Posts Tagged ‘ Member of the European Parliament ’

20 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon

October 1, 2009
By Stephen
20 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon

I got sent this list the other day, but due to events I am only posting it now. They are under a few caetgories and are linked! Democracy: I’m voting YES because Lisbon will give more power to the MEPs that I elect. (Articles 14 and 294)- More info: http://short.ie/24iwh2 I’m voting YES because I like the idea that when all of our governments meet and discuss things that affect me, they should do it in the open (Article...

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How will “Liberal” Fianna Fail react to its Liberal Allies?

August 1, 2009
By Stephen
How will “Liberal” Fianna Fail react to its Liberal Allies?

If I was in the god-bothering wing of Fianna Fail I would be very annoyed with the actions of some Fianna Fail’s allies in the European Liberal Democratic and Reform Party. One of the members of this party Brigitta Ohlsson (of the Swedish Liberal People’s Party) has along with a few collegues from the UK Liberal Democrats ( Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP), the Dutch Democrats 66 (Sophie in ‘t Veld) and the Danish Det Radikale Venstre (Lone Dybkjær) have...

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ECRG Down to the Minimum – Already?

June 24, 2009
By Stephen
ECRG Down to the Minimum – Already?

It looks like the European Conservatives and Reformists Group is in a bit of bother today due to decision of Finnish MEP Hannu Takkula to remain in the ALDE grouping according to NewsRoom Finland. Jon Worth thinks “some people in the party must have applied pressure” on him to remain in the ALDE. This leaves the ECRG at the bare minimum of representation with MEPs from 7 member states. On Monday there were talks of other MEPs joining....

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PES Name Change?

June 11, 2009
By Stephen
PES Name Change?

Image via Wikipedia So the new European Parliament is going to be a bit of an Alphabet soup. According to The Lobby blog the Party of European Socialist Grouping in the Parliament is going to change its name to the “Alliance of Socialists and Democrats” or ASDE for short (Not to be confused with ASDA). So why the change? The name change is to suit the Italian Partito Democratico who in the last parliament where split between PES and...

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The end of the Ind/Dem Grouping?

June 10, 2009
By Stephen
The end of the Ind/Dem Grouping?

The Independence/Democracy grouping had a rough campiagn and lost a few MEPs including their co-leader. But will they exist as a political grouping in the next Parliament? To form a grouping in the European Parliament you need a minimum of 25 MEPs from at least seven member states. After last elections the Ind/Dem were left with 18 MEPs from four member states. They are: UK: 13 UKIP MEPs Greece: 2 Popular Orthodox Rally MEPs Netherlands: 2 Christian Union MEPs...

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Eve of Election Prediction

June 4, 2009
By Stephen
Eve of Election Prediction

So Predict09 have their final prediction up. They have the European Groupings as follows: EPP: 262 seats PES: 194 ALDE: 85 UEN/EC: 53 Greens-EFA: 50 EUL/NGL: 40 Ind/Dem: 23 Non-insrcit: 30 So the EPP will be the largest party by far in the next European Parliament. So Barroso is safe enough I would say. Looking at Ireland, they are predicting no major changes in the line up. They have the parties on the following (the increase is in realtion...

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The Greens want more the our Fair Share

May 27, 2009
By Stephen
The Greens want more the our Fair Share

While watching the Green Party Election Broadcast on IrishElection.com there was one line that jumped out at me. “We should get more the our fair share of these Green Jobs” (not sure if its an exact quote, so open to correction) Why should Ireland get more then its fair share? Why can’t we be happy with our fair share? These days the European Union is a Union of 27 states. That means any funds, programmes, and whatever has to...

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7 Irish MEP Candidates sign the ILGA Pledge

May 18, 2009
By Stephen
7 Irish MEP Candidates sign the ILGA Pledge

ILGA-Europe (International Lesbian and Gay Association – Europe) have a petition for MEP candidates on its website. ILGA-Europe is calling upon candidates for the European Parliament elections 2009 to sign this pledge to promote equality and to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in their role as member of the European Parliament. The 7 Irish MEP Candidates are: Nessa Childers (Labour – Ireland East) Pronsias De Rossa MEP (Labour – Ireland Dublin) Mary Lou...

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[Think 09] Could the Elections finish Cowen?

May 11, 2009
By Stephen
[Think 09] Could the Elections finish Cowen?

Image via Wikipedia Originally posted on the thinkaboutit.eu blog Ethan’s post about the fact that the European Election could be another nail in the coffin for Gordon Brown, got me thinking could it be the same in Ireland to the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen . In fact an article in on the Irish Independent’s website wonders the same thing. In the last election in 2004 Fianna Fail lost two MEP’s and 80 Councillors, this time out they could...

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CandidateWatch: My First Question!

May 7, 2009
By Stephen
CandidateWatch: My First Question!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife So I finally asked my first question on CandidateWatch. I asked the following to Ireland South’s Independent MEP Kathy Sinnot: Do you think that Ireland should withdraw from the European Union? The reason I ask this is that you are sitting in a European Parliament group with UKIP who believe that the United Kingdom should leave the Union. Ill post the response when I get it. Incidently the first question asked to her...

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