And now for something completely different, we take a look at some of the lighter stories from the happenings of the European Union.

Looking around Bill O’Herlihy’s office raised an immediate question.

Measuring how much water is used by households is a basic pre-condition under EU rules, but how much to charge for water is up to the Government, according to the European Commission.

The Irish appear to have discovered an unusual secret to living longer according to a comprehensive study of European countries health systems.

Independent and Sinn Féin members of the European Parliament defended themselves against accusations of not “putting on the green jersey” in Europe.

An Irish MEP is calling for the roll-out of water charges to be suspended until a proper system is in place.

A defiant Phil Hogan, newly confirmed as the EU’s Agriculture Commissioner, repeated his threat to sue MEP Nessa Childers for defamation, demanding that she withdraw her accusation that he discriminated against a Traveller family in Kilkenny.

Former minister Phil Hogan can expect a baptism of fire when he faces a grilling from members of the European Parliament this morning in Brussels on his suitability to become agriculture commissioner.

Members of the European Parliament have been assured they need not fear court action from Commissioner designate Phil Hogan if they ask him questions about his alleged actions in the past.

Enda Kenny isn’t the only one having his commitment to "new politics" questioned these days. Look at poor Phil Hogan, who thought he had sailed away from all that stuff, into the lucrative waters of the EU Commission.

Legal warnings, including a threat of court action against an Irish MEP, from Ireland’s Commissioner designate, Phil Hogan, is threatening to become a major issue at his parliament hearing next week.

There have been renewed calls for an overhaul of the Vat system after complaints that lapdancing clubs are paying less than Irish dancing schools.

Independent MEP Nessa Childers has said the nomination of Phil Hogan as Ireland’s Commissioner-designate is a step backwards for equality and told the European Parliament’s second largest grouping of MEPs that she has serious reservations considering his appointment to the Commission.

The rise and rise of Sinn Féin — due in no small part to girl power — continued last night with the election in the South constituency of Liadh Ní Riada.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan’s bid for a Dublin European seat failed after Independent MEP Nessa Childers made a surprise comeback and relieved Fine Gael minister Brian Hayes managed to cling onto the third and final seat.

Eamon Ryan's bid for a European seat in Dublin has failed.

Counting will resume in Cork and Castlebar this morning as efforts to elect four MEP's in Ireland South and Midlands North West continues.

Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan has been elected in the Dublin constituency European elections after the third count.

Independent candidate Nessa Childers has lodged a formal complaint with RTÉ alleging bias in its reporting of the European Election campaign.

The past is a different country for Nessa Childers.

A new opinion poll shows fights for several seats in the European elections.

Gilmore is safe for now, but a drubbing at the polls could reignite the debate, says Political Editor Mary Regan.

In the first of two articles marking the 70th anniversary of the infamous American Note, Ryle Dwyer examines the bogus issues surrounding the controversy

Parties of the left, including Sinn Féin, will be the largest single group in the next European Parliament, taking power from centre right parties that include Fine Gael, according to the latest poll.

Independent MEP Nessa Childers is calling on the Health Minister James Reilly to abide by his medical ethical obligations and to refuse to implement any more health cuts.

Presidential campaign hits a snag

It goes without saying that Vat is no laughing matter, but some of the rules are a joke — take, for example, the 0% Vat that hiring a limo attracts, while, on the other hand, hiring a wheelchair will cost you an additional 23%.

Another change on cards for Childers

Labour MEP Nessa Childers has written to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore confirming her resignation from the party.

Childers challenges fracking regulations

Ireland East MEP, Nessa Childers, is calling on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to press strongly at the G8 Summit for a new international taxation framework.

The Taoiseach has been accused of jeopardising new EU tobacco laws by holding secret talks with industry representatives.

IT IS difficult to imagine now the intensity of the controversy that was stirred by the Treaty oath, or the fact that history could have ignored for so long that it was Michael Collins who essentially proposed that oath.

The resignation of Nessa Childers from the parliamentary Labour Party focuses public attention on the complete absence of legitimacy of Labour Party and Socialist Party representation in the European Parliament.

Eamon Gilmore has defended his leadership of the Labour Party amid questions raised about his tenure by frustrated party members.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore suffered a fresh blow as an MEP quit the party and accused him of seeking to “hurt people”.

The resignation of Nessa Childers from the Parliamentary Labour Party is likely to fuel further uneasiness within that party.

MEP Nessa Childers has said she felt it would have been "morally corrupt" of her to stay in the Parliamentary Labour Party.

MEP Nessa Childers has said she believes the Labour Party could be "completely destroyed" by its involvement in the current Coalition Government and may "never come back again".

Nessa Childers has resigned from the Labour Parliamentary Party.

A Labour MEP has branded the bailout deal for Cyprus an "incompetent mess" and says that it has destabilised the Eurozone.

A Labour MEP has revealed she is disturbed by some of her party’s austerity measures in Government.

The Department of Finance has rejected a proposal from the funds sector in the Financial Services Centre to create a new corporate funds structure in Ireland, warning it could damage the country’s tax reputation and be frowned upon by other EU countries.