A PLAN to ensure taxpayers would never again have to bail out banks has been put forward by the European Commission.

NEW mothers would be entitled to 20 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay and fathers would have two weeks’ paid leave under proposals passed by the European Parliament.

IRELAND and other eurozone countries will be fined in future for breaking budget rules, but the country is also facing a possible referendum as France and Germany say they want even stiffer penalties.

NEW EU rules that will closely guide eurozone governments’ management of their economies were agreed by finance ministers in Luxembourg last night.

FREEMASONS from Grand Lodges and Grand Orients of eight countries came together for what was described as “an unique gathering in the world” by EU president Herman Van Rompuy.

THE EBS Building Society may be asked to curtail its business activities as part of its restructuring plans to justify keeping the €875 million it received from the state.

THE economic crisis is taking its toll on Irish people with fewer feeling happy compared with four years ago.

THE prime minister of the country fast becoming the new master of the universe, China, called off his joint press conference with the EU in Brussels during the week, when they refused to ban a number of journalists from attending.

BANKS are under-taxed in the EU, but new proposals to levy their activities could raise as much as €25 billion a year, the European Commission says.

FORMER EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has resigned from the board of a fledgling British bank after being told it would conflict with his old role in Brussels.