they put forward and ideas coming in with our own ideas also and what our communities that we represent want and then the council which is where our and other senior ministers sit and debate and discuss and then you have within all of that obviously civil servants, our diplomats a number of interest groups and folks like yourself who are trying to cover and make sure it fundamentally makes sense to the people that's going to be impacting Do you think we're vocal enough as a nation at these council meetings in terms of protecting protecting Irish interests sometimes it feels that we want to be good boys and girls that we don't want to upset the apple cart that we realise we're a relatively small player maybe we don't invoke any vitals that we may or may not have do you know what I mean I actually think to that point I think we're a bit biased here as I represent the country but I think we're incredibly important at the decision making table in terms of bridge building and as I mentioned since 73 we have multiple seniors and hopefully more junior workers coming through the institutions that are absolutely impacting the way countries are moving and driving their own their own growth and I think people look to Ireland and our leaders to say in 50 years look at where this country has gone when you think our now third country our divorcee from across the channels has left and the belief system perhaps when that vote came in 2016 well Ireland will be next and we're not we've stepped into a role it had to be made very difficult for the British to ensure that though we didn't see Italy probably were watching on with great interest to see how the whole Brexit thing went so it had to be made difficult having them queue in a special lane I think the likes of Hungary and Poland and we've discussed before too in terms of this extremism or this pendulum swing that we're seeing right across politics as a whole across the world not just in Europe but to answer your question in terms of us we're not meek and we're not shy about making our point heard and we are we never I really believe this I can say this as a final guide we never leave a table when decisions need to be made and I think that's a powerful tool for us what was your view you talked about being bridge builders and perhaps it wasn't in this context necessarily but what was your view and we talked a little about it in the first hour what was your view in Leil Veradkar T-Shark Leil Veradkar said you know talking about our neutrality that we have to look at our neutrality using words like you know we need to stop Putin in his tracks right how does that make you feel this is where I differ to some of my final guide colleagues I believe our conversation we need a conversation around neutrality I don't think we'll ever change as a country in terms of being a strong defence force what do you mean we need a conversation because the way you talked about that is almost posed as if we need to talk about watering down our neutrality maybe that's not how you meant it I think a lot of the public a lot of people watching this program actually want to talk about how do we actually become politically neutral perhaps because you know I can imagine this scenario where we obviously we're not going to go shaking hands with everyone and do anything inappropriate right but I mean we have the Good Friday Agreement coming off a discussion later here we could say we're a neutral country we condemn what's happening in Ukraine but we've seen how things can be brokered we've got this experience and actually become set ourselves as the peacemakers but what we're actually doing is we're saying Putin must be stopped in his tracks now, when Leo Veradkar says that to the rest of Europe he is speaking for every single person in Ireland that's what the listener here is we know differently at home I just think it's such a lost opportunity why are we going down that route we don't want to be part of a European army we don't want to get involved in overseas stuff we want I think and recent polls have shown with non-neutrality and not have a conversation about how it's watered down this is where I believe this conversation needs to go and again I only represent myself in this I don't want to put words in my other Final Girl colleagues mouths we are a small island the most west periphery of our European Union we see from the the movements online in terms of cyber security that we are not at the races when it comes to protecting that island we see boats off the coast and air force off the coast particularly in the west where we're from from other countries in particular Russia and we have not funded the Defence Force in my belief for generations to the standard of needs that if anything was to change tomorrow morning we do not have enough men and women and others in the positions they need to fulfil the obligations of what they've trained to do in terms of Defence Force that's not brokering or changing our belief system and our constitution belief on neutrality but there's nothing we could do or no amount of money we could invest that would offer any resistance if Russia decided to use Ireland as a large point that's a really sad sentiment to say but the belief system but I argue that Greg with we are a part of the European Union and if Russia was to engage I wouldn't fight for a European army but I also think there's some narrative that often gets put out particularly by the left that when we talk about EU army it's our men and women in the same uniform marching across mainland Europe and actually in my eyes that couldn't be further from the truth we have to become very sophisticated when it comes to cyber cybersecurity a number of individuals being trafficked throughout the EU in Ireland in particular around a thousand and we have no way of in my belief really seeing the detail of how those individuals particularly young women and children being trafficked we also have a war very close to Europe and our European Union we have to get really real about that and we have men and women who have played to your point earlier as peacemakers in third countries and they do a service and they need to be in terms of pay remuneration in terms of retention of staff in terms of retraining and consistently getting ready for what could come it doesn't diminish our neutrality but it certainly makes us we have to become aware of the fact that we have a war within a very short space of us and we are seeing the aftermath so I don't know it's complex to make up their minds 0866225 we're in the company here of MEP Maria Walsh we've got more guests we'll have more from Maria shortly we've got more guests on the way as well so any questions, EU questions whatever as I say I believe the media is responsible to come out here as well and talk about what happens here and how it impacts us so that's what we're trying to do we'll be back after a break with more from the 9.00 noon show the 10 to 1 show as it's known here in Brussels and MEP Maria Walsh in just a couple of minutes okay you're very welcome back to the 9.00 noon show here on Highland Radio live from the EU Parliament in Brussels and we're still in the company here of Maria Walsh who is MEP for Phinicale did we talk about equality and the hate directive Maria was there something you want to talk to us about that yeah well from the transparency piece I just wanted to really share as we mentioned earlier the 50 years since we joined the EU in terms of that marriage bar removal and women really being celebrated for being 50% of our workforce so as of tomorrow we will get a final vote on equal pay for equal work directive and that will see things like pay secrecy being removed so when you see a job being posted you will see the band of which the pay on offer from that company will that be across the board or just companies of certain size it will be across the board in terms of pay reporting we will see companies with 250 employees more reporting the differences of pay for the first year and then it reduces what we call a staircase model and what I'm really encouraging is why SMEs are small businesses and our entrepreneurs are not a part of this directive I really encourage given we are a land of entrepreneurship that we have small businesses really celebrating that too because it's important as we scale our businesses also that we are really at the forefront as a country in our European Union understanding that equal pay for equal work is absolutely necessary in order for us to look at pension rights it's really amazing I sometimes have these conversations and I think we've come so far and then you realise really there's such a distance to go isn't there and we could pivot to inside what 400 odd days we're going to see local and European elections again can't wait look he's so excited but we'll see local and European elections we'll see no doubt a general election hopefully after that and we'll see a referendum on the constitution line in terms of a women's role in the home it's incredibly important that we hear from female voices at the local level, at business level at community level and that we really begin to really shift for future generations I think we are doing amazing in Donegal and I hope I'm not doing anyone I hope I'm not sort of holding any efforts back other than elected representation we are doing amazing I think women are doing amazing things in Donegal in terms of business business networks we have our own managing director but head of the letter company chamber strong female representation on that and the list goes on and on the only thing we're missing now is women in the council chamber which inevitably would bring a different dynamic to the conversation actually diversity let me spread it out a little bit because I think any governing institution if that's what a council is should as much as possible represent the people it makes decisions for how you can't talk about people you can't make decisions for people they have to be part of the decision making process I don't understand how there's some resistance to that people afraid I don't know if it's resistance but I don't know if it's resistance within ourselves or within the wider scope and I say that is we also have to as women make sure we're putting our name forward well are you putting your name forward for the European elections have you made a call on that yet I'm certainly getting ready for it but as you often share it's a long week in politics so a long year in a two but you personally would intend to go again but obviously it depends what happens at home too and if another seat becomes available in northwest then they have to look at strategically and see where the balance is and all that type of stuff and then you got to let the chips fly but from my side my team and I are very much a huge team for 40 people you might have some money here but to your point it's a small team to your point when we look at the need for more supports for our carers and our communities when you look at the need for more business voices from a female side or minority groups as you very kindly shared in terms of LGBTI community people of colour are now calling Ireland home we need to make sure they're around the table and the very simple reason for that you mentioned carers right you can talk about nursing you can talk about a number of different areas that there are serious issues with and predominantly it's women that work in these areas is it predominantly the right word I think the majority are right and they're disproportionately affected because of such well that's it and I don't think that's something that can be ignored and I don't think it's a coincidence then that those areas aren't as much of a focus so what is life like over here this would be my worst nightmare now I know people listening will go well where he is well paid and she'll have that pension let's park that for a second because we're all humans here right I would find it difficult to move away from home and you've got a great team don't get me wrong but there's you know that are with you and what have you but I mean there comes a point which I probably wouldn't be terribly comfortable with is where you close the door at night and your family is not around do you know what I mean is it tough is that part of it tough I think to chat just now around women in politics I think this is a real honest conversation where you are you are a representative and then obviously representing a team and then a constituency but there's times where I live between cars and airports which sounds more luxurious than it is but you are predominantly on your own and making sure that you're covering enough doing enough there's always elements of imposter syndrome or you have pressure from everyone you know talking about how tired you look to you getting waged to all those gorgeous things that make people people and then you yeah to your point you close the door at night and you're like wow my support system is has to be connected to a phone because I don't have them around me a little bit different obviously for local and national politicians for here at your up then I mean I personally spent my week in two you know I do Thursday to Wednesday sometimes Monday to Wednesday sometimes Thursday here in Brussels and then Thursday to Sunday anywhere across the 13 counties and also to the city is it's a fine city don't get me wrong but I would say there probably other cities that it might be easier to live on your own it is I mean it's a very transient city and you know but this is in this great big beautiful building is where I often spend most of my time and things finish and then I had by the way yesterday by a person that you can actually suggest how much you pay for alcohol here for drinks you can just as a pioneer that wasn't me I just want to stress that it's funny when you mentioned pioneer because you know you talked about people might comment about your weight or you might comment about you're looking tired I hate when someone says you look tired because it makes me feel like what's wrong with me right but people do but even as a non-drinker you have to explain why you don't drink you know that it's just a choice I've made all my life but there are a series of go-to questions that people run through because it's you have to be able to I know and I can't wait for this younger generation that are coming up who don't drink and don't drink because of health reasons or just because their friends didn't so they never got into it I can't wait for that generation to represent Ireland on the international scene because as an old horse it's like that you're Irish so you must drink well no I'm a pioneer and we try and advocate as much for young people on this show as well like the majority from people don't drink or don't drink very very heavily as well and you know there's that recent conversation of how we were portrayed in America you know around the time of the Oscars I'd love to see that broken down but speaking of young people we talk from time to time about exchange programs and that type of stuff that are funded and organised through here but if there are young people listening what kind of career opportunities are there in Brussels and what kind of background education would they require to come here thanks for giving space to this too it's a matter of traineeships both within MEP's offices within our political groupings so as a Finnogeller I sit within the European People's Party and then we have the Blue Book traineeships with the commission and the council and they come twice a year and please contact the office for more specific detail in case I'm my team are probably waving going you're giving the wrong dates so I just want to make sure I'm giving the right information and then we have the likes of which St. Columbus College in Strasnoll where it giving space to young people to pick a country, debate and discuss and really hone in on what we call the soft skills that make politics work in that bridge building mentality that we talked about earlier so we have multiple programs like that Blue Flag program for our primary schools the E-Pass school so the European Ambassador Schools program for our secondary often T-Wires there and then here as I mentioned there's so many roles here and we desperately need to recruit and I know Minister Peter Burke is really looking at this from a job strategy because when we joined in 73 we have a number of individuals now set to retire and we need to make sure we have English and Irish speakers coming through both for translators so from legal text as well as interpreters and making sure that conversation dialogue happens so there's multiple and then you look at the organizations that support or spin-off of the European Union so and there's multiple of that in terms of environment, agriculture fisheries, mental health social policy, there's so many amazing opportunities we have a university in Leuven not too far from here that a lot of Irish students work with too so get in touch with any MEP but particularly my office and happy to point you in the right way because as I mentioned we could be Irish and European and we need to make sure all the things we talked about here that we're breaking that disconnect because we so badly need to make sure we are part of this big family and we feel part of the family and it's not just for interrailing or Erasmus Plus where students are seeing the Europe that is on their doorstep I never understood interrailing that would just be my worst nightmare you talked about the Irish language though and of course now it has its official recognition how significant is that finally Maria huge and I think for communities like Guidor and this is a powerful tool to have I was challenged this past week about why I haven't given a maiden speech in Irish and I got put to the point where by the end of this mandate I will give I'm not an Irish fluent speaker but certainly as an Irish representative I should you need to get to Glen Cullum Kill it worked very well for your colleague Joe McHugh and he's a phenomenal Irish speaker now I don't know there's something going on there I don't know how you can learn a language in a couple of weeks I've been calling Cune and the Oscar Nam and Irish being here it's cool again too I don't know not sure it ever lost it's cool it's great that it's given a stage most important it says women face a harder time in politics I've seen an awful thread on Twitter about female politicians being scandalised for St Patrick's Day if it's not one about the men it ends up taking the focus of what matters that's a challenge isn't it let's talk about my feelings and opinions I mean I can tell you this as a young female representative I've really debated and pushed with my team mental health services across the EU equal pay equal pay for pensions LGBTIQI plus rights which are always on the back foot and are being used as a ping-pong politically right now rural, agricultural women who are doing phenomenal work in their communities and the list goes on and on we're not a true representation of the 500 million Caroline is tapping her watch oh sorry that is a woman I certainly respect greatly so that will do for me MEP Maria Walsh thanks for giving us an insight into thanks for giving us an insight into your life here and some of the work that goes on here it's been really informative I want to send my children to a girls' school but I'm afraid I won't be able to support them because I don't have good Irish myself well you know what that might actually be an interesting feature on the show separate to what we're doing here about the practicalities of that because that's what we try and do alright Maria thank you very much indeed it is the 9 till noon show here on Highland Radio live from the EU Parliament in Brussels if you have any questions don't forget on the workings of it hopefully we're helping you with some answers here and anything EU related we'll try and get those answered plenty of guests lined up between now and 12 but we'll take a quick break so you're shortly with the weather alright let's look at the weather forecast today dull, damp and breezy with patches of mist and drizzle a band of more persistent rain will move up as we head into the afternoon with sunny spells developing in the afternoon thundery showers will follow too there's everything there I think I'll just leave it at that it's your typical day in Donegal we're joined in studio now by MEP Sean Kelly and Colin Markey gentlemen thank you very much for joining us before we get into the Good Friday Agreement Sean just a word on you it's kind of topical because we've just done it again I can't remember how long ago it is I talked to you about the clocks going backwards and forwards is this still a hobby horse of yours it is looking like a hobby horse now I don't mean that in a negative way it's something that you're thanks for coming out it's rarely happens and Highland Radio does have every credit for so doing trying to bring European issues to their listeners which we appreciate very much clock change was nearly achieved in the last mandate I wasn't very much involved in it over my time here in Parliament but some countries didn't agree and it needed unanimity one of them was Ireland they said that if they changed the system here in the Republic the Brits mightn't do so and that we'd have two different timelines in the Ireland of Ireland so I don't think that was going to be the case because they would have followed they would have followed and particularly because in the public consultation done by the Commission over 83% in the United Kingdom said they wanted clock change to end so there weren't going to be that peak headed over Brexit that they just would do the exact opposite to the European Union so we're no closer we were very close but we're no closer to stopping this back and forward nonsense there is some work going on in different countries to see how we could possibly adjust and definitely we will have to take it on the agenda as soon as the next Parliament is up and running because trying to do it now with the Parliament elections next year you just wouldn't achieve it okay listen thanks for that I was just curious as to how things were moving in that regard okay the Good Friday Conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreements taking place in Brussels today Column the significance of this I mean obviously we know the significance of the Good Friday Agreement but why marked here well I think it's to mark the 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement to start with I think it's very important that we do because we all see what the benefits it's brought to Ireland but I think from a European perspective Europe has had a very positive impact in terms of the Good Friday Agreement and in terms of like the Ireland of Ireland over the years and I think we need to recognise that too and I think the efforts that have been made at this end to even in Parliament has been opened today by a family to recognise the Good Friday Agreement it's recognised all across Europe the impact the positive impact the Good Friday Agreement has and it's held up has probably one of the most successful peace agreements across the world really and I think we need to recognise that we need to appreciate the importance that that Europe holds it holds it in you know yeah and Sean it's not just recognise that we need to not forget either I think sometimes and maybe a new generation aren't aware of what it was like and what it took to get to where we are now because sometimes you can take you could take peace for granted because we've seen recently now the the terror level raised in Northern Ireland we saw the attack on the RUC officer recently it doesn't take much for us to return to where we once were you're absolutely correct it's a very fragile process we've had 25 years of peace before that we had 30 years of terror and we remember those days and it took an awful lot to get the peace process up and running and Cullum is right the role of the US is rightly highlighted the Irish Government the UK Government but not enough has been said about the role of the EU were actually funding peace projects in Northern Ireland since 1989 and they had a crucial role and they're continuing now the peace plus funding of 1.1 billion and I think the role of the EU sometimes not appreciated and also they provided what I would call the diplomatic space because here in the European Parliament you have representatives from the different sections in Northern Ireland you had Ian Paisley, Hugh John and Jim Nicholson and when they came out here they were obviously meeting they wouldn't probably have met too often and also they were fighting for the same causes and I think that was actually creating a certain amount of camaraderie between them that otherwise they wouldn't have existed and without that camaraderie you probably never have got the good fight agreement so both in terms of the economic impact and the diplomatic impact I think the EU played in a very important role and obviously in relation to some of those peace funded programs they often have a cross border, cross community element to it, there's lots of people listening today that would be involved with or have benefited from them and that is that those are EU projects Colm Markey there's two panels isn't there the first panel it's a high level panel it's been described as including current political leaders not Michelle O'Neill who was due to be here but isn't today for one reason or another I don't know by the way and just really people that were involved in getting the Good Friday agreement over the line I think it's people who are involved but also a focus on the younger generation as well like for instance Stephen McCurry who's obviously her father was heavily involved in politics in the north over the years but I think it's the point that you make it's important that the next generation recognises well the impact I think even just looking back on it from my own perspective I remember as a kid hearing a rumble and my mother would take the time with the rumble and say that that was a bomb manure or something like that so this is very real for one generation but for the next generation it may not be and it's important that it's being young people engage in the importance of it as well because if we don't lose sight of it people will forget and do you know the funny thing isn't it I don't mean it that way Dairy Girls probably has done more to educate a generation about the troubles than perhaps maybe schools or politicians or media have done it's quite interesting I think that what are you looking forward to in the first panel Sean or I mean obviously you know if you're going to talk about something you want to speak to people with influence people that understand what they're talking about so it should be good it should be very good we have a great panel Robbie Butler the Deputy Leader of the UUP Kiva Archibald for Shunfei and MLA Senator Ian McCurry as Colin mentioned and Ambassador Lindsay Crossdale Appleby from British Ambassador to the EU so we will be discussing the historical background but more importantly how we can maintain this into the future and above all looking at I think asking them how can the assembly be guaranteed to function into the future this on-off cannot continue and particularly for the people whatever about the politics there are really big decisions that need to be made absolutely I mean if you elect people to an assembly you expect the assembly to be up and running if you elect people to the Dahl you expect them to form a government and I think we will be looking at the Windsor framework will it be able to establish enough stability in Northern Ireland so that all the parties can commit to forming an assembly after each election that will guarantee hugely continuity and stability in Northern Ireland and of course there would also be in a position to influence what's happening in relation to EU law and UK law into the future but if they're not up and running obviously then they don't have any say and you're of the same view Colin yeah absolutely I think we have to get the assembly back up and running I think that's vital and I think it leaves a vacuum when it's not there you would have talked with the agreement with the Windsor agreement in place that perhaps that would create the opportunity but clearly there's politics in that too and I suppose that's the bridge we have to cross but the more communication the more events like this that recognise the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of the assembly I think the more hopefully we can put a focus on getting it back Amy please, Sean Kelly you have to take your leave of us now you've got another appointment Colin you've kindly said you'll wait a little after the 11 o'clock news so what we do is take a break as we head towards that news and we'll be back with more in a few moments it's 11 o'clock it's time for us to get a news update and it's back over to Michaela Clark and you're very welcome back to the program three minutes past 11 in Ireland it's three minutes past 12 here as we broadcast live from the EU Parliament in Brussels again if you have any questions or comments we want to hear from you all the usual channels are open to you 08, 6, 60, 25,000 WhatsApps and texts so give us a call on 07491 25,000 e-mails to comments at highlandradio.com and of course you can continue to watch the program on our website highlandradio.com watch live or you can go to our YouTube or Facebook channels we are there and you'll be able to see Mr. MEP should I say Colin Markey who continues to join with us and I think too we were talking about the Good Friday Agreement before we took the news you know I mean it is you talked about its recognition in Europe but it still looked on from around the world as a pathway to peace in different parts of the world a mechanism that can be employed like there are lessons still being learned from that piece and how it was brokered absolutely and I think many people will look at the example that Northern Ireland was and indeed the personalities that were involved in different ways and the different institutions that were set up and the structure of how it was all brought together but ultimately at the back of it all was plenty of dialogue and different structures for dialogue and to continue that different forms of dialogue if you look at like you have the Northern Ireland Assembly, you have the Northside Ministerial Council you have the British Irish Council and then you have engagement here at European level as well and even in the time post-Brexit one of the big focuses we've had a conversation about around here in the Parliament, myself and Sean both said on an EU-UK inter-parliamentary body and how we ensure the voice of Northern Ireland is heard in that body because currently there's only one voice and that represents one of the communities in the Northern Ireland on that body so we want to ensure that the Northern Ireland voice as a whole continues to be part of the conversation because it's very important and I can understand maybe is it frustration or have you heard Sean referencing and you referencing that often when we talk about the players in it the role of the EU is not top of the list there is it if it's on the list at all well I suppose the other great piece project that we all talk about is Europe as a whole because Europe has brought if you take Germany and France Europe brought Germany and France together whereas previously there was two wars in Europe and similarly in an Irish context it brought all the people on the island of Ireland together in Europe sadly Britain has left due to Brexit but it still brought the likes of Ian Paisley the like of John Hume and all these characters together where they engaged to try and progress many issues and they had issues in common when they came to Europe and that was the difference and if you look at even the like of the Sing America act in 1992 that removed the customs checkpoints on the border so many things many influence that Europe had and then the other key one obviously is the different funds and the different investments that piece brought in Northern Ireland that the funding followed the piece and I think where we're at now is with Brexit and with the unique status that Northern Ireland has if you like the Good Friday agreement brought but this now the status Northern Ireland has can bring prosperity and people need to grasp that netland there's no doubt that Ireland did benefit from EU monies anyone driving on many of the roads will see the signs and other projects but we're contributors now to the EU aren't you the days of us receiving cash from the EU are over they're not over we contribute more than we receive net contributors but we still receive in many many ways so there's still a number of plenty of opportunities for people to access grants but certainly on the overall we're net contributors but we do benefit like access to a market of 450 million people and you only have to look at the Irish situation if you look at Irish exports were particularly dependent on the UK if you go back 15 or 20 years ago now a total of exports are to Europe at the content of Europe as the more you can spread the exports across different markets the better it is that's not to say that you know to have a strong good relationship with Britain is very important but don't want to be over-reliant in any particular market but really you're looking at a market with Britain through Brexit you're looking at a total of the market in Europe through the common market and you're looking at trade deals that Europe does around the world that we get access to the rest of the world so being part of a big block gives us influence that we wouldn't have as small countries that's your intention what do you think the talking points would be I think it's going to be around EU armies fishing, farming I can think of another couple but I think that's really what the public I think that's what the public are going to want to talk to you about and I have a sense that even in the short term since the last elections I think the Irish public were more positive, more critical thinking and I think it's going to be a very interesting election campaign EU election campaign I think certainly those three issues for a starter are going to be front and central I think if you take the the war on Ukraine that brings into context the Irish neutrality situation and I think in many ways Europe will have to respond if nothing else in a defensive way to protect it including Ireland what do you think our role should be I'm not asking you to talk about each Finnegale policy per se but what do you believe Ireland should be doing because we talked about your party colleagues want a conversation on neutrality but you as an individual what do you think Ireland's role is in the EU in that context I think we have a role that consists of cyber security what does that mean I heard Maria Walsh reference that as well so it's obviously something that you're talking about being briefed on what do you mean by that I mean that if you look at the capability both in civic society and in our own army in relation to cyber security we have a considerable contribution to make Estonia is the European headquarters of cyber security and outside of Estonia we have with all the foreign direct investment in the IT sector over the last 20 years we have the capability in society but also if you look back I think it was the year before last the Irish army took part in exercises at European level where there was a challenge put them to solve a cyber security issue and it was the Irish for the only ones that got to the bottom of it and solved the problem so if you look in an Irish context we don't have the military hardware we have the dolls full of Chinese made cameras all the TDs have tiktok on their government phones seriously are you sitting here with a straight face then and we were at the forefront in terms of cyber security well if you look at the exercise at the army took part in the Kimmel Toppings but you recognise my points do you I think absolutely I'm the very one that came out and said that we should be taking tiktok off the phones of government phones we should be conscious of cyber security from a Chinese perspective spies in the doll I wouldn't say spies in the doll but you can never be too careful you can never be too careful with these things but the thing about the whole situation with regards let's say the Chinese influence on any of the Chinese companies if you like the communist party have an influence they sit on boards it's also part of the legislation in China that the government has is entitled to go in and access data so we have to be sure that the data we have that is owned by Chinese companies that it is safe I call it says I'm a pensioner and Europe seems to be promoting digital everything's digital support should be given to those who are older as well we can't contribute but we are being excluded we have to make sure we need in our fight to progress that we leave no one behind I think that's a very important point I ran a Fintech conference in the autumn in the dark and one of the issues we brought up about was that digital divide that technologies are great for people who are IT savvy but we have to ensure that the ordinary service that are available for people be it through the post office or through your local bank which obviously access to cash they have to continue nice to see the GEA take cash from the gates again wouldn't it well it would be nice I think it's symbolic if you're not prepared to it is discriminating I'd love to see that called out a bit more from politicians it's so important because it's easy to facilitate those who are the next generation with all the tech savvy ideas but we have to as you say leave nobody behind and make sure because you see the thing is we're talking one generation or two generations very people will move towards we shouldn't try and force or coerce anyone to do so I think it's going to happen naturally do you have any thoughts on the bringing of EU languages into schools as a listener there of the view that it will dilute the Irish language further in my opinion or in their opinion sorry I think we have European languages in schools and I think the general recognition is that if you learn one language it makes other languages easier to learn it's a little bit like Algebra there's this conversation that people learn Algebra and you never get to use it but by learning Algebra you learn learning it's usefulness it's actually almost sometimes what you achieve of course it says we are Irish I don't know why I banged the desk we are Irish not European we have lost more to Europe than we ever got at this stage fishing, banking, bailout etc remember your roots and what our people fought and died for. Are you Irish or European or both? Are you Irish first, European second, European first Irish second? Absolutely I'm Irish first and European second and just what that person mentions about the fisheries I've worked very hard over the last 12 or 18 months in relation to fisheries and I'm protecting the Irish box from Norwegian fishermen and we have got an agreement in the last number of weeks which excludes Norwegian fishermen out of the Irish box for the fishing and blue-widing which is the first time something like that has been achieved in 40 years as regards being Irish first absolutely that's why I prioritise that the Irish box should be excluded from Norwegian fishermen but also that agreement was on the basis of protecting Irish interests over other European country interests. It's been lovely having you in you're attending or speaking at the conference this afternoon I'll be attending the conference the speaker line-up is there already but no I don't have access to that I wasn't trying to be impure or anything like that no that's perfectly fine you'll be able to take it all in right okay MEP colour market thank you very much for joining us I really do appreciate your time we also heard from MEP Sean Kelly keep your calls coming into us 08 660 25000 that's the whatsapp and text number or call 07 491 25000 we are broadcasting live today by the way from the EU parliament in Brussels and it is just an opportunity maybe to come out here speak to the people that work out here on your behalf or some would say claim to but I'm sure they do work very very hard and to maybe give you an insight into what goes on here now it may make you feel you might your eyes might be opened in a positive way or it might be opened in a negative way I don't know and it's not for me to judge I just try and get the information and see how we get on all right okay let us take a break and we'll be back with more on this special 9 till noon show in just a few moments take care okay the time is 17 minutes past 11 in Ireland 17 minutes past 12 here in Brussels and alongside me here in studio today excuse me is Owen McColgan who's a policy consultant at Technopolis group or with the Technopolis group right from Fawn two years what took you out to what took you out to Brussels if you say an airplane I'm just going to throw you out the door but why did you decide to come work here I kind of always wanted to move away for a while but also just with the job that I wanted to get into Brussels is the best for it it's one of the biggest in the world the commission with them and the policies they bring out so yeah that was my main reason for coming over so what did you study what did you qualify with what were the options here I studied math and economics as an undergrad and then I went on to study I've done a masters in economics then which gave me the foundation to get out here now talk to me about the different groups what's the Technopolis group the Technopolis group it's a consultancy it came from the UK started originally in Brighton I think and we are evaluators so to speak so we just evaluate policy and then so we started in Brighton and then they've moved all across Europe and then we're in Brussels now and we mainly work with innovation innovation policy and technology which is kind of cool to find it really interesting yeah and do you stress test stuff is that part of it it's not maybe the right phrase but I mean I might come up with a great idea and I think it will change the world but you have to give me a reality check so what happened with that the commission or the parliament whoever will put out these tenders for study so then we give we write our proposal send it off to them they think we're good enough to do the study we'll do it so we'll study just what's going to happen really we try to predict or sometimes we evaluate as well so we look back at all their policies and see how they're getting on see if they're any good or not and see how they can improve for the next time how do we make sure that the commission we pick the companies that do its work for them that maybe we know that Owen and the rest of the technopolist group are kind of favourable in a particular area because you are independent but are there checks and I'm not for a moment suggesting you're not independent but just curious as to what is the checks and balances there are they closed tenders no they're open tenders closed in terms of you could apply if you wanted but you might not get too far but go ahead open tenders anybody could apply and they have different criteria so they evaluate who like your team the team is going to be involved like their level of seniority there's also your methodologies so how you're going to go about evaluating this and then I think the most important thing is to be an independent evaluator which is what we pride ourselves on exactly and that's what I was going to say that is something that you wear as a badge and you work hard or in that reputation and you want to maintain it and you we'll talk a little bit about your work but obviously you know we're a long way from Farn beautiful part of the world, lovely bridge but this is very different here isn't it this is incredibly cosmopolitan but you sort that out really didn't you as well that's what you wanted yeah well I mean it's Farn's village and it's beautiful village I love it it's where I'm from but yeah this year this is a big city full of people but yeah so it's not that big of a city which is nice it'd be the same size as Dublin which is kind of drawn me to it and it's much easier to get around better transport connections exactly and so that's what drew me to it it's a young city as well there's a lot of young people here easy access home apart from getting up to Donegal but the Dublin's an hour and a half you haven't figured that one out yet you've been working on that for about a thousand yeah yeah indeed but I mean it's also the option and once you're on home soil it's well to Farn it's probably three or four hours actually it's three for me in the south of the county right so what are you working on particularly at the moment that has an interest for you at the minute I'm in the quantity team so I'm just an anathan really but an interest and project that I really done recently was it was a study to see if they could get what would be the effects of bringing a genetically modified organisms into the into the European market into the plants just to see how like would it be environmentally beneficial would it have a good impact on the economy and stuff like that there which is very interesting project we've done recently one that I'm currently one that I the one that first started off was called international cities challenge and dairy was actually in it and so they basically get this group of hundred cities all together and then they get them to work together have some synergies and to implement these different policies that are like digital transitions and green transitions and stuff like that presumably seeing how that because a lot of the decision she would talk about green agendas climate agendas transit it's always it's always portrayed as negative and that's the one thing that's always frustrated me at home is the messaging and this is not something you're responsible for but rather than all it being about what what we're going to lose what we're going to take how much going to cost to talk about job creation the difference from that and I just wonder why I scream at the politicians and my head wondering why are you not messaging this different differently why aren't you talking about the positives the you know what I mean because if you don't talk about them people believe there aren't any there in that vacuum is filled by a lot of its you know project fear to you know you're dead right there because there is a lot of huge benefits that come out of this like it one of them is like to improve your infrastructure to improve your transport infrastructure which great and don't they all and there's also other ones like a lot of to do with green as well which is very interesting you know we can make these whole big wildlife reserves and stuff like that which is really I mean they're really interesting from in terms of technology you mentioned a particular interest in that is that that last project you're talking about or what are the areas within that like I have I have have taken I have to mute myself because I don't want everyone to think I'm talking about it all the time but AI and where we're going with that I don't know what your role might be in that but I think it's going to have few ramifications education on jobs on social discourse on interactions online I was speaking to a politician recently and I can see in very short amount of time conversations happening as to whether or not they wrote it themselves or if they put it into a you know a chat model or what have you and then we're going to have integrated into our emails integrated into our search engines and it's all happening at breakneck speed yeah that's the thing I think that what they're trying to do now is that they really I think there should be an AI regulation coming out soon if I'm right but I yeah I think what's going to happen is that they're going it's just going to atomize a lot of your job I don't hope it doesn't take any jobs now but I think a lot of it's just going to write your email for you easy reply well I'm rewriting my CV but can we recall this is a young person looking to move abroad what costs like living in Brussels to be honest it's no it's getting a small bit more expensive because just because of rent really tax is really high you can go to a doctor or if you work for the department you don't get as much tax either but yeah no it's really cheap you get something for your taxes don't you in terms of access to dental access to health care I think even if you're working and paying your tax and your child becomes sick they'll provide a nanny for one of a better word that will come in for 72 hours to care for your child whilst you can continue to go to work maybe higher tax isn't wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you get in those types of services no you get great transport and well you still need to but it's only one year old month then for your health or whatever but yeah no it's cheaper than Dublin I must say and it's not the most expensive city but it's definitely not as cheap as more southern Mediterranean kind of areas but I mean like to be honest what I pay by 740 on rent so it's I think that includes some services I live by myself though which is 740 includes some services which it wouldn't right okay listen it's been great to get an insight into what you're doing over here Owen and to sort of recognize that there are people outside of you know elected politics that are living and working here it's fascinating stuff all right Owen McColgan from Fawn but now a policy consultant at Technopolis Group did I get it right that time Technopolis Technopolis all right listen great to have you and thanks for calling in more than I until an intro after the break do you currently okay you're very welcome back to the last half hour of the 9 till noon show and we're joined by a number of guests here now who are in Ireland so I've flown to Brussels to speak to people in Ireland on zoom I think it's fantastic Fiona true love is from Europe direct in letter Kenny in Jones it's good morning to you Fiona good morning Greg how are you fantastic it's great to have you with us right okay what is the role of the Europe directed under Kenny well we offer information on the European Union and there are eight points information points throughout Ireland was done the goal has one in fact we have to because our door library holds will offer services through the Irish language which is great so talk to me a bit more about the services you provide okay so we offer information on the European Union to citizens and that can answer general queries that can be anything from traveling in Europe to studying Europe recently we have had some legal issues and also some tax matters difficult to get the message that you are there to answer those queries you find that you're having the most stumbling across you accidentally or there will be others like a TDR a counselor that ends up sign posting it to you is that part of your challenge you're sitting there with this wealth of information and support it's just letting people know that Europe direct is in letter Kenny that is one of our main concerns now we're very lucky we hold a monthly we have in local papers monthly ads and we have quite a good social media and also because we're part of the library dongle counter council it does to be out there but if people don't realise we're here and when they come in they cannot believe the amount of things we do now we're very lucky to hold events and promotional evenings to say we're here but yes getting people in the doors is the biggest challenge for us and what about working with schools because I mean that's a great place to sort of start to get the message out and we've kind of had a couple of calls from people when we were speaking to our last guest talking about you know I would like maybe to pursue a career in Europe or Brussels or what have you you know what I mean so do you are you in schools offering information there absolutely we have some schools ambassadors for the Europe European Commission we're actually in Donegal Eregal Colleges one of them but we hold many different workshops whether it's climate change, biodiversity to get the schools in through the doors but also it is just so important to get our message across to the young people and to let people know we're there I've been very lucky I've had a couple of students recently who are interested in internships in Brussels and I've been helping them liaise with people who's already done them so you'd be surprised that I've been here for or in Central Library I would say for about 12 years so I've built up a great range of contacts and it's people can come in and ask anything and that's one of them how to work in Europe hey Fiona here's the thing too get your wallet out get on to the sales team at Highland Radio you've got eight how long you're not finished we've got eight out of ten years in the county listening to us alright so that's that's another thing we can do did I hear you've had famous visitors recently well famous or influential to bend we've had MEPs come and support us all the time which is great we've had Chris McManus and Maria Wolves but sometimes I mean last summer we had and I always say her name wrong so I do apologise Miriam McCollies from the Harry Potter she was visiting Donegal and she just popped in because she loved libraries and our manager Una was able to take around showed her our local studies but also showed her the European direct information point and again amazed how a library in what she felt a relatively small town could have such an influence on for people I mean libraries are a great thing I think and you know what the funny thing is and it came back into focus was around the time of the you know what when access to libraries were restricted and I think really it was an opportunity for us to recognise the work that the likes of you and your colleagues do in there Fiona it's been lovely speaking to you we'll speak again on the program by the way because you know we're here to sort of try and get the message out listen you shouldn't open that invitation we'll be on every week I'm almost sure I've extended to you before Fiona so the ball's in your court I just lovely to speak to you and have a great day what's the weather like in letter Kenny because over here in Brussels the sun is splitting the rocks I'm going to look out with it raining so you're rubbing salt into the wounds now Greg unfortunately I'm a terrible liar because you have there. Fiona have a lovely day it's been lovely lovely speaking to you thank you Greg. Joy Brown's economic developmental with the economic development unit of Donegal County Council joins us oh by the way before I go sorry Fiona you're still there are you before we chuck you out just give us your social media stuff sorry by the way just in case people are so you can get us on Facebook at Europe Direct Letter Kenny or on Twitter at EDIC Donegal basically just come into Central Library or give us a ring we're just central to the town. Lovely stuff thanks very much again Fiona so Joy Brown economic development unit of Donegal County Council hi Joy are you there Joy are you muted I'm here Greg hi how are you thanks for having me. I couldn't see you were you muted I was muted I think it's one every day this one every day Joy can we it's a joy to speak to you you probably saw that one coming talk to me about the EU's role or in the economic development unit or the economic developments role in the EU explain to me your functions there absolutely Greg and thanks for having me on so that I work in what's called the Strategic Funding Unit within Donegal County Council's Economic Development Directorate and our role is to essentially seek EU funding primarily to deliver projects that fit within our corporate objectives and funding that we might not otherwise have access to so we work with networks we work with the Irish Regions European office there in Brussels Regional Assembly and we're also members of the Assembly of European Regions and the CPM or so our role is to connect people to help develop partnerships and then to apply for funding through a variety of programs in the EU so there's quite a lot there in terms of opportunities for Donegal. Your connection is hanging by a thread but we can hear you and we'll continue when we talk about applying for EU funding who qualifies to be able to apply for EU funding like I as an individual might have a great idea could I or is it a play group or a sports group or I don't know someone interested in bringing opportunities together so can you talk to me a little bit about who qualifies to apply for funding. Yeah so I suppose that depends on a number of things it depends on the program that you're applying for and it depends on the type of project that you're seeking to deliver so most of the programs would be led by consortium so that would be groups of partners and different stakeholders so you might have educational bodies you might have public bodies you would have funding opportunities for example you have there the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme that's run by BIM and that's open to businesses to apply for that that's part of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund so essentially applying for funding depends as I say on the program that you're applying for but if anyone has queries in relation to that or is looking to develop a project idea of course the strategic funding unit and other I suppose departments within the council are available to assist and advise on that as well. Yeah and I suppose sometimes we don't do enough of that just ringing up and talking be it your office the Leo office the investment offices you know what I mean there's teams and people there that are available to offer advice or even just to clarify things. Right hopefully you can still hear me I'll stick to one more question you can you're back there properly what's this Youth Topia event taking place next month five days after my birthday the 27th of April just to let everybody know Youth Topia right I think we've kind of yeah you're back you are Youth Topia talk to me about Youth Topia I'm back I'm back apologies Greg I'm here It's okay we won't hold too much young longer I'm just a little bit unstable but yeah so Youth Topia is an exciting again an EU funded event that we're hosted in Donegal it's at Oakfield Park on the 27th of April and Youth Topia is essentially a one-day conference that brings young people together to discuss a variety of topics through workshops through keynote speakers the issues that matter to them such as climate such as social inclusion careers and I suppose future skills and development so Youth Topia is open to everyone and registration is actually available now on Donegal.ie slash Youth Topia lovely stuff thank you very much for that and delighted to welcome back on to the show Kasia Kujaya good morning to you always bring a bit of joy to the program we can have you with us Kasia good morning Greg good morning Donegal how are you feeling today fantastic talk about taking on the assignment well thank you so much Kasia you are the Youth Information Officer with the Donegal Youth Service and Euro Desk Ambassador we often speak to you about the Youth Exchange Programme the Arasmas Plus and I think I kind of almost sense in a very positive way of frustration with you that there's some brilliant opportunities here folks please come and engage with us and grow with some of these projects is that fair enough assessment Kasia absolutely yes and especially after pandemic it is so hard to get back to you know normal situation to get young people being involved in different projects again so I have to admit that I'm very happy with cooperation that we have with letter Kenny Europe Direct Center because we very often we produce events together and we're trying to support each other in this case yes so where can people get more information on Arasmas Plus the Youth Exchange Programme studying abroad because I mean we've talked about this a lot and we will when we have a bit more time again of course Kasia you'll know when is a good time to contact us to speak again but where can people get more information because I've got a lot of messages of people that their appetite today their appetite is being wet for a European adventure and I think yours is a good office to contact if you're a younger person absolutely yes if you're aged between 13 years old you're more than welcome to visit letter Kenny Youth Information Center which is a part of Donegal Youth Service we're based on a portrait so it's like an opposite side of the old grill and we're open every day Monday to Friday 12 to 6 and the best person to get is myself I'm the person responsible for coordinating the European Solidarity Corps which is like a volunteering project for young people I'm also responsible actually we're organizing at the moment the youth exchange under Erasmus with our amazing Polish partner so the group of young people from Ireland will be going to Poland for one week and in return the Polish people will visit us in Donegal so it will be exciting times basically whatever the question is you ask me and if I don't know the answer I will find the answer all right Kasia have a lovely day thank you so much for your time this morning it's greatly appreciated that is Kasia Kujajahu is on her way now into the Youth Information the Donegal Youth Service I'd imagine she's also the Euro desk ambassador and Youth Information Officer have a lovely day I'm correct there I hoped I am anyway okay thank you very much Kasia we have more guests on the way but let's take a quick break okay let's get the weather forecast for you know what I might have to come back to the weather forecast in a moment because I should have had it open but I didn't oh we have it here right let's see what's going to happen for this afternoon then a band of more persistent rain will move up as we head into the afternoon while sunny spells will develop in the afternoon thundery showers will follow too with possible spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms blustery with fresh and gusty southwest winds strong at times in the west another mild day with highest temperatures of 15 to 15 degrees so we're joined in studio now by Trevor McCallion teacher at Car and Donner Community School in Donegal and students Roshin Farron the Donegal Youth Council rep with the school and Luke McLaughlin all three if you thank you so much for joining us thank you for having us Trevor how many have you come over with we have 26 students and four staff and how long are you here for we came on Monday and we're flying out this evening alright now what's the experience been like brilliant yeah talk to us about some of the things you've done well we've been heaps we've been to a war memorial we've been at a chocolate factory yesterday we did a tour of Belgium itself and we've been to the natural science museum and then this morning we've been to the parliamentarian and we've been just had a talk from Luke Flanagan who we'd like to thank for having invited us here and the rest the group knows actually having a tour throughout the European Parliament Luke McLaughlin you have even interest in politics so what a fantastic opportunity for you this is yeah it's very exciting I'm glad I have this opportunity to be here I've seen a lot of heard a lot as well very interesting has it further encouraged you or is it discouraged you in pursuing politics I wonder well yeah it's very interesting and it's I'm thinking about it yeah I'm still deciding though I'm still young yeah for sure you feel exactly and don't pigeonhole yourself yet you don't know what you might do but could you imagine yourself maybe studying economics and history or something and working behind the scenes in politics or could you imagine yourself maybe in elected politics or what yeah I do I do enjoy economics and history I could see myself doing that yeah I like public speaking as well so I could see myself in the elected form as well yeah okay and do you feel that you've got opinions you've got views that may be a more representative of the young people and that you could be in a good position to go in there and start making some inroads yeah I could I like listening to other people's suggestions as well like it's bring those forward to well you need to get rid of that listening to other people's suggestions just be single minded and dogged I just enjoy it's really important I'll come back to you Roshin Faran you're on the Youth Council how's the Youth Council experience been for you? Youth Council is brilliant it's definitely an interesting experience especially like definitely getting your voice across and subjects that will actually make a change it is a meaningful thing isn't it I'll be honest with you when it first started I maybe was a bit cynical about it you know what I mean but the views are listened to and you do feel you have an important there is two way streets in that conversation isn't there? definitely there's a great connection between our Youth Council and the actual County Council our opinions are definitely listened to and we're definitely heard what have you enjoyed most about this trip? this trip I've definitely loved walking around the Grand Palace it was brilliant we had a tour and we could see all the details and all the buildings it was really interesting was Brussels what you expected it to be and if you haven't been here before you google and you search and you try and street view and all that kind of stuff I'm not sure if you did that but did it match your expectations? definitely a lot more brilliant and beautiful than I thought I didn't really google anything but it is definitely a really beautiful city could you see yourself living in a city like this? I could definitely see myself living everything's just so close together it's really beautiful as is Car and Donna and Sarans of course there's no harm in a bit of travel Trevor is it you know personal growth and what have you? we'd like people if they wanted to do things because they want to and not feel compelled to do so yes they wish to work abroad the choice whether to work in Ireland or go abroad just on about Brussels yesterday the group actually put 24,000 steps and so they got a good viewing of Brussels yesterday I just want to pay tribute to all the students that we took with us they were being very good and the families at home the school at home should be very proud of how they conducted themselves Alistair wants to know from either I'll ask you Luke actually and maybe get Roshin's view Alistair says can you ask the young people if they feel overlooked so much chopping and changing with the school curriculum especially after their experience with Covid I mean the Department of Education would say that they do consult now more with students than they ever did but do you get a sense that people are making decisions for you without consulting you Roshin you're keen to answer this one I was meeting two other students from current attended student voice meeting and down in Port Leish it was really like a big constructive project and there was lots of groups and lots of meetings and we definitely got our input in and it was basically like all the same things I think the Department has to listen because I mean we had that this unexplainable because no one recommended it adjustment to the leaving cert cycle some of the exams towards the end of fifth year and then it would have complicated transition for some they rolled back on that but I don't think that decision would have ever been made with proper consultation to begin with one of the main topics we did talk about at that student voicing was the leaving cert and how they're trying to make the transition from the junior cycle into the leaving certificate more like easy or like more smooth definitely the leaving cert is very like old fashioned or like it's very set in its ways needs definitely a change Luke just to the listeners question do you feel you're being overlooked do you feel you're being ignored in life well I think there are some that I think that's young people they wouldn't have experienced as much as older people and they might not like take on our views as much as they would in adults but there are some who want to hear young people's voices and of course as well being young people want to be heard and in our opinions we've cancelled European and general elections all coming up in the next few years you'll probably be over 18 at that point I would guess I haven't a clue but I'd guess what's your view first Roshin in terms of the voting age being reduced to 16 on all elections some elections or none I definitely think I like the voting age of 18 I think it's a good like a good age for everything but yeah I definitely think maybe they should take young people's experience and views into account of voting as well but I'm not really sure if I'm being honest I like the 18 age yeah what about you Luke yeah the 18 age is a good age as well some people who are younger might not be as mature and can't believe I'm getting this from young people yeah yeah so I think the 18 age is a good age what are you doing in that school Trevor I'm screaming for the voting age to be 16 not sitting there agreeing with us all schools are trying to give students advice 100% and I think we can do it particularly well in Donegal because we're very critical thinkers up here you can't hold us back I wouldn't like to try and hold Roshin or Luke back I don't think I'd get away with it I think that's great with powerful young people here I come across them all the time and you use harness and embrace that and encourage that at the school Trevor we're trying to encourage them all walks of life maybe in academia or through sporting everybody has their place and we're trying to find everybody's place and encourage them to embrace it and to work in it and do the best they can alright so Luke do you want to finish your point you say maybe that bit of maturity that comes with 18 do you want to listen and find some mechanism which there are already there to listen to younger people yes the 18 age is good and maybe we could listen to some people who are younger and take their points on board well I was down at a conference not cut across you and not listen to you I was down at a conference in Dublin recently about the future of radio and how you guys are going to be listening to radio and I looked around and I looked up on the stage and I looked in the audience and there wasn't a young person to be seen you had a group of older people sort of trying to debate what might happen in terms of radio leadership for young people you have to have that conversation with the people that you're talking about because they will best inform you so I agree people have to listen to the younger people a call or it's not a call or I think I know who it is wishing everyone from current on a community school plastic trip to the European Parliament from everyone at iMotors especially Shauna who's one of our own Shauna was laughing she was actually joining us on the trip yeah excellent and are all passports currently accounted for yes we needed them to get it out but the students were giving them we tried to left them but they don't need them I'll take the fair play to your team you've got great students don't get me wrong get them around safe and get them home safe I would like to thank the other members of staff who's joined us on this trip because they've been very good and again we've great students how did you join the short straw having to come in and speak to me Trevor how was that decided rock paper scissors I was trying to pass it over to numerous members of staff and one was going and then the researcher came back and said just join the aims here we're working with you well Trevor you've done a fantastic job Roshine Luke wants to have the airwaves just like you for having us on it's our pleasure I couldn't believe it because I knew you were here and I thought wow you know a local school and the local station here and the fact that you were able to come in it's brilliant so we really appreciate it yeah thanks for having us on it's a great opportunity to be to be heard on radio well listen the lines are always open go ahead Trevor again just like to thank Luke Flanagan for inviting us the trip probably wouldn't been possible you know and there are people young people on that trip who will make decisions based off something like this you know I think it's really significant you know it gives people direction or whatever it might be some people get their inspiration from a sports star or something but I think there's at least going to be a couple that after this trip it's going to change a path in some way or other for them and I think that's really powerful it does all right Trevor McCallion teacher at Karnedonic Community School in Donegal Queen Farron she's also on the Donegal Youth Council as well and we also thank Luke McLaughlin for calling in a keen interest in politics I think we might be hearing from the two of you again in the future what do you think definitely yeah I think so too right 08 660 25000 that is the telephone but we might take that last break now and that will give us a chance to get our next guest in so we'll be back with our final guest of the show in the next couple of minutes okay last guest of the morning is Mark Cunningham who's involved with the GAA in Brussels Mark thank you for joining us thank you for having me your treasure of the European Community's Gaelic Club in Belgium how big is the GAA community here well it's about there's two different clubs there's the adult club and there's the children's club which is European Community's Gaelic Club there's 75 children who are members and there's about 30-40 members who are adults and then the adult club players as well all adults so we're two different clubs and you play against each other presumably well we're actually we normally train together and we have the Hague comes down we have Frankfurt comes down we've just come back from Berlin played a tournament in Berlin this weekend six different countries represented nine clubs playing for the failure qualifications in July that's fascinating isn't it really and I imagine too you've got some very good players as well people who would be playing their trade for the local club and maybe the county but they've moved away and they still want to be involved in the sport yeah and it's a lot of the people who are ex-players are now the children of playing so you know funny enough the kids here have actually played in six different countries in Europe including Ireland so they've been in more countries playing Gaelic than someone I've actually visited normally yeah your families from Mayo Galway you played as a child in London as well where there's a very strong obviously GAA community was it Chicano girls? I played for St Brandon's but Chicano girls as you know was a Gunny Goal club my father played for the Garry Island which was a very Galway-Clear West Ireland club and it was about 30 clubs when I was growing up huge but you tend to align yourself with the club from where your people took a club called the Kingdom which was playing in the Kerry colours and they were predominantly Kerry people as well very good how often do you strain? we strain about once every two weeks sometimes two out of three depending on the calendar and do you ever play at home? yeah we do we host the Benelux Cup every year so we Brussels is home for you have you ever played in Ireland sorry? we did we played in Ireland we played in Neve Borogues a few years ago and we won which was good it was great to play in Ireland and we're going back to Germany in a few weeks for the Benelux German Club lovely to speak to you and with your background any Gunny Goal representation in the club? we do actually because our chairman is a guy called Liam Breslin he was one of the people involved in the club his family originated from Carrick and West Donegal he's now himself he came from Wollongar West Meath which he reminds us constantly about but he is originally from Donegal listen it's been great having you in Mark sorry it was brief but I just wanted to recognise what's going on here is there anything else you want to add just before we wrap up? no I'd just like to say thank you and I'd also like to thank our sponsors Euro City who are it's an Irish guy called Sean McMahon who sponsors us and also to Sean Kelly who's been supportive over the last few years to us when we've been looking for a promotion fantastic a good GAA man as you probably know yeah of course listen brilliant although he gave us a wee dig on his way out about the trials and tribulations in Donegal but it was all in good spirits listen thank you very much Mark that's where we have to leave it on the programme today for this European special live from Brussels I want to thank Caroline Orr who researched and produced Donna Marie and Anya working back at base and Kevin working on the tech side of things here to all of our guests we have a wonderful tech team here in Brussels who've worked wonderfully with us and kept us on the air we really do appreciate it but that is where we have to leave it don't forget that Donald Kavana will be presenting the show tomorrow from 9 and I'll be back with you on Friday morning from our letter Kenny studio at 9 but for me Greg Hughes and all of the team have a wonderful Wednesday and chat to you soon