If there is any precedent for such an "Explanation of Vote," the precedents must be few.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this is the first explanation of vote which I have given in many years and my first explanation of vote as chairman of the EPP-ED Group. EPP-ED Group
Madam President, I do not want to prolong the discussion, but an explanation of vote means, I am explaining why I voted in such and such a way.
But as explanations of voting must be submitted before the report is fully discussed in the House, it is often the case that a written explanation of voting is submitted, if it is known, for example, that the vote is to take place at Thursday lunchtime.
The fact that the vote on the total ban on the destructive research of embryos (Amendment No 86/3 by Mr Fleming), has... (Explanation of vote abbreviated in accordance with Rule 137(1) of the Rules of Procedure).
You are going to look into it but I am not sure how if you do not actually know who is here so that you can compare them with who has made an explanation of vote.
However, I do not believe that participation in this procedural debate is absolutely essential in order to justify my submitting a written explanation of vote, because, as I have already mentioned, I did take part in the vote, and the procedural debate did not take place until after we were called to vote on the report by Mrs Magda Aelvoet.
Madam President, I should like to suggest, to be on the safe side, that none of those who have submitted an explanation of vote is entitled to do so, because it has been proved that none of them was present here in the Chamber, and this was not checked at the time.
By means of this explanation of vote, I want to express my anger and very deep disappointment at the fact that the European Patent Office can deal with a question about life itself in such a totally and indefensibly careless and negligent way.
Is it actually permitted for explanations of votes to be given by people who have not even taken part in the vote?
That concludes the explanations of vote.
