I4C Trouble with Daly and Wallace

We’re back as the parliament swings into action after the summer break. We discuss sanctions and why the Russians economy is doing better than ever despite them. We also touch on energy prices and inflation and the hard winter ahead for many in Europe. Finally we run through a recent discussion Mick had with the EU head of delegation for China and Taiwan about Nancy Pelosi’s recent ill-advised visit to Taiwan.

Mick and Clare were interviewed by Katie Halper and Aaron Maté for the Useful Idiots podcast back in July. On the podcast they discuss: war in Ukraine, Julian Assange, and Syria. To hear more from Useful Idiots follow @UsefulIdiotpod on Twitter or watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/usefulidiots

This week is our last episode before the Parliament goes on break for the summer. Mick, Clare and Kate talk about the increase in Irish defence spend, a recent exchange of views with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, what is happing to the arms flooding in to Ukraine, and finally, the protests in Macedonia against the EU accession process which has come with some hard-to-swallow conditions.

This week Clare, Mick and Damien are in Strasbourg, where the Parliament has just voted to classify gas and nuclear as “sustainable” - a huge win for interests in those industries and a huge loss for the planet. They also discuss the question of the rising cost of living and how the EU political establishment is reframing dissent on any issue as “support for Russia”.

This week on the podcast we talked about the wider implications of the war in Ukraine - particularly how it is affecting the cost of living and recent geopolitical shifts that it has occasioned. We also discuss the massacre of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Melilla in Morocco and the shocking reaction of the Taoiseach when asked about this in the Dáil. Finally we discuss how accusations of spreading disinformation are being used to silence dissenting voices

We’re coming to you little late with some updates from last week. We discuss the recent vote on Ukrainian accession to the EU, the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the EU Emissions Trading System, and finally, inflation and spiralling inequality.

This week Mick, Clare, Damien and special guest Aoife are discussing: food and fuel scarcity resulting from the war, a recent survey on opinions in Europe which found that a majority of European citizens favour peace over punishing Russia, this week's vote on the sustainable finance taxonomy and the reconvening of the EU- Catalunya dialogue.

It’s been a busy week in Strasbourg. Mick, Clare and Damien discuss a vote on an important climate change file - Fit for ’55 which collapsed this week after it was watered down beyond recognition by some of the far-right groups in the EP. We also discuss the war in Ukraine and the fact that the most right-wing elements in the Parliament are shaping EU policy in that area. We also chat about Michael Martin’s visit to Strasbourg and his address to the Parliament. Finally, the World Food Program in Afghanistan and their shortfall in resources to feed the hungry there.

This week on the podcast we're discussing the latest in the European Parliament. First the EU Taxonomy for sustainable investments and the repercussions of classifying gas and nuclear as "sustainable". We also discuss increasing militarism with Denmark's decision to become involved in European Defence and moves by Sweden and Finland towards NATO membership; migration and the decision to give FRONTEX, the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency lethal weapons for the first time; Irish fishers' visit to Brussels and the changes they are fighting for; finally an answer we received to a question on the legal feasibility of Frances Black's Occupied Territories Bill.

3 months into the war in Ukraine nothing has changed and everything has. This week we’re discussing media coverage of the war and access for journalists, global increases in military spending, the war being fought on the level of narrative and information, NATO expansion, and the International Criminal Court.