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The Left welcomed the new Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan to their group after her election last night. Alamy Stock Photo

Sinn Féin to rejoin with The Left group in EU after ambiguity around decision

Groupings in the European Parliament allow for MEPs to easily come to consensus.

SINN FÉIN WILL rejoin The Left, also known as GUE-NGL, grouping in the European Parliament, after some ambiguity over their membership during their election campaign.

Incumbent Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus told The Journal in April that his party would not be considering a move from The Left but, during the election campaign, the party’s candidates did not disclose which group they would join when asked.

Groupings in the European Parliament allow for MEPs to easily come to consensus, find common group and help to determine the type and level of representation of political ideologies in the EU.

  • You can find out more about grouping here.

The size of the groups in the Parliament also set out the number of seats that will be allocated to them at committee level – where the majority of the legislative work and key-positions, such as lead negotiators (or rapporteurs are they’re known in Brussels) are up for grabs.

  • Find out more about the role of an MEP here.

The tactic for parties withholding their decision is not uncommon, as often the candidate might not want to commit to a group that will leave them with very little legislative power after the results of the entire election are announced.

In The Journal‘s pre-election candidate database, MEP-elect Lynn Boylan said: “If I am lucky enough to be elected in June, depending on the make up of the next Parliament and what groups are successfully formed, I will be joining the group that is best aligned with my values.”

But today, a day after Boylan was elected to the Dublin constituency, The Left group posted a picture to X, formerly Twitter, welcoming her and Sinn Féin to the group ahead of the next term in the EU.

The Left in the European Parliament have managed to maintain their seats in Brussels after the expected shift to the right did not come to pass as once thought.

Though right-leaning groups have increased and The Left expected to lose just one seat, their mandate could shrink as there are 15 additional seats in this terms’ Parliament.

This work is co-funded by Journal Media and a grant programme from the European Parliament. Any opinions or conclusions expressed in this work are the author’s own. The European Parliament has no involvement in nor responsibility for the editorial content published by the project. For more information, see here.

 

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    Mute TOP CAT
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 7:51 AM

    I hope the Dog is ok???.
    I presume he was given a Tetanus shot after biting them $cum….

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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:24 AM

    That’s what these dogs are trained to do in unruly situations. Protecting their handlers is a natural instinct and to do the job that they are trained to do.
    I hope that the dog isn’t punished and put down or carted off to some unknown place and used as a ‘guard dog’ to patrol some dump!

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    Mute Vera Dawber Power
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:14 AM

    ‘ Atta Boy….good doggie. LOL .

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    Mute Brian Bass
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:05 AM

    Ruff day at the office

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    Mute The Animal
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:12 AM

    Bite first…. Ask questions later….!

    98
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    Mute Joe Hill
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:56 AM

    Imagine what the poor staff are subjected to on occasions like that reported. Maybe they should all be issued with a police dog?

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    Mute Paul Devlin
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 10:38 AM

    People in the south don’t know how lucky they are not having to deal with thousands of these marches every year. Fascist nutjobs and their pisshead hangers on cause chaos everywhere they go and everyone has to put up with it because it’s supposed to be traditional. These people are less than 10% of the population but they hold everyone else hostage. Total joke!

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 11:32 AM

    Flegs and marches and buckfast and drugs. Sure it’s their TRADITION!!!

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    Mute CPC7
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 8:35 AM

    ‘Dog bites man’, not a story. ‘Man bites dog’, now that would be a story…

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 11:48 AM

    “Man bites dog” is a film…… dark dark film

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    Mute Caolán McKenna
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 10:02 AM

    Incidentally the media are not mentioning that yesterday was the ‘start’ of the marching season, so thousands of drunken loyalists were probably roaming the streets. And I love when they say the start of the season as if we ever get even a month’s break from the drivel.

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    Mute ipsum oleum
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 10:11 AM

    Is the incident out on video yet ? Its always so disappointing when you see police dogs in action on TV and they aren’t allowed to bite the bum off a crim.

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    Mute John Ward
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 10:05 AM

    A snap decision, I presume!

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    Mute AICS (Steve Tracey)
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 5:46 PM

    The only real question is were those bitten taking part in the disorder or just caught up at the start and hadn’t time or opportunity to get away. If first then good, it’s not a news item. If the latter then possibly questions should be asked ref the control the handler had on his/her dog.
    Be very surprised if they were innocent as generally muzzles don’t come off until its clear that innocents are cleat and dogs are kept close to the handler and a distance away.

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    Mute Frank
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    Apr 22nd 2014, 10:00 AM

    II hope they sue the police for damages.

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