No deal agreed on FF joining Liberal group in Europe

[David Cochrane]

FIANNA FÁIL MEP Brian Crowley has insisted that no deal has been done yet on whether the party’s MEPs will join the Liberal group in the European Parliament.

He has also questioned whether Liberal policies would fit Fianna Fáil’s ethos in an interview that suggests the poll-topping MEP is unhappy about Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s recent decision to apply for membership of the European Liberal Party (ELDR).

No deal agreed on FF joining Liberal group in Europe - The Irish Times - Tue, Mar 10, 2009

[zeleneye]

I was wondering when he would do this. No surprise here.
Crowley is a nice guy but he is less liberal than the current pope.
Looks like he prefers his hotchpotch of fascists, homophobes and xenophobes to the liberals. I would imagine he also prefers being a president and prefers having an entourage of well paid staffers in the UEN group.

[zeleneye]

Here is the Euractiv article, quoted by Smith, for good measure.

[He3]

Liberal Group Leader Watson will be puzzled at this news. Maybe he should take some blame, if they do slip from his grasp.

His dire threats to Ireland over what he thinks would happen to us if we voted No again, and his attempt to swing the result by stuffing money into the Yes campaign would not impress many traditional Fianna Fáil voters.


http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...it-watson.html


http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...isbon-two.html

[zeleneye]

Nope He3, nothing to do with that.
More to do with Crowley wanting to keep his salary and that of his staff (like Secretary General Frank Barrett).
Also the fact that Crowley is a Catholic-fundamentalist and the liberals are not quite.

Why do the FFers never take part in threads on UEN. Are you proud of your fascist friends?

[He3]

The article certainly supports your take on it zeleneye.

Dick Roche says it's a done deal. How much group money will they get from the Liberals?

Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche, who has negotiated with Liberal party officials to ensure Fianna Fáil is accepted, dismissed Mr Crowley’s concerns last night, implying that Fianna Fáil MEPs returned at the June elections had no choice on the issue.

“The Taoiseach, the ardfheis and the ardchomhairle have all agreed on this, and that’s good enough for me. Our party has made a decision at the highest level to join ELDR and of course we will join the Liberal group in the parliament. That will take place after the elections,” said Mr Roche, who exchanged a few angry words with Mr Crowley at the Fianna Fáil ardfheis when the announcement was made.

[Munion]

Crowley's no liberal and is obviously not happy at us joining the ELDR.

I'm delighted. The UEN make my skin crawl.

[mccafferty cat]

FIANNA FÁIL MEP Brian Crowley has insisted that no deal has been done yet on whether the party’s MEPs will join the Liberal group in the European Parliament

Would this guy ever give it up?? He vanishes for 5 years then manufactures this same row in the months before a European election on whether FF will join the Liberals.

Crowley has been in the EP for 15 years and hasn't got a single achievement to show for it. Such was his atrocious record on disability issues, that the people of Munster elected Kathy Sinnott.

[zeleneye]

Well you don't get 'group money'. Parties (national delegations) joining a group can negotiate over positions for their MEPs and staff. Having a co-president and secretary general of the UEN group has meant FF can basically decide what terms they want for themselves. They will have limited leverage in negotiations with the liberal group. 3 or 4 MEPs is a small delegation in a large group. Long story longer, the FF delegation will have to accept a reduction in their privileges.

However, that is only part of the story. Crowley is right of Ratzinger on the moral compass - the Liberals are secularists. I think O'Neachtain is also a bit of cathofundo.

[mccafferty cat]

Brian Crowley's so-called right wing views are clearly contrived and not deeply felt, in an attempt to position himself with the FF grassroots for his laughable Presidential ambitions. The fact that he has been planning this for 15 years seems pretty pathetic.

He reminds me of people who plan their wedding years in advance, before they even have someone to marry