I4C Trouble with Daly and Wallace
183 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 days ago -A brand new political podcast from Ireland's two best-known independent left wing MEPs, straight from the belly of the EU beast. Unfiltered by mainstream media they grapple with the problems at the very heart of the European project.
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Episodes
Things you didn't know you didn't know
October 22, 2020 14:10 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBWe all heard of Jacinda Ardern's electoral win in New Zealand, but not a peep from the media about the landslide win in the Bolivian elections. Clare, Mick and Damien discuss the democracy in action which brought about the monumental win of MAS (Movement Towards Socialism party) in Bolivia, and the rejection of last year's right-wing coup. We've all read about the protests in Belarus, but who has said anything about the protests in Bulgaria? Clare is back from her trip around Bulgaria, where...
EP27 Bulgaria, Climate Law and Free Assange
October 17, 2020 16:27 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBIn the twenty-seventh episode of I4C Trouble Clare explains why fundamental rights in Bulgaria were on the plenary agenda in October and why the largest group in the Parliament learned to regret it, while Mick discusses the strong position the Parliament has taken in the Climate Law. In other news, an Irish campaign to free Julian Assange was launched last week by the Galway Alliance Against War, the Parliament revisits the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran, and Venezuela wins its ap...
EP26 Commissioner Hearings, Afghanistan and the Rule of Law
October 11, 2020 08:21 - 43 minutes - 25 MBThis week on I4C Trouble, Mick spills the beans on the hearings for the new Irish commissioner-designate, Mairead McGuinness. Clare reports on Europol's troubling aspirations to become a European FBI, and describes the interesting parliamentary politics around the first Rule of Law resolution, which centre on Bulgaria. The European Parliament discusses returning refugees to Afghanistan against the backdrop of an extremely precarious peace process. And while made up fears of "foreign interfere...
EP25 Solidarity and Human Rights
September 27, 2020 14:20 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBAs Mick gets noticed in Belarus, our MEPs discuss the ongoing weaponisation of human rights. The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum has been unveiled, but besides lots of talk of solidarity, it seems less designed to help refugees and asylum seekers than it is to send them back where they came from and pander to the anti-migrant member states. In a review of recent legislation and developments in the European Parliament, Clare and Mick discuss European Arrest Warrants, the European Year o...
The Absolute State of the Union
September 19, 2020 11:40 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBClare and Mick conduct a post mortem on President Ursula von der Leyen's "State of the Union" address. Finally we're talking about a coordinated European COVID response, but is it too late? Why is the European Union legislating shipping emissions, but letting top polluters like the navy run rampant? Civil unrest in Belarus is being used to push for a change in the way the EU Council makes decisions, so why is so little said about the protests in Bulgaria, a member state? And now that the Mori...
EP24 The Absolute State of the Union
September 19, 2020 11:40 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBClare and Mick conduct a post mortem on President Ursula von der Leyen's "State of the Union" address. Finally we're talking about a coordinated European COVID response, but is it too late? Why is the European Union legislating shipping emissions, but letting top polluters like the navy run rampant? Civil unrest in Belarus is being used to push for a change in the way the EU Council makes decisions, so why is so little said about the protests in Bulgaria, a member state? And now that the Mori...
EP23 - War Is Peace in Europe
September 15, 2020 16:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBAs Damien returns to the European Parliament after the summer break Clare and Mick have a wide ranging discussion on security and defence issues in Brussels, taking in the arms lobby and security contractors, the EU cybersecurity strategy, the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility. Things are on the move everywhere, in Libya, Mali and the Balkans, in Belarus, Turkey and Cyprus. Clare talks about the devastating fire in the Moria detention camp in Lesvos and her blazing interve...
EP22 - Meanwhile On Planet EU
September 07, 2020 20:25 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBAs Irish media coverage of Brussels wanes in the wake of Commissioner Phil Hogan's resignation over Golfgate, the real story of what goes on in the EU and further abroad remains untold. The people of Lebanon suffer the aftermath of a devastating industrial and economic crisis. The war on Syria rages on. The EU-MERCOSUR trade deal continues into law, and workers in the aviation industry suffer the effects of COVID-19. And where now for EU data protection after the historic defeat of Privacy Sh...
EP21 - Golfgate and more Golfgate
August 31, 2020 15:28 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBWith Damien yet to return from the summer recess Clare and Mick sneak into the studio to discuss the Galway society dinner scandal that seized Irish politics for a week, stampeded all the way to Brussels and claimed the head of Ursula von der Leyen's biggest commissioner. What did it all mean? What did it achieve? And as Alexander Lukaschenko's days begin to look as if they are numbered, Mick asks, what's next for Belarus?
Golfgate and more Golfgate
August 31, 2020 15:28 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBWith Damien yet to return from the summer recess Clare and Mick sneak into the studio to discuss the Galway society dinner scandal that seized Irish politics for a week, stampeded all the way to Brussels and claimed the head of Ursula von der Leyen's biggest commissioner. What did it all mean? What did it achieve? And as Alexander Lukaschenko's days begin to look as if they are numbered, Mick asks, what's next for Belarus?
EP20 - Defence, Medicine and Big Data
August 28, 2020 11:30 - 1 hour - 36.9 MBIn an episode recorded on the last day before the summer recess, which seems like a lifetime ago now, Clare and Mick discuss the controversy in Ireland over Barry Cowen's dismissal by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. They review the hearing for the candidate for the head of the European Medicines Agency and recount their confrontation over increased military spending with the head of the European Defence Agency. Finally Clare addresses the recent landmark judgment of the Court of Justice on the Sch...
EP19 - The German Presidency
July 19, 2020 09:46 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBGermany has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Having had a chance to grill several German government ministers in committee hearings, Clare and Mick give us the lowdown on what to expect in the next six months of politics in Brussels. Presented by Damien Thomson.
EP18 - The Wallace Report
July 11, 2020 11:40 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBClare and Mick explain tough calls on haulier's rights this plenary week in the monolithic Mobility Package of legislation. Our MEPs discuss the successful completion of a progressive "Wallace Report" at the environment committee, recognizing how the climate crisis affects the Global South. Also: what is it with the European Parliament's obsesssion with regime change in Venezuela? What do Clare and Mick think of the new Irish cabinet? And what is Mick's book of the week? Presented by Damien ...
EP17 Nutri-Score, EU Defence Spending and the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen
June 30, 2020 13:45 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBAs the moment of truth approaches for the formation of an Irish government back home, Clare and Mick discuss the enormous defence spending at the EU, the visit of the Director of the World Health Organisation to the environment committee to discuss COVID-19, the publication of the annual Europol Terrorism Report, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
EP16 - Make Austerity Green Again?
June 22, 2020 09:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBHot on the heels of the June plenary Clare and Mick compare notes on the big votes of the week, including their motion on the Black Lives Matter movement, the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement, and yet another human rights debate on Hong Kong. And, as the Green Party membership gears up to vote on whether to form a coalition with Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael, our MEPs get down to brass tacks with the joint Programme for Government. Is it the green revolution it's cracked up to be or...
EP15 - Black Lives Matter
June 08, 2020 11:21 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBBesides looking at arms exports in the security and defence committee and the environmental impacts of European agricultural policy, Clare and Mick speak about the uprisings against systemic racism stateside and worldwide, the murder of George Floyd, the brutal crackdowns by militarized police, and the poor response from the European Union's foreign affairs minister Josep Borrell.
EP14 - Never A Dull Moment
May 31, 2020 11:04 - 1 hour - 70.3 MBAs the lockdown gradually eases, the Commission is unveiling a hodgepodge of plans and work is furiously underway to scrutinize them all. Clare and Mick break down the highlights of a busy week at the European Parliament: state aid rules and bail outs; food sustainability and big farms; public private partnerships and corporate lobbying; how the EU enables the settlement of the Palestinian territories; the rule of law during the pandemic; and the EU's flawed COVID-19 economic recovery plan. B...
EP13 - Europe Day
May 22, 2020 10:53 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBClare and Mick discuss European exceptionalism and the real values of the European project. What is going on with coronavirus tracking apps and why are they a threat to civil liberties? Why is the EU fast-tracking bailouts for airlines but overlooking workers rights? What is Europe doing in the Sahel region of Africa and why are the Irish Defence Forces involved? Tune in to find out, share, like and subscribe. Happy Europe Day!
E12 - A Week In The European Parliament Under Lockdown
May 15, 2020 14:18 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBClare and Mick discuss parliamentary dress codes, propaganda efforts by the European External Action Service and the work they have been getting up to over the last week in their seven parliamentary committees.
EP12 - A Week In The European Parliament Under Lockdown
May 15, 2020 14:18 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBClare and Mick discuss parliamentary dress codes, propaganda efforts by the European External Action Service and the work they have been getting up to over the last week in their seven parliamentary committees.
EP11 - COVID-19 and Social Care with Jane Johnstone
May 08, 2020 11:09 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBIn the eleventh episode, disability and autism activist Jane Johnston tells Clare and Mick how the pandemic has impacted carers and the people they care for, and gives her thoughts on what’s included in the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael joint framework document. Presented by Damien Thomson, political adviser to the GUE/NGL group. Thanks for listening! 👂
EP10 - Discussing Venezuela with Medea Benjamin
April 29, 2020 11:58 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBClare and Mick interview Medea Benjamin of Code Pink about the ongoing media and sanctions war being perpetrated against the government of Venezuela. They discuss the increasingly aggressive US state department moves on the international stage, the impact of these regime change operations on the ground, the role of the EU, and modes of resistance to the imperialist war machine.
EP9 - Europe at a Crossroads: the week in review
April 28, 2020 17:21 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBClare and Mick are back with a quick round-up of the week in politics at the European Parliament. Whether it's about the deterioration of the rule of law in member states or hiking defence spending while cutting health budgets, the coronavirus continues to place the European Union at a crossroads. Our MEPs tell Damien about their work across each of their committees, and how things in Brussels are shaping up while most of the EU is in lockdown.
EP8 - Prisons and Prisoners
April 16, 2020 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThe reports from the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality mentioned in the episode can be found at the following links: Report on Penal Reformand Sentencing (May 2018) Report on Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process (December 2019)
Clare Daly: Address to Easter Rising Commemoration Ceremony at Sligo Cemetery
April 13, 2020 11:40 - 10 minutes - 9.17 MBA video of the ceremony, including a speech by Councillor Declan Bree, can be viewed here.
EP7 - Economics of the Pandemic with Emma Clancy
April 10, 2020 11:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBEmma Clancy's report, Discipline and Punish: End of the Road for the EU's Stability and Growth Pact can be found here.
EP6 - Solidarity Me Arse!
April 08, 2020 14:40 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB“We’re all in this together” is one of the mantras we’ve read and heard most over the last month in dealing with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. But are we really? In episode 6 of I4C Trouble Clare and Mick take a closer look at modern day solidarity and some of the issues that would suggest not all individuals, businesses and Governments are in it together. Kindly presented by Damien Thomson, political adviser to the GUE/NGL group. Thanks for listening! 👂
EP5 - Propaganda and Sanctions against Iran with Ali Alizadeh
April 05, 2020 13:36 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBIn this episode of I4C Trouble we have our very first guest - Iranian-British writer and anti-war activist Ali Alizadeh. Our MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace talk sanctions and Iran, with attention to the current coronavirus crisis. Alizadeh invites us to rethink what we think we know about Iran. Is Iran just a “rogue state” or is this term part of a prolonged campaign to delegitimize Iran? Kindly presented by Damien Thomson, political adviser to the GUE/NGL group.
EP4 - Solidarity, Sanctions, Migration and Privacy during COVID-19
April 01, 2020 13:46 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MBIn the fourth episode of I4C Trouble, MEPs Daly & Wallace continue to delve into some of the key issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, chief among them the failures of the EU to show solidarity, internally and externally. They look at the genocidal effects of US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela during the crisis, discuss the worsening situation and abuses of rights in migrant camps on EU borders and warn that the government's emergency response to COVID-19 could very easily become a power gr...
EP3 - Pandemic, NAMA and Aviation
March 26, 2020 16:32 - 50 minutes - 46 MBIn the third episode of I4C Trouble, MEPs Daly & Wallace are in Brussels to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its effects during the European Parliament's emergency plenary to deal with the crisis. Wallace discusses the Irish government's controversial decision to quietly publish the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on NAMA during a public health crisis. Daly speaks about the historic impact of the pandemic on the transport sector, airlines' demands for bail-outs, implications...
EP2 - COVID-19, Refugees in Greece, and the Rapporteurs
March 13, 2020 13:52 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBBack with their second episode of I4C Trouble, MEPs Daly & Wallace discuss the pressing topic on everyone's minds: the global coronavirus pandemic and the emergency response in Europe. They examine the Greek government's illegal suspension of asylum law on the border with Turkey, the EU response and the wider geopolitical context. Finally, they explain how Parliament's committees work on files, and speak about two important files they have responsibility for. Kindly presented by Damien Thoms...
What Happens In Brussels
March 06, 2020 14:52 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBIn the debut episode of I4C Trouble, MEPs Daly & Wallace discuss their previous eight years of work in the Irish Parliament, the move to Brussels and their experience so far of the European Parliament. The failures of mainstream political reporting are a serious problem for the public's understanding of what's going on at the centre of power. But what can be done about it? Kindly presented by Damien Thomson, political adviser to the GUE/NGL group.
EP1 - What Happens In Brussels
March 06, 2020 14:52 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBIn the debut episode of I4C Trouble, MEPs Daly & Wallace discuss their previous eight years of work in the Irish Parliament, the move to Brussels and their experience so far of the European Parliament. The failures of mainstream political reporting are a serious problem for the public's understanding of what's going on at the centre of power. But what can be done about it? Kindly presented by Damien Thomson, political adviser to the GUE/NGL group.