MEP Brian Crowley
IRELAND’S three Fianna Fáil MEPs have stood over their decision to abstain from a key vote in the European Parliament this week, against the wishes of their new group, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The Liberal group was pushing for new legislation to guarantee media pluralism, because of concerns that Italy and some other EU countries might only have “partially free” media. But Munster MEP Brian Crowley, along with his Fianna Fáil MEP colleagues Liam Aylward and Pat “the Cope” Gallagher, failed to back the party line. As a result, the motion was defeated by just a handful of votes.
Mr Gallagher, leader of the Fianna Fáil delegation, said they abstained as they did not want to meddle in the internal affairs of other member states.
“It’s a long-standing view we have in Fianna Fáil that we should not interfere with domestic matters in other countries, and I wouldn’t want to change that,” he said.
The move has landed the MEPs in hot water with their new group, prompting Mr Gallagher to admit that he should have warned of their decision ahead of time.
“It was possibly my fault that I didn’t flag it in advance but even if I did, we would still have abstained,” he insisted.
Why on earth are these people in the EU Parliament ?
Brian Crowley has a history of standing back from giving opions on contentious issues. The logic seems to be ‘ why alienate potential voters ‘.
So the European Union is just there to protect the free movement of people and money, not to protect the fundamental rights of the freedom of information of its citizen, regardless of their origin?
Well said Claudio !
I hadn’t realise the infuence exerted by the Berlusconi party on both FF and FG.
Looks the Blue Shirt mentality is alive and well in Ireland still and has mutated so that it has affected FF as well. This is a shameful abdiction of their moral responsibility
Typical of FF always willing tp pander to the rich and powerful and always willing to treat ordinary people with contempt/ And Brian Crowley thinks he is fit to be President of this country.