17 Facts About Brian Crowley

Brian Donal Crowley was born on 4 March 1964 and is an Irish former Fianna Fail politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament for the South constituency from 1994 to 2019.

Brian Crowley served as a Senator from 1993 to 1994, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Brian Crowley received a diploma in law in 1993 from University College Cork.

Brian Crowley is a wheelchair-user as a result of an accident at age 16.

Brian Crowley retained his seat at the three subsequent elections.

Brian Crowley was a member of Ireland's Council of State from 1997 to 2004, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the delegation for relations with the United States.

Brian Crowley served as a substitute member of the Committee on Legal Affairs.

Brian Crowley 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.

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.

Brian Crowley was co-president of the Union for Europe of the Nations until 2009, when Fianna Fail joined the ALDE group.

In June 2011, Brian Crowley refused to release details of his expense and allowance claims as a member of the European Parliament.

Again in July 2011, Brian Crowley declared to Fianna Fail party colleagues, that he was available to run for the presidency, but had been advised by party colleague Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea not to seek his party's nomination.

From 2011 to 2013, Brian Crowley had trouble with sores on his legs arising from his paralysis.

Brian Crowley lost the Fianna Fail party whip on 24 June 2014.

In June 2018, the Irish Examiner reported that Brian Crowley had not voted in the Parliament since his re-election on 2014.

Brian Crowley did not cast a single vote in the 2014 to 2019 session.

On 17 January 2019, Brian Crowley announced at a news conference that he would not seek re-election in the European elections in May 2019, and would be retiring from public life.