Proinsias de Rossa

This article is part of the MEPedia project of Spinwatch.

Proinsias De Rossa, MEP

Proinsias De Rossa (born 15 May 1940, Dublin) is an Irish MEP from Labour Party. He is a member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

• Nothing to declare.

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Proinsias De Rossa voted against the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions. He stated that "[the Commission, Council and the Member states] were over influenced by Microsoft" and "adopting an unbalanced approach ... would have favoured Big Business."
• He was the only Irish MEP to vote in favour of the Data Retention Directive (the report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the retention of data processed in connection with the provision of public electronic communication services and amending Directive 2002/58/EC), passed in November 2005.
• To the anger of many Irish people, he voted for the Lisbon Reform Treaty, and against the motion ‘The European Parliament undertakes to respect the outcome of the referendum in Ireland,’ on the grounds that "The Lisbon Reform Treaty provides a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights which places new obligations on the European Union to resepct the rights of European citizens." "Irish citizens ... need assurances that the misleading claims on Lisbon by the 'no' camp on the Commission, on abortion, on conscription, on military neutrality, on workers' rights and public services have no basis in fact."
• He voted in favour of the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• He voted in favour of the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment. The directive was in the end rejected.
• He voted in favour of the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amandment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.
• He voted in favour of the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• He voted in favour of the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• He voted in favour of the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• He voted in favour of the amendment on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession (A5-0105/2004). The report objects to extending the life of the nuclear power stations in Bulgaria.

Affiliations

• Chairman, Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council [See]
• Member, Conference of Delegation Chairmen
• Member, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
• Substitute, Committee on Development
• Substitute, Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly

Former Affiliations

• Member, Committee on Petitions
• Substitute, Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• Leader, Democratic Left Party (1992-2002).
• President, Irish Labour Party (2002-2004).
• Vice-President, Party of European Socialists (1999-2004).
• Member of Irish Parliament (1982-2002).
• Minister for Social Welfare (1994-1997).
• Member of the European Constitutional Convention (2002-2003).
• Member of the European Parliament (1989-1992 and since 1999).
• Vice-Chairman, Committee on Petitions (1999-2004).
• Member of Trade Union Coordination Intergroup.
• Member of Disability Intergroup.
• Member of ATD Fourth World Intergroup.

Contact

Address:

Bât. Altiero Spinelli

12G146

60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

Phone:

+32 (0)2 28 45681

Email:

proinsias.derossa@europarl.europa.eu

Website:

http://www.derossa.com

References

• European Parliament, Daily Notebook on Patentability of computerised inventions, 24 September 2003, accessed 26 January 2009.
• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Proinsias De Rossa, 07 January 2009, accessed 22 January 2009.
• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Proinsias De Rossa, 20 July 2009, accessed 14 October 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Proinsias De Rossa, accessed 26 January 2009.
• European Parliament, MEPs debate on Climate change, economic crisis and Lisbon Treaty, 03 December 2008, accessed 26 January 2009.
• European Parliament, Minutes on Data Retention, accessed 26 January 2009.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
• Indymedia Ireland, "European Parliament insult to Ireland," 20 February 2008, accessed 26 January 2009.
• Labour Europe, "Proinsias De Rossa explains why he is voting Yes," 10 June 2008, accessed 26 January 2009.
• Proinsias De Rossa, "Software Patents," 07 July 2005, accessed 26 January 2009.
• Tuppenceworth, "Data Retention: How Your MEPs Voted," 15 December 2005, accessed 26 January 2009.