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.

EUROPEAN Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is preparing to insist the Government changes the VHI’s favoured status in Ireland’s health insurance market.

SHOULD the bombing of Dresden be considered a war crime? Maybe — but none of the 27 EU Justice Ministers were asking when they toured the city this week.

UP to 30 whale species, a string of bats, the Kerry slug, otters and the natterjack toad should have a better chance of survival after the European Court of Justice ruled Ireland must take better care of them in future.

THE debate on the European Constitution was reignited at a summit of EU leaders yesterday.

THERE will be no more big bang enlargements of the European Union and in future countries will be admitted one-by-one, EU leaders have agreed.

EUROPEAN Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is threatening to take the Government to court over the favourable conditions it allows the VHI to operate to the detriment of BUPA.

CRIMINALS throughout Europe will find it increasingly difficult to hide from their past as EU Justice Ministers have agreed to swap information between member states.