Health issues have meant that Crowley, who is confined to a wheelchair after falling off a roof aged 16, has been virtually absent from Parliament since 2011. That didn’t stop him from successfully seeking reelection in 2014, or from refusing to give up his seat despite growing concerns about his ability to do his job, including complaints from the person who would replace Crowley if he stepped down. Crowley has yet to cast a vote in the current parliamentary term. Crowley caused controversy at home in Ireland when in 2014 he left the ALDE Liberal group of his Fianna Fáil party to join the European Conservatives and Reformists group. Via a spokesperson, Crowley said he is working at his office in Cork, Ireland, “on various constituency work.”

Political group: European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)

Country: Ireland

Position: Member of Committee on Legal Affairs

Age: 54

Return to the full listing of the 20 MEPs who matter, for the wrong reasons or read an explanation of what this ranking means.