Biography

• Born on 28th November 1952 in Dublin.
• In 1974 he completed his study of Economics with a Bachelor of Arts degree; two years later he attained a Master of Arts degree and thereafter lectured at the University in Limerick. At this time a great interest in the European integration process developed, leading to the setting up of the first European degree course at an Irish university.
• From 1982 to 1986 he worked as a political reporter, presenter and journalist for the television programme ‘Today Tonight’, before changing to politics as Secretary General of the liberal ‘Progressive Democrats’ (until 1989), of which he was co-founder.
• In 1989 he was elected to the European Parliament for the first time and there joined the liberal parliamentary group. After having left his party the now independent candidate succeeded in 1994 in being re-elected to the Brussels Parliament. The Liberals thereupon appointed him to the position of deputy parliamentary leader. In 1998 he became President, an office in which he was also confirmed after the European elections in 1999.
• Following the EVP delegate, Nicole Fontaine, he was elected President of the European Parliament on 15th January 2002 (until 2004).