October 22nd2009
MEP Brian Crowley
Via Eurolink
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.
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October 15th2009
MEP Brian Crowley
Via Eurolink
An EU plan to streamline the handling of wills involving foreign property will not in any way interfere with Irish inheritance law, MEPs said this week. It follows a proposal by the European Commission to introduce an “EU succession certificate” that will be recognised in all 27 member states. This document will enable the heir or administrator of a will to prove their status in any European country. The other main change being put forward is to allow people writing their will to decide which national law will apply to their inheritance, be it their native country or the country in which they own property.
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September 24th2009
Sean Kelly
VIA EUROLINK
ANTI -Lisbon campaigners have been accused this week of deliberately ignoring a key feature of the Lisbon Treaty that protects small member states during voting procedures.
Groups including Sinn Féin, Cóir and the UK Independence Party are claiming that the redistribution of voting weights in Lisbon is pitched in favour of larger countries and will lessen Ireland’s power to influence EU decision-making. However Munster MEPs have criticised the ‘No’ campaign this week for ‘only telling half the story’. Read the FULL STORY or leave a COMMENT »
September 24th2009
Brian Crowley
VIA EUROLINK
A GLOSSY eight-page leaflet sent to every home in the country claiming to reveal the truth about the Lisbon Treaty ‘should be put in the shredder’, said Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness this week.
Irish MEPs have united to harshly condemn the eurosceptic brochure, published by a group fronting for the right-wing UK Independence Party.
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September 21st2009
Brian Crowley
CORK MEP Brian Crowley has said that claims by Coir and Sinn Fein that Ireland’s voting weight will be reduced under the Lisbon Treaty are highly misleading.
“The new double majority voting system is more transparent and places smaller countries like Ireland on an equal footing with the larger states.
“This means Ireland will have the same voting weight as Britain, France and Germany. It does this by introducing two elements to the voting system which requires a 65 per cent majority of the EU’s population and a 55 per cent majority of EU member states.
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