The recent announcement that Belgium is to challenge CETA in the European Court of Justice exposes yet again Ireland’s craven capitulation to the wishes of multinational corporations (MNCs), to whom successive Irish governments appear to be completely in thrall.

Following the massive widespread damage from the recent unprecedented floods, MEP for the region Luke Ming Flanagan is calling for all public representatives to work together to support the people of Inishowen and east Donegal.

This afternoon I attended a meeting on the Blue Star Programme for teachers at the European Parliament. The Blue Star Programme involves educating people in our school system on how the EU works.

Recently I facilitated a group of farmers from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) to come to Brussels, to once again engage with Commission officials on the contested issue of land eligibility for CAP payments.

What were Fianna Fáil playing at with their Private Members Bill on allowing the government carte blanche on CETA and all other such major international trade agreements? Has anyone in Fianna Fáil been paying even the slightest bit of attention to the serious concerns and objections raised over those so-called trade deals

So much for decentralisation!  So much for rural development!

Who has taken the decision to downgrade the Mayo Campus of GMIT?  As ever, and as per the closure of hospital A&Es, specialist wards, respite centres, we don’t know. 

Is there any accountability within the Department of Agriculture, from the Minister down through his officials, in respect of the shambolic debacle that is the implementation of the GLAS scheme?

The money disbursed by Bord Na Móna to local sports clubs in Kildare is nothing more than bribery, OUTRIGHT BRIBERY.

It is a horrible tactic to divide the local community and to leave those who are closest to the dump isolated.  This is as low as it gets in Irish public affairs.

Finally, some good news on the major trade deals that are now being negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of all us in the EU, the likes of TTIP (with the USA), CETA (with Canada), Mercosur (with South American countries).

Is there any accountability within the Department of Agriculture, from the Minister down through his officials, in respect of the shambolic debacle that is the implementation of the GLAS scheme?

On the occasion of the Brexit referendum I sat up through the night following the count. As the results came in from the various constituencies and what had been described as the unthinkable became the inevitable, the commentators began the discussion on the repercussions.

As the multibillion-euro farming industry has its annual showcase at the Ploughing Championships, putting its wares and products on display, there is one striking paradox surrounding the industry that must be addressed at the highest level nationally.

Prior to CETA, both Canada and the EU applied higher customs duties in the agricultural sector than in any other. The significant drop in tariff barriers instituted by the CETA will thus have the greatest effect on the agricultural sector, with zero-duties now applying to most forms of production

MEP Flanagan is calling on Minister Coveney to look again at the transitional arrangements regarding the phosphorus levels allowable under the current Nitrates Action Plan (NAP), to ease the pressure facing some of our most intensive livestock producers at the start of 2017.

I’m absolutely delighted to hear from the Minister for Education and from the President of GMIT Dr Fergal Barry, that no plans exist to close the Mayo campus at Castlebar.  This is great news....or is it?

I attended the launch of the White Paper on The Future of Europe this morning in Dublin. This was the first official airing in Ireland of the consultation process to establish where the EU will be in 2025.

The inability of your department to put in place structures to deliver vital Rural Development funds to where they are most needed exposes the lack of vision and policy direction within the Department and demonstrates indifference to our most vulnerable farmers.

Dairy production in the EU accounts around 20% of the world production. Close to 40% of the production takes place in Germany and France. The other significant producers are the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands and Italy.

MEP Luke Ming Flanagan outlines five areas where the Commissioner can intervene, concentrating mainly on ensuring that the primary producer gets a fair share of the 415 euro billion output of agriculture within the EU.

Speaking at the Committee, Luke Flanagan outlined the stark reality facing many grain farmers in the west and North West of Ireland.

Luke Ming Flanagan says current moves on farm inspections by the EU Commission are a step in the right direction.

In December 2014, in an Irish Examiner article headlined ‘MEP’S “GREEN JERSEY” FURY’, Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes – while acknowledging that all MEPs did not share the same political philosophy – is quoted as saying that “there are some issues of such significance for Ireland, they break across these ideological barriers”.

As a member of the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament (CONT, for short…) I was the Shadow Rapporteur on the 2015 Discharge for the European Commission’s EU General Budget.

You will I’m sure remember that during the negotiation process between then UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the EU, it couldn't have been any more clearly stated that restricting the freedom of movement of people was non-negotiable.

Vera Twomey is committed to doing the very best she can for her children. She is straight talking, and dedicated. To that list we can now add ‘brave’. Not since the famous condom train of 1971 has the Irish state, and its weak and backward politicians, been confronted with the ridiculousness of the denial of reality.

I'm sure ye’ve heard of Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, a man who makes Donald Trump seem like the very voice of reason. In case you haven’t, and for a little flavour, here is a recent utterance on immigration (after Hungary, with a population of 10m, was asked to accept 1,600 migrants): “Every single migrant poses a public security and terror risk… For us migration is not a solution but a problem, not medicine but a poison; we don’t need it and won’t swallow it”.