Scottish MEPs this afternoon hailed a major victory when a call to end all new drilling for oil in European waters was overturned in the European Parliament.

A LONG-awaited Oireachtas report into the November floods crisis has called on the Government to consider removing the ESB from managing the country’s dams — but has failed to draw any conclusions on what caused the scandal.

The introduction of a controversial £1 (€1.20) toll for dropping off passengers at Belfast International Airport prompted calls today for a Stormont investigation.

THE Oireachtas investigation into last November’s floods crisis, which devastated Cork city and caused over €100 million worth of damage, is expected to be published next month.

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has not ruled out an independent inquiry into the response to the torrential flooding and severe weather conditions that crippled the country in recent months.

The North's Environment Minister could face a legal challenge over his withdrawal of protection for an ice-age site in Co Tyrone, it was warned tonight.

Euro-MPs today backed tough climate change targets despite warnings from industry that Europe must dilute its ambitions because of the economic recession.

The US government has declared the polar bear a threatened species because of the loss of Arctic sea ice but also cautioned the decision should not be viewed as a path to address global warming.

FARM leaders have criticised European Commission changes to the payment system for the new Rural Environment Protection Scheme — REPS 4.

The family of two firefighters killed battling a blaze at a disused factory have employed an international team of experts to probe the tragedy, it emerged today.

A Kildare based firm was today fined £15,000 (€20,137) for polluting a river in the North while laying down the cross-border gas pipeline.

The only private sector proposal on the table for a controversial visitors centre at the Giant’s Causeway still has a number of issues which need to be addressed, Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster said today.

DANGEROUS chemicals in everyday products must be replaced — when available — with safer alternatives, MEPs decided yesterday.

THE dairy industry has warned that proposals for energy price increases would put it under intolerable strain.

Farmers today accused a Dáil committee of double standards after it refused to tackle complaints about toxic red mud ponds in Limerick.

THE Dáil will be asked later this month to invoke a rarely-used power to compel cement multinational CRH to appear before an Oireachtas Committee.

AN accident at Sellafield nuclear station would contaminate Ireland’s environment but the country would not suffer deaths and devastation on the scale of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, it was claimed last night.

A 13% rise in ESB charges would be unacceptable to farmers, ICMSA Farm Services and Environment Committee chairperson Lorcan McCabe has claimed.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) yesterday said it will resist any attempt by Teagasc to increase fees for services provided to farmers.

A delegation of MEP's is expressing concern for the future of the European Food and Veterinary office at Grange in Co Meath.

Children could be the first to suffer any health risks which may be linked to the vast numbers of telecommunication masts being erected across Northern Ireland, it was claimed today.