IRELAND has been told to make real reductions in carbon dioxide emissions at home rather than trying to buy its way out of our commitments.

THE country’s drinks industry and the Minister for Finance is looking forward to a prosperous Christmas after the European Court of Justice threw out a case suggesting mail-order booze could be duty-free.

RUSSIA is threatening to ban Irish and other EU meat imports from January in the latest twist in a complex political game centred around energy.

TRAFFICKING of men, women and children for the sex trade or other exploitation is not a crime in Ireland — the only EU country where it is not illegal.

CHILDREN need greater protection against increasingly violent video games hitting the market, the European Justice Commissioner warned.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen will not be able to negotiate with US airlines to over-fly Shannon before the EU reaches agreement on an open skies deal, according to the European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot.

EUROPE is being flooded with fake medicines, the EU warned yesterday.

IRISH planning authorities can continue to charge an administrative fee for making a submission on planning applications and appeals involving environmental impact assessments, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

IRISH people have become smaller and fatter in the past three years, gaining weight despite 25% being on a diet, according to the latest survey of food and obesity.

IRISH mobile phone users are paying some of the highest prices in the EU when they call home from abroad — but most refuse to switch off or change to cheaper locally-purchased SIM cards.