Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for a three-to-four year strategy to re-establish the potato industry in Ireland. He made the call as efforts continue at EU level to find a temporary solution to allow the movement of seed potatoes from the UK back into Ireland. Markey, a member of the European Parliament’s...Read More
Follow Wind is both Ireland’s largest and cheapest renewable electricity resource. The Irish government has a target of 5GW of installed offshore wind generation by 2030 in its Programme for Government in addition to a subsequent target of 30GW of floating wind energy. If we can handle this transition successfully, it would be the remote,...Read More
Follow Dear friend, It has been an honour to represent you as MEP for Midlands-North-West for over a year. 2021 has been challenging for us all but despite the pandemic, we have achieved a lot. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and a prosperous New Year....Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has said he is disappointed in his parliamentary colleague Ciarán Cuffe following reports the Green MEP wrote to banks about lending practices to young farmers. Markey has joined calls for clarity from the party regarding its views on agricultural investment in light of the letter. MEP Markey said young...Read More
Follow Having spent much of my adult life involved in community development and in local government, I understand the importance of support of funding for community projects. I know also that the wide array of schemes and terms can be off-putting for some and I believe that groups could benefit even more if...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed the publication of the Climate Action Plan and described the targets as challenging but achievable. Markey – a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee – said the plan will give farmers certainty and allow them to continue to produce world-class food with an...Read More
Follow Is sustainable aviation fuel ready for take-off? Irish MEP Colm Markey and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary discuss the path forward. Recorded live in the European Parliament via Zoom Webinar on 9th November 2021. Programme Colm Markey MEP – Welcome & Introduction Michael O’Leary (CEO of Ryanair) – Click here for PowerPoint slides Dr Stephen...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has secured the tabling of a number of ‘crucial’ amendments to tomorrow’s (Wednesday October 19th) vote in the European Parliament on the EU Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions (Spyraki report). The amendments are intended to add to the text agreed in the Environment Committee by recognising ways in which...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism Colm Markey has described today’s announcement by Ryanair as a crucial boost to the Irish aviation sector as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has announced plans to recruit 5,000 new staff in Ireland and the EU over the next...Read More
Follow MEP Markey calls on employers to be flexible as office return looms M50 commuter chaos could become a thing of the past if employers fully embrace remote working options for staff according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. He made the remarks as the Cabinet confirmed a phased return to workplaces from September 20th*....Read More
Follow Are you a highly motivated student or graduate with an interest in European affairs and want to gain invaluable experience working in the heart of the EU? Colm Markey MEP is hiring an intern to work in his Brussels office this September. The position is full-time and paid and the internship will last up...Read More
Follow With 55,000 remote jobs currently open across Europe, the potential for remote work to help to develop communities is immense. As a result of our experience during the pandemic, the mindset has changed and the move to remote working is now inevitable. Such a seismic change poses threats to communities across the EU but...Read More
Follow Midlands-North-West MEP Colm Markey has said the 6 billion euro European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 will provide a much-needed boost to the Irish fishing industry but more action is needed to address major challenges as a result of Brexit. Ireland is to receive some €142 million from the new fund, to be...Read More
Follow Ursula von der Leyen and Joe Biden at the EU/U.S. summit in Brussels via @vonderleyen Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed a deal at the EU-U.S. summit to suspend tariffs relating to the long running Boeing/Airbus dispute for another five years. Since 2019, a 25% tariff has been placed on €420 million worth...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has called on the EU and the U.S. to redouble their efforts to resolve a long-running trade dispute, which has resulted in retaliatory tariffs placed on a range on Irish products. He made the comments ahead of Tuesday’s EU-U.S. summit in Brussels, which will be attended by President Joe...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed further talks between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the Common Agricultural Policy. Negotiations ended today without an agreement but all sides have agreed to resume discussions in June with the aim of reaching a compromise. He commented, “Although a deal wasn’t reached this...Read More
With the EU setting out its budgetary framework and strategic priorities for the coming seven years, many programmes have changed or been given a new focus. I thought it timely, therefore, to draw together this brief guide to EU funding which gives an overview and an explanation of some of the relevant funding programmes and...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has called on the Government to introduce a new bank holiday later this year to thank volunteers for their tireless efforts during the COVID-10 pandemic. The proposal comes during National Volunteering Week and coincides with a vote in the European Parliament to approve a new EU volunteering programme for...Read More
Follow Fine Gael’s Colm Markey has said the proposed EU COVID-19 Certificate is a major step towards normality, which will save Irish jobs and reunite families. The Midlands-North-West MEP has confirmed he will be voting in favour of the plans in the European Parliament this week (Wednesday) and questioned why two of his constituency colleagues...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has described moves by some countries to alter the calculation method for allocating the €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve as an attempted ‘cash grab’ which goes against the spirit of EU solidarity. He made the comments at the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries (PECH) today (Monday) where members discussed...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has said that Ireland needs to change the conversation around post second-level education and promote alternative paths. He was speaking as the Government prepares to launch its new Apprenticeship Action Plan later this month. It comes as the CAO system faces a revamp to incorporate apprenticeships and traineeships for...Read More
Follow Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has told the European Parliament that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique opportunity to reinvent and reimagine rural communities. He was speaking during a debate on Thursday with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski on the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. Commenting afterwards, the...Read More
During Lockdown it can be hard to juggle work and childcare. Here are a few simple little things that we have been doing to keep the kids active during lockdown.Read More
MEP for the Midlands North-West, Colm Markey, has called for an end to the punitive tariffs placed on the European agri-food sector by the United States.Read More
At the moment, the optimism of having a vaccine rolled out is overshadowed by the huge increase in cases that we are witnessing across Europe. Read More
Connectivity to mainland Europe is vital. As the full implications of Brexit on hauliers and exporters becomes clear, I will work to ensure that logistical difficulties are minimised and for the provision of a variety of means of effective connection to mainland Europe.Read More
Midlands Northwest MEP, Colm Markey has warned that the civil unrest and undermining of democracy seen in the US in recent days and weeks could happen anywhere in Europe, even here in Ireland.Read More
Ireland’s newest MEP, Colm Markey, expects his experience as a former Macra president to stand him in good stead as he balances the demands of his new role with running a fulltime dairy farm in Louth.Read More
A recent report from Deloitte suggests that one third of workers will permanently work from home even after lockdown ends, with many others operating a hybrid model between home and office.Read More
Midlands North-West MEP, Colm Markey, has welcomed movement from the UK negotiators on fishing and is calling on both parties to make every effort to get a deal over the line.Read More
Midlands North-West MEP, Colm Markey, has warned of the risks of different standards emerging between Britain and the EU, particularly along the border counties.Read More
Brexit readiness for businesses and challenges to the agri-sector are top of agenda for Ireland’s newest MEP Colm Markey, who officially began working in the role today (Friday November 20).Read More
Incoming Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West, Colm Markey, has called on businesses to step up their preparations for Brexit regardless of the outcome of the future relationship negotiations. Mr. Markey’s comments come as talks between the EU and the UK reach their final stagesRead More
