AS EU ministers inched towards agreeing the Services Directive in Brussels, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said the draft law was a missed opportunity.

HEALTH is one of those areas jealously guarded by EU member states, who insist it must stay out of the clutches of the European Commission.

EUROPE must have a single market in services for it to compete globally.

Irish companies are now investing as much money abroad as foreign firms plough into Ireland, it emerged today.

SIPTU has given a guarded welcome to the outcome of the European Parliament vote on the controversial EU Services Directive.

THE controversial Services Directive cleared its first hurdle when the European Parliament voted for it by a clear majority.

The European Parliament has voted through a controversial directive aimed at opening up the services market across Europe.

FEW bodies set out to design a horse and end up with a camel as effectively as the European Parliament.

UNION members from across the EU converged on Strasbourg yesterday to protest at the Services Directive, which proposes to liberalise the European services market.

The IMPACT trade union has mounted a protest outside the Dáil to highlight its opposition to the proposed EU Services Directive being debated by the European Parliament this week.

The European Parliament is due to vote this week on a controversial new law designed to introduce more competition in the EU services market.

WITH Irish people borrowing like mad, the Central Bank risks being portrayed as ‘crying wolf’ following yet another warning that the housing market is in danger of overheating.

Health services in Ireland must not simply be provided by the cheapest EU contractor, it was claimed today.

EUROPE’S €105 billion a year budget hung in the balance last night as EU leaders settled in for a long night of negotiations.

Thousands of workers are to march on the Dáil today to voice their anger over the controversial redundancies at Irish Ferries.

Four of the country’s most senior trade union leaders united today to urge support for a protest against redundancies at Irish Ferries.

Moves by Irish Ferries to replace employees on its vessels with cheaper staff from overseas could be a glimpse of the future for workers across Europe, a union chief said today.

EU COMMISSIONER Charlie McCreevy stood his ground before the European Parliament yesterday and insisted he would not be frightened into keeping quiet about matters he felt strongly about.

JUNIOR Health Minister Tim O’Malley yesterday condemned the manner in which New York plastic surgeon Dr Michael Sachs was able to advertise his services in this country to attract patients.

A COURT ruling on Monday, ordering Ryanair to pay compensation to three Belgian flight attendants, is being used by both opponents and supporters of the controversial EU draft Services Directive.

THE likelihood of Europe agreeing the new constitution took a turn for the worse yesterday with the French being the latest to join the no camp according to a poll.

CHARLIE MCCREEVY has never baulked at taking on the role of David when faced with a Goliath – whether the giant be party leader, the EU or a powerful German Commissioner.

THE European Parliament yesterday approved the reshuffled 25-member European Commission, ending a political showdown over objections to the team.