The euro-sceptic UK Independence Party could become “the first force” in next year’s European elections, the President of the European Commission said today.

Euro-MPs this afternoon challenged EU leaders to drop their austerity budget plans for Europe and boost spending for the next seven years.

Conservative leader in the European Parliament Martin Callanan has urged EU politicians to put economics before politics and let Greece ditch the euro.

A new operation aimed at targeting gangs of travelling criminals who are responsible for an 8% rise in burglaries nationally has got under way, according to Garda Commissioner Martin Callanan.

Ireland’s decision to hold a referendum was greeted with disbelief and dread in the EU among politicians and public servants, with the greatest fear being that it will open a Pandora’s box of other countries seeking a vote also.

The eurozone crisis was facing fresh turmoil today after the credit worthiness of France and eight other eurozone nations were downgraded by a leading ratings agency.

French finance minister Francois Baroin went on television to admit the downgrade was ``bad news'' but insisted it was not ``a catastrophe''.

David Cameron should resist any pressure on Britain to take part in a bailout for Portugal, the Conservative MEP leader said today.

A top-ranking Garda officer was today appointed to a newly-created role in charge of driving reform of the force.

THE woman who helped kidnap her daughter was jailed yesterday, but Christine O’Sullivan said the case is not closed.

By Dan Buckley