Brian Crowley
Brian Crowley | |
|---|---|
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office June 1994 | |
| Constituency | South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 March 1964 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
| Website | www |
Brian Crowley (born 4 March 1964) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency.[1] He was co-president of the Union for Europe of the Nations group in the European Parliament in which Fianna Fáil sat until it joined the ELDR and, by extension, ALDE. He is a wheelchair user following an accident at sixteen years of age.[2]
Biography
Crowley was born in Dublin in 1964. He received a diploma in law in 1993 from University College Cork, and the following year he was nominated by the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to the 20th Seanad Éireann.[3] At the 1994 European Parliament election he was elected to the European Parliament for the Munster constituency. He has retained his seat at the three subsequent elections. He was a member of Ireland's Council of State from 1997 to 2004.[4]
He is a member of the European Parliament's Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group in the European Parliament, which comprises 103 MEPs from 22 Member States. Crowley is a member of the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the delegation for relations with the United States. Crowley also serves as a substitute member of the Committee on Legal Affairs.
His father, Flor Crowley served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for various Cork constituencies for most of the period between the 1965 general election and the February 1982 election.
He stated in an interview with The Irish Times on 29 September 2008 that he would like to run for President of Ireland at the 2011 presidential election.[4]
On 12 February 2009, the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament approved a report drafted by Brian Crowley to extend the copyright term of music recordings from 50 years to 95 years.[5][6]
Sharon Bowles, on behalf of the ALDE Group, which Crowley's party is affiliated to [7]; said that;
" in the digital era, when the way in which recordings are distributed is rapidly changing, why should we make an irreversible change by extending a system that, at its core, still operates with contracts and a structure more relevant to physical distribution and sale? "
Crowley's parliamentary colleague from Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald said[8] of Crowley's proposal:
"I am baffled at the notion of extending the term of copyright, whether it is to 70 years or 95 years, and I am baffled by it not just because it is dubious and almost out of step with the digital age but also because, quite clearly, a move like that will primarily benefit industrial interests and not struggling artists."
Media reaction was to declare the Parliament's decision as mostly of industry benefit as opposed to performer benefit.[9]
Crowley publicly criticised the President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus, for remarks the President made while Klaus was on a State visit to Ireland.[10][11]
In June 2011, Crowley refused to release details of his expense and allowance claims as a member of the European Parliament. [12]
Again in July 2011, Crowley declared to Fianna Fáil party colleagues, that he was available to run for the presidency. [13], but had been advised by party colleague Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea not[14] to seek his party's nomination. In the context of failure to be nominated for the presidential election by his party, Crowley acrimoniously withdrew his candidature for the nomination.[15][16]
See also
References
- ^ "Brian Crowley". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Crowley tells wavering voters to hang tough". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
- ^ "Mr. Brian Crowley". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ a b "Fianna Fáil MEP Crowley says he would like to run for president". The Irish Times. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ "Music copyright to be extended to 95 years". European Parliament. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ "Extending copyright is music to major labels' ears". The Irish Times. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Extending copyright is music to major labels' ears
- ^ Czech leader in shock after EU assault
- ^ EU puzzlement at presidential election antics!
- ^ Two MEPs in President race refuse to give expense details
- ^ Crowley seeks FF nod to join race for Aras
- ^ Crowley advised against Áras bid
- ^ Another fateful blow dealt to the Soldiers of Destiny
- ^ Michael D heads presidential poll but 33pc yet to decide
External links
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Members of the 20th Seanad
- Fianna Fáil politicians
- People from County Cork
- Politicians with physical disabilities
- Fianna Fáil MEPs
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2009–2014
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2004–2009
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1999–2004
- MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1994–1999
- Presidential appointees to the Council of State of Ireland