THE president of the European Central Bank Jean Claude Trichet gave a boost to confidence in the Irish economy when he said that it was absurd to imagine a euro member being a problem for the euro area.

IRISH schoolchildren report the easiest access out of 35 European countries to a range of drugs as well as alcoholic spirits.

THE head of the UN relief agency in Gaza has called on Israel to allow immediate access for supplies and aid into the war-torn region warning that up to 90% of its citizens are surviving on handouts.

IRELAND will have to keep its spending to the limits agreed with the EU, whatever the global economic situation, the EU’s economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joa-quin Almunia has warned.

A MAJOR step towards making it easier for patients to travel abroad for health treatment has been agreed by members of the European Parliament.

EU LEADERS yesterday rejected a new multi-billion euro pound bailout for eastern Europe, suggesting that additional aid be given to struggling nations only on a case-by-case basis.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen announced at the Ard Fheis that Fianna Fáil would be joining the Liberals in the European Parliament after the elections in June.

A BULGARIAN MP has called for an investigation into how his signature was on a document lodged by Libertas with the European Parliament seeking recognition and funding.

EUROPEAN Parliament members want all those purported to have supported Libertas in its bid for EU funding to be interviewed following doubts about a signatory on the application for party recognition.

WAGE bargaining at national level has improved the gender pay gap, wage inequality and in-work poverty, an EU report has concluded.