THE Government has contributed to people’s negative perceptions of the EU by frequently blaming it for problems, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

IRELAND had the second highest inflow of immigrants per head of population in the EU in the heady days of a booming construction industry two years ago.

MEMBERS of the European Parliament were divided over whether to encourage Ireland to ratify the Lisbon treaty in time for next June’s elections.

ALMOST 90% of stocks in European waters are overfished because neither fishermen nor the authorities are observing EU rules.

FISHERMEN are facing further serious cutbacks in the amount and species of fish they can catch next year under European Commission proposals.

IRELAND’S healthcare system has improved slightly over the past year, despite our cancer patients facing the longest wait in Europe for treatment.

IRELAND is one of the most vulnerable countries in the European Union when it comes to energy supply and must diversify to ensure supplies for the future, the European Commission says.

IRISH troops in Chad will swap their EU hats for blue UN berets when the UN takes over from the EU’s peacekeeping mission there next March, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea has said.

AUDITORS reporting on the EU’s accounts for its €114 billion budget warned they are unhappy about €7bn paid out for rural development and to help poorer regions.

EU leaders agreed a set of principles they will put to next week’s summit of the world’s richest and emerging economies on restructuring the global financial system.