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TWO IRISH MEPs have voiced their frustration at not being able to take their place in the European Parliament due to the Brexit impasse.
On Friday, European Ambassadors postponed a decision on how long to delay the UK’s departure from the European Union. It was envisaged that Britain would leave the EU on 31 October.
Barry Andrews, a first-time candidate for Fianna Fail in Dublin, and Deirdre Clune – a sitting Fine Gael MEP re-elected for the Ireland South constituency – were due to take the seats they won in May when the UK left the EU.
However, the date for Britain leaving the EU looks set to extend beyond the end of October and the pair say they are in limbo until a date is confirmed.
‘Frustrating’
A European Parliament spokesman has confirmed the two MEPs have no formal or informal position, expenses or facilities until the UK leaves the European Union.
Under EU law, 751 MEPs, including 73 from the UK, were elected following the European elections in May.
Eleven Irish MEPs were elected – four from Midlands North West, four from South and three from Dublin.
The elections were conducted with an extra seat in the South and Dublin constituencies, but the winners of those two seats cannot take their place in parliament until the British MEPs leave.
Andrews said in the meantime he has been keeping busy with speaking engagements and voluntary work.
“Obviously it is frustrating from a personal standpoint,” he said.
However, I would be happy to encourage patience on all sides of the Brexit debate and discourage Brexit fatigue.
“It is obviously not in my interests to say that but it is in the national interest and it looks as if we are reaching an end point to the Brexit process and it is no longer a question of if they will leave, but when. There is not a lot we can do until we get that final clarity.”
Clune won the last seat in the Ireland South constituency following several days of recounts.
“Back in May, we thought we would be good to go in October but all we can do is wait,” she said.
“It remains to be seen if there will be a general election in the UK as well.
It is an unprecedented situation. It feels like being in limbo because you have been declared elected but you can’t take up your seat and now we are still not sure when exactly we can take them.
“There is no point getting uptight or annoyed about things that are totally out of my control.
“There is a new commissioner coming in November and that is when the real work begins. There are 27 people in this situation around the EU waiting to take up a position so we’re all in the same boat.”
Clune said she is lucky because, unlike Mr Andrews, as a former MEP she is entitled a “transitional allowance” ie her full salary.
“I am doing a course in corporate governance in University College Dublin and I have been keeping on top of reading files about all that is going on in the European Parliament as you would when you are a MEP,” she said.
I don’t have to travel so if there is one silver lining it is that my alarm clock is not going off so that I can catch the flight to Brussels.
All the UK MEPs were due to leave the European Parliament on 31 October but this remains up in the air until an official leave date is announced.
“Until that point, there is no legal basis for the European Parliament to attribute any particular status to these two individuals,” the European Parliament spokesman said.
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Paying back a loan, which is charging interest, whilst having cash on deposit, which is earning none.. is madness. Savings are a great idea, but not if you have debt at a much higher cost
The coat keeps coming up, and regardless of what you said to me if I was your partner / husband, you would get a coat and to be honest, more than one coat, also I would not be letting you eat into your savings to pay bills etc, I really don’t get that, partner / married, your in bed together with everything,
@Mick Hannigan: Surely we have moved on from a husband / partner “letting” a woman make spending choices, or thinking that he should be able to.
@Cara Maguire: regardless of who in the relationship male or female, you help, support each other, one should not struggle because the other is having a hard time struggling to get by, I would not be happy with my wife struggling with what she brings in also she would not be happy if it was me, you support each other at all times, a coat should not be an issue, by what the article says, it really seems to be, also the savings is going down, it is clear in the article it’s a worry, the partner is working, surely the partner can offer up more support, I know she said she doesn’t really want the money from the partner for the coat, but that says to me something is wrong there imo, for me it’s all in together and it really does not seems that way reading between the lines, just my opinion,
@Mick Hannigan: I agree but in fairness he did offer to buy the coat and also it doesn’t mention what he earns. Totally agree with your point do, it’s a partnership as a couple
@Mick Hannigan: Thanks for the response Mick. My comment wasn’t about the coat or joint decision making or relationship at all. It was specifically a response to the use of the word “letting” an adult make a decision. Language matters.
@Cara Maguire: your just getting caught up with words, it was a point I was making, the world is gone mad, I will never get through the week without saying something that someone can break it down and come up with a problem with it, no more then anyone else can, the guy who offered the money for the coat should have talked to her, and got her to take the money for the coat, she was more afraid she had to pay it back, that is the problem, as for the word “letting”, it would be nice if people read the comment for what it meant in the overall context of things instead of trying to make an issue out of it,
@Mick Hannigan: “you’re getting caught up with words”. But words are all we have when commenting online – language definitely matters when we don’t have any additional context like body language, expression, tone etc
Keep going boss things will come good i promise
Agree fully with the advice to clear the loan balance from savings immediately. Will be one less outgoing a week and frees up cash flow. While savings will take a temporary hit, they are dipping in to them every week as it is and still paying the loan, savings are being hit either way. Short term pain for long term gain by clearing now. Can still save each week if the repayment itself is cleared. Also, this idea of still paying half of everything even though income is lowered, can’t afford a coat due to bills etc, tbh the other half should be stepping up a bit more there if in a position to take more of the load at the moment. It is a partnership at the end of the day.
Get a coat from your Charity Shop!
@Desmond Lyons: It’s closed. We’re in lockdown, haven’t you heard?
@Em Gee: that’s a strange name you’ve got!
Bit worrying that he/she is dreading the meeting and that it’s a bit tense. Surely the environment should be supportive and ‘charitable’ – they’re working for a charity ffs.
This lady should forget about working in the charity shop and start writing a cookery book or work in catering she’s making me hungry with all the lovely food she’s cooking
@Helen Rafferty: I was thinking the very same! The food is imaginative (more so than my brain allows me) and sounds delicious!
Take the money your husband kindly offered and buy the coat, life is much too short
Yes clear the loan with the savings which aren’t for a rainy day as you obviously won’t buy a coat with it.
Why pay a weekly payment with interest when you have the money sitting there to pay
Put on your new coat and go for a nice carefree walk
Be happy
Yes, the “Partner” thing is strange to me, for a whole lot of reasons, death, breakup and all those legal nightmares. If I were her, I would have the necessary documents to insure that my interests were taken care off. Loans will always keep you poor, so change your ways, please. For expensive items and to get a coat that would normally cost a whole lot, I go on resale sites. Plus, you need a good mac to go over it! You are a good lady.
Your doing great. Splitting costs between you and hubby wouldn’t be for me, ye are in it together. My advise for the cost – just buy it. I paid 200 for mine in October and I live in it. It’s waterproof and so warm. You won’t regret it
As for the job, you do work hard so definitely look around when Covid is over. There is plenty of evening courses (usually in September) you can always up skill in the evening time. Do your research now and be ready in September. Canada is great. If ye could afford to do it, rent out your house for a year , that gives ye tome to decide while enjoying life over. Best of luck
This lady should forget about working in the charity shop and start writing a cookery book or work in catering she’s making me hungry with all the lovely food she’s cooking
This lady should forget about working in the charity shop and start writing a cookery book or work in catering she’s making me hungry with all the lovely food she’s cooking.
Why is the the salary before tax not stated? Only the net salary is given. we don’t know anything about the distribution of the couples tax credits nor other deductions. The journal needs to ensure consistency across these articles.
Buy a cheap poncho to keep your existing coat dry. It will tide you over until you save for a new one but no coat is waterproof.
Your paying 200 plus on a car loan and 600 plus on a credit union loan, why don’t you combine these and pay once to the credit union?
2nd comment. Am I reading that right that you have 4000 in savings in the credit union, but your paying nearly 700 a month? How much do you owe? You can’t afford to pay 700 a month. I know your trying to clear it early, but I would look at the payment plan. Get that down to 400 a month or less and put 150 into your shares. Build up your savings till you have enough to clear your debt then clear it. Your throwing money away. And you have management experience?
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