Brian Crowley expelled from Fianna Fáil parliamentary party
MEP Brian Crowley has been expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party after switching European allegiance.
Fianna Fáil held a parliamentary party meeting today to discuss the issue, after the Cork MEP switched his allegiance in the European Parliament from ALDE – the party of which Fianna Fáíl is a member - to the ECR.
In a statement, Fianna Fáíl said Crowley had "removed himself" from the party.
“At today’s meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, it was agreed that the ideas and principles of the ECR group and its component parties are totally incompatible with the core principles of Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party" a statement read.
“We do not believe it is in the interest of the Fianna Fáil party and its members to have any association with the ECR in the European Parliament.
“As a direct consequence of Brian Crowley's unilateral decision to join the ECR group he has removed himself from the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.”
Yesterday, the party released a statement saying the situation was unacceptable, given Crowley had run for election under the ALDE banner.
Brian Crowley had been Fianna Fáil's only serving MEP, following the recent European election.
Yesterday afternoon, he said his move to the ECR group - the European Conservatives and Reformists - would allow him to serve his constituents better.
"[It] is a non-federalist, pro-EU group who believes in giving a much stronger say to National Governments rather than to EU Institutions," he said in a statement.
"I also made this move to protect some jobs of Irish staff in Brussels, and not for any personal gain for myself, except my new Group will allow me work more effectively for my constituents in Ireland South."
