IRISH women are being paid almost 20% less than men despite being better educated, a major report on gender equality across Europe has found.

PESTICIDE residues in fruit and vegetables are being blamed for contributing to a rising rate of mental and behavioural disorders, especially in children.

IRISH teams shared in two of Europe’s most prestigious awards for work in the field of science in Brussels yesterday.

AN agreement that will revolutionise air traffic between Europe and America, cutting prices and increasing the number of flights, has been reached between the EU and the US.

EU ENVIRONMENT ministers have agreed unanimously to cut CO2 emissions by an average of 20% across the Union by 2020 in a follow-up to the Kyoto agreement on global warming.

IRELAND and 13 other EU member states facilitated the illegal kidnapping and secret jailing of terror suspects by turning a blind eye to US activities, a European Parliament report said yesterday.

SCHOOLS, old people’s homes, jails and charities could soon be receiving free fresh fruit and vegetables paid for by the European Union (EU).

IRELAND is prepared to ban the import and use of cat and dog fur in line with EU proposals, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said. The fur, often cruelly stripped from live animals, is being used in clothing and ornaments, sometimes disguised as fake fur or simply not labelled at all.

IRELAND will argue that no changes should be made to the European Constitution when Europe Minister Noel Treacy attends a meeting in Madrid today aimed at revising the treaty.

IRELAND is the only country in western Europe where deaths from cervical cancer continue to increase.