Marian Harkin, Independent MEP for Connacht/Ulster, today defended her attendance record, as it emerged Irish MEPs had one of the lowest rates of any representatives.

Ireland's 13 MEPs have an attendance rate of 88%, which is the sixth lowest of the 25 member states. Ms Harkin turned up least regularly of the Irish members, at 74%, while her constituency colleague, Fianna Fáil MEP Sean O’Neachtain had the highest record at 95%.

Ms Harkin, who is also a Dáil deputy, said the statistics analysing the sign-in sheets did not reflect how much work a member of the European Parliament did.

"All that’s required is to walk down the corridor, go into the parliament, sign your name.

"You don’t have to sit down, you don’t have to say a word, you don’t have to do anything, and you can just walk out again," she said.

"So this isn’t really about people’s work rate or anything like that, it doesn’t affect what they do or their impact on legislation.

"All this tells us is somebody spent 30 seconds walking into the parliament and putting their name down on the sheet of paper," she added.

A ringing endorsement for the EU, eh?! Are people really surprised at this? Politicians in this country, by and large, are gangsters. They're wasters looking for an easy ride.

They're not to be trusted!

# posted by United Irelander @ 5:22 PM