Paddy Wants To Know Brexit

We're joined by political scientist Marcel Dirsus, an expert in Russian and East European Affairs, to unravel the Russian dolls and make sense of poisoning, gas and fake news.

We begin by mapping out the relationship between Russia and the European Union

[03:00] The alleged poisoning of Sergei Skripal and whether Russia is to blame

[06:45] Disunity within the European Union over Russia

[10:17] Sending a message on assassinations but not on property

[15:39] EU-Russia power balance post-Brexit

[17:07] A bluffer's guide to Nord Stream II and Russian gas

[19:21] RT and Fake news

For more on Marcel, see his website - http://www.marceldirsus.com/

Or twitter - @marceldirsus

In the podcast this week the guys talk us through the transition agreement struck between the UK and the EU. The whole document can be read [here](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/draft_agreement_coloured.pdf).

In the second half of the show we talk to Allie Renison who is the head of Europe and Trade Policy for the Institute of Directors. You can follow her on Twitter @AllieRenison. 

We've provided an annotated version of the interview below for those of you hungry to know more!

13:28 Allie talks about what a trusted trader is. For more info read this article from the [Irish Exporter Association](http://www.irishexporters.ie/blog/what-is-trusted-trader-status/).

19:30 Find out what rules of origin means [here](https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/roi_e/roi_info_e.htm).

20:10 Read the Labour Party Customs Union position here and compare it to the IoD position [here](www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43189878).

23:22 Why is agri food regulations a particular concern? This [link](https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/news/2016/brexit-concerns-for-irish.php) is helpful. 

25:59 We talk about customs officers and the scale of investment necessary to patrol the border in a political non contentious fashion here. Some of the issues discussed can be read in the smart border report 2.0 [here](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2017/596828/IPOL_STU(2017)596828_EN.pdf). 

33:39 We talk about the opportunities that Brexit presents. 

39:49: Are the UK actually cunning in negotiations or simply unprepared? 

Big props to @BigDirtyFry for allowing us to use his Derry/Londonderry tune to play us out this week!

This week's podcast sees the guys look at Theresa May's speech on Brexit. Did it move the dial enough to provide a breakthrough in negotiations?

In the first half they also review the legal text of phase one of the negotiations, focusing in on the border and the UK and Brussels reaction to it.

The interview this week is with Ursula Ní Shabhaois, an Irish language activist. We hear why the Irish Language Act is holding up the restoration of the Northern Irish Assembly, whether a united Ireland is now on the agenda since Brexit, and whether or not the Common Travel Area will actually be retained post Brexit.

See an annotated version of Theresa May's speech in the Financial Times here: https://ig.ft.com/may-brexit-speech-annotated/

And a draft of the EU legal text that we discussed in phase one here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-1243_en.htm

This week's podcast sees the guys look at Theresa May's speech on Brexit. Did it move the dial enough to provide a breakthrough in negotiations?

In the first half they also review the legal text of phase one of the negotiations, focusing in on the border and the UK and Brussels reaction to it.

The interview this week is with Ursula Ní Shabhaois, an Irish language activist. We hear why the Irish Language Act is holding up the restoration of the Northern Irish Assembly, whether a united Ireland is now on the agenda since Brexit, and whether or not the Common Travel Area will actually be retained post Brexit.

See an annotated version of Theresa May's speech in the Financial Times here: https://ig.ft.com/may-brexit-speech-annotated/

And a draft of the EU legal text that we discussed in phase one here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-1243_en.htm

**Paddy Wants To Know Brexit** is a podcast that seeks to explain Brexit to an Irish audience. Each episode will address what's being happening in the preceding few weeks in the messy world of Brexit negotiations and explain how it will affect Ireland. The hosts, Brian Mahon, Jack Good and Niamh Mahon will then interview an someone who has something to say on Brexit, it could be anyone from an academic to a farmer, or even someone who thinks Brexit is a good idea.

This week's podcast looks back on phase one of negotiations and asks 'did Ireland get a good deal from the first round of negotiations?' Some of use are not convinced it will hold. The gang also discuss the internal politics of the Tory party and their attitude to Brexit overall.

Later in the podcast the guys interview Paddy Brussels, our EU source, who seems a bit confused by what a Norway plus deal would actually look like for the UK and whether it's even feasible in the first place.'

Further reading on what a Norway Plus may well mean here: [Business Insider -- Explained: EFTA, the EEA, and why even some Brexiteers are now embracing the Norway model](http://uk.businessinsider.com/efta-eea-why-hard-brexiteers-are-now-embracing-the-norway-brexit-model-2017-8)

Have a look at Barnier's much loved graph our source in Brussels mentioned here: [European Commission -- Slide presented by Michel Barnier, European Commission Chief Negotiator, to the Heads of State and Government at the European Council (Article 50) on 15 December 2017](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slide_presented_by_barnier_at_euco_15-12-2017.pdf)

**Paddy Wants To Know Brexit** is a podcast that seeks to explain Brexit to an Irish audience. Each episode will address what's being happening in the preceding few weeks in the messy world of Brexit negotiations and explain how it will affect Ireland. The hosts, Brian Mahon, Jack Good and Niamh Mahon will then interview an someone who has something to say on Brexit, it could be anyone from an academic to a farmer, or even someone who thinks Brexit is a good idea.

This week's podcast looks back on phase one of negotiations and asks 'did Ireland get a good deal from the first round of negotiations?' Some of use are not convinced it will hold. The gang also discuss the internal politics of the Tory party and their attitude to Brexit overall.

Later in the podcast the guys interview Paddy Brussels, our EU source, who seems a bit confused by what a Norway plus deal would actually look like for the UK and whether it's even feasible in the first place.'

Further reading on what a Norway Plus may well mean here: [Business Insider -- Explained: EFTA, the EEA, and why even some Brexiteers are now embracing the Norway model](http://uk.businessinsider.com/efta-eea-why-hard-brexiteers-are-now-embracing-the-norway-brexit-model-2017-8)

Have a look at Barnier's much loved graph our source in Brussels mentioned here: [European Commission -- Slide presented by Michel Barnier, European Commission Chief Negotiator, to the Heads of State and Government at the European Council (Article 50) on 15 December 2017](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slide_presented_by_barnier_at_euco_15-12-2017.pdf)