Several people are considering contesting the presidency but need to declare their intentions in the coming weeks, Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath says.

Tobacco companies are working through the courts and lobbying the European Commission to roll back rules on smoking that have taken years to bring into force, Children and Youth Affairs Minister James Reilly has warned.

Lobbying by big tobacco interests will continue to take place in the shadows the European Commission has said, in defiance of recommendations by the EU’s ombudsman.

Ireland could be exposed to the practice of euthanasia in the not-too distant future, European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has warned.

EU officials were guilty of maladministration because they failed to be “open” about meetings with tobacco company lobbyists, the European Ombudsman has found.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Anti-racism organisations in Ireland are naturally concerned for the welfare of Walli Ullah, an asylum seeker seriously injured in Wednesday’s riot at Cloverhill prison in Dublin.

A five-judge Supreme Court has unanimously rejected arguments by the National Assets Management Agency that it is not a public authority subject to freedom of environmental information requests.

A five-year battle by Nama to prevent details of its loans and properties being provided under environmental information law ended in defeat at the Supreme Court yesterday.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Whistleblowers are still not protected in most EU institutions, more than a year after they were told they must introduce rules.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Letters tell us more about the bailout story, writes Europe Correspondent Ann Cahill

After three years of asking, the famous Trichet letter finally saw the light of day, write Gavin Sheridan and Fred Logue.

The ECB could publish the now notorious letter it sent to then finance minister Brian Lenihan on the eve of the bailout as early as next week.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Several events over the last few days showed how, and probably why, so many of us have become disengaged from the political process despite the unattractive consequences of that indulgence. As this disengagement accelerates it leads to a growing disenchantment that, like it or not, can only be resolved by engagement.

Stamping out conflicts of interest

The ECB may release documents including a missing letter relating to Ireland’s bailout once the bank stress tests are finalised, according to a source.

Thousands of students from every corner of the country are beginning their first year at college. Arlene Harris talks to four people at the top of their field to find out how they got to where they are today, and what advice they would give to first year students.

Almost nine years ago, on the night of November 2, 2005, Patrick O’Kelly, a 61-year-old security guard, fell from his bed in the then Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where he was being treated for a suspected stroke. Within hours of that accident, his family was summoned to his bedside to be told that Mr O’Kelly was dying.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on a key issue in an appeal by Nama against a decision that it is a public body subject to public access requests for environmental information.

Representatives of some of the world’s biggest corporations and institutions are among Ireland’s most powerful women, according to an awards ceremony organised by the Women’s Executive Network.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he is not aware of any legal concerns expressed by the ECB regarding the disclosure of a letter sent by the bank to the late Brian Lenihan in the run-up to the 2010 bailout.

Irish politicians have played a storied role at the heart of Europe, but their influence is waning and work is needed to address an impending fall-off in top jobs, writes Mary C Murphy.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

Ireland’s Ombudsman has attacked bastions of secrecy inside the public service who, he said, were resisting right-to-know laws.

Ireland’s new Ombudsman has attacked bastions of secrecy inside the public service who he said were resisting right-to-know laws.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

The Supreme Court yesterday began hearing an appeal by Nama which centres on whether the agency is a public body and subject to public access requests for environmental information.

A European parliament committee has written to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney seeking an explanation for why his department is continuing to ignore a critical ombudsman’s report.

Enda might still abandon Mick and Ming

The refusal by the European Central Bank (ECB) to release a letter sent to the late Brian Lenihan in the run-up to the bailout in 2010 “wasted an opportunity for fairness and transparency”, according to the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly.

A family that was denied compensation from a shortlived Government scheme when a father of eight and his son died off Donegal was the kind of thing expected in a Third World country and not a member of the EU, the European Parliament was told yesterday.

Socialist MEP Paul Murphy spoke forcefully in the European Parliament during the week against homophobic attitudes in Ireland.