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Updated 14.33
DUBLIN MEP PROINSIAS De Rossa has announced that he will step down as a Member of the European Parliament in February.
In an unexpected announcement, the 71-year-old Labour MEP said he had been “privileged” to represent the electorate in both the Dáil and in Europe. He gave no reason for his stepping down.
Dublin councillor and former Lord Mayor Emer Costello is likely to fill his vacated seat.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore paid tribute to de Rossa and praised his “outstanding record in public life”. He said that he had been “a great friend and colleague, and on a personal level, was a real inspiration to me when I was first elected as a TD”.
In a statement, de Rossa, the former leader of Democratic Left, thanked the electorate for its support.
“Since 1982, I have been privileged to represent the people of Finglas and Ballymun in the Dáil, and more widely the people of Dublin in Europe,” he said.
“I wish to thank the electorate for that opportunity and for their support in the 11 elections I have successfully contested since ’82, and indeed in the 4 elections I had previously unsuccessfully contested”.
He said that his work in politics had been motivated “by a desire to change society for the better”.
“My work as a public representative for 30 years, and before that my 25 years as a grassroots political activist, has always been motivated by a desire to change society for the better. I have dedicated all my energies to the pursuit of peace and the elimination of poverty and inequality through peaceful change, and the deepening of democracy”.
“These are matters on which I will continue to be active”.
He thanked members of the Labour Party, Democratic Left and The Workers’ Party, as well as “countless NGOs and civil society organisations, whose driving motivation was and is the achievement of social justice”.
“Their selfless commitment to a better society and the basic common sense of the Irish people are the main reasons I am optimistic for the future of Ireland and our place at the heart of the European Union”,” he said.
More on this to follow…
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A highly committed political activist who has endured the low wages and perks of the EU for over 16 years. Who was a key drafter of the highly successful EU treaty and who called for the Irish people not be allowed have a vote for it. A defender of every down trodden working man from Kevin Cardiff to Kim Jong IL.
He’ll be sorely missed. As missed as that funny growth on my arm that the doctor removed 2 years ago.
A comment worthy of a golden globe funny how he and his buddies strive for the poor and oppressed in the avalanche of expenses claim forms.
Nepotism again but Joe Costello Gilmore Rabbite ect forgot their roots
I must send this to a fellow called Frank Ross and it’s worth a google to.
why is there always such bitterness with politicians and money – change the record
Of course nothing to do with the act that retirement lump sums due AFTER February 2012 wil be taxed as income.
Knew there was something suspicious about it. Thanks for reminding me.
He has been ‘privileged’ as have all politicians with the ridiculous amount of money they get for doing such a rubbish job. What a shame we can’t get Gilmore, Howlin, Quinn, Shorthall and Rabbitte to follow him out the door.
Why those five? Disappointed leftie or rabid rightie?
Are you not aware the are saving us as we don’t understand these things these are our all seeing all knowledgable who scoff at the bond markets
Where would we be without them
It is Joe Costelloe’s wife, Clllr Emer Costelloe who is going to replace him as MEP. You might know her, her sister was recently made a judge.
Best quotes from Politics.ie on this topic. Calling the above family “Grabit and Costelloe” and a summary of his career as
“Things to achieve 1000
Things achieved 0
Career Grade: Epic Fail
Bertie stole his stutter
Labour stole his socialism
He’ll be sniping Palestinian children in Gaza by Christmas..”
Are you kidding? It can’t be that shame facedly nepotistic surely, not from the conscience of government, the smoked salmon socialists?
As I said above, Emer Costello was first choice of Labour Party members in the election held to decide the list of co-options held in 2009.
I forgot to add that Mary Moran, who was nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad is another sister of Emer Costelloe.
As for Tom Cos, an advisor to a Lab. TD. Well, is it just me or does he look like a certain man named Joe.
i see a career in politics for you Tim!
@Tim Henchin
What or who someone looks like is a pathetic argument. Tom is perfectly correct in what he says, it might not be a good system or even a particularly acceptable system but it is the system we have and she got the nod.
No disrespect to Tom Cos. A fine cut of a man. My ref. to his looks only extends to that Tom Cos. sounds like short for Tom Costello. Tom works for a Lab. TD as an advisor. Just wondering if he is another Costello on the state payroll to Joe Costello. So it is relevant.
If you look at the names from Labour and the Spring Tide. You see the same blooming people still there 20 years later. Look at the RTE show on its history.. There are still prominent people from the start in the 60′s still on the payroll, an awful lot of them started in the 70′s. People get in to rolls here, and they atrophy. They never have to change ideas, change plans, change anything. They get stuck in the bubble. There is no fresh talent, no new brooms. Just stasis and decline. It’s Dev all over again – a feature of Irish politics from 1916 to 1973.
Hmm, I wonder why Emer Costello is being chosen to replace him? Emer, who was originally co-opted onto DCC to replace Joe Costello…
New Politics.
Because her name was submitted on the official B-list
He got a full time job offer from Kevin Cardiff?
For much of his career in public life, de Rossa was a defender of the underprivileged in Irish society and a champion of the liberal agenda.
He deserves much credit for this.
However, his recent defence of Kevin Cardiff was shameful and contrary to every principle he once held.
This single act will forever, in my mind, stain the record of one of the major figures of the Irish left.
er why is Emer Costello replacing him, should there not be a by-election to see who should replace him?
Europe doesn’t have by-elections. Its a list type system, similar to how we do it on the council.
MEP spots, like council seats, are replaced without by-election.
If we had a by-election you’d be complaining about the cost. We don’t so you’re complaining about the efficiency.
Actually Labour Youth, I’m complaining about the nepotism that outweighs meritocracy in Irish politics. Her sister was appointed a judge by the government recently. I’m sure that was coincidental to the strong family support for the Labour Party, now that they have such things in their gift.
And maybe the efficiency of not having a by-election will save the same amount Labour and Fine Gael ministers are over paying their special advisers, also a bunch chosen for their sheer ability – party credentials an incidental aside.
Perhaps I’m criticising the cushy, lazy and rotten system of Irish politics? The same system Labour was criticising when it was Fianna Fail doing the feather bedding.
No doubt he is returning to save us from those terrible evil people in the IMF
Should the people who elected him not be given a chance to choose who replaces him or is it just a nice little earner sorry political arrangement ?
Socialism has always been the politics of envy. Many on the left want a house in Rathgar, a SUV or two in the driveway, four ‘breaks’ a year (holiday is a vulgar common word), and education for their children in a fee paying school preferably one not of the parents denomination. To achieve theses aims, a high flying career in the public service, politics or as a lawyer with a handle on the public purse gravy train is essential. Only then, when they have all that in place, can they afford to be socialists.
Absolute bollox. Look at the countries that are all growing and that are bailing us out. They are all strong social democracies, much stronger welfare states and support than Ireland has, much more equitable societies.
Just ask any poor bugger who paid well over a million for a 3 bed in Rathgar, now worth 2/3rds less and whose SME has gone to the wall, if he is living and loving the PD economic dream.
Great guy
How many pensions will he be collecting??
Yeap the use the same hairdresser
Bye Bye Prunner, your constituents won’t even know you’re gone.
have your say