European Parliament
Richard Howitt (PSE ). –
Mr President, under Rule 19(1) of the Rules of Procedure, I would ask you to rule on an issue relating to the proper conduct of parliamentary business. According to the screens, one of the groups in the European Parliament has scheduled a press conference this afternoon on a subject that Parliament is now voting on, and is seeking to criticise Members of the European Parliament by giving it the title: ‘Parliamentary autism’.
I do not wish to comment on the substance of the press conference, but would ask you to rule that using a disability as a derogatory term is an act of discrimination against disabled people. I would ask you to rule that the group should withdraw that title immediately as it is offensive to people with autism.
(Applause)

