Mitchell banking on report

Ireland came last in a report on what EU countries are doing to match their fishing fleet to the amount of fish that can be safely taken out of the sea.

Car owners are facing annual NCT or MOT checks on cars over five years old while technical checks for scooters and motorbikes will be introduced for the first time under EU proposals.

Moving and shaking on a sticky issue

Ireland has an ally in refusing to increase its low corporation tax rate, with Cyprus insisting it must not be forced to raise its rate as a condition of its bailout.

Cyprus, the fourth country to apply to the EU for a bailout, expects Russia will agree to give them a loan without conditions, according to Cypriot president Demetris Christofias.

A full public debate on whether Ireland should impose a €500m transaction tax on bankers and derivative trading is essential before the Government rejects the idea, Labour MEP Nessa Childers has said.

The European Parliament has rejected a global agreement against copyright theft, handing a victory to protesters who say the legislation would punish people for sharing films and music online.

Higgins in the driving seat over buses

Ireland has effectively been handed a second chance to write the terms of the bailout.