Leaked documents from Europe’s car industry suggest it got valuable information from the European Commission that allowed it to weaken emission tests despite the thousands of premature deaths caused by emissions.

A deal that puts the big tobacco companies in charge of preventing cigarette smuggling was like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse, the European Parliament and the World Health Organisation have warned.

MEPs from Ireland have recorded the joint fifth highest level of correcting voting errors in the European Parliament.

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.

Since Sunday March 2011, over four years ago, a small group of determined people have marched every week in protest at the imposition of private bank-debt on the Irish people.

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

Revisions to the rules on changes to maternity leave have run aground on the issue of paternal leave and full pay for maternity leave, writes Europe Correspondent Ann Cahill

As an elected representative of the Irish people to the European Parliament I would like to distance myself from the remarks of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in relation to how the new government of Greece should progress in its debt negotiations with the EU.

President Michael D Higgins has accused politicians of abandoning democracy and leaving people to the mercy of credit rating agencies.

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.

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

When he was elected to the European Parliament in May, Brian Hayes decided to immerse himself in a new environment, reports Europe Correspondent Ann Cahill

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

Team Juncker roared past the finishing post in the European Parliament, right on schedule, promising to present a €300 billion plan for investment, growth and jobs within six weeks.

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.

Pints of beer, trays of chicken wings, RTÉ news on the TV. It was a typical Irish celebration of an election victory. Except that it was in Brussels.

Phil Hogan is taking questions from the European Parliament in Brussels this morning - as he attempts to secure the EU Agriculture Commission job.

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.

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

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.

From a minister who looked in danger of being washed away in a flood of Irish Water controversies to the brink of becoming Europe’s €60bn man, it has been quite a year for Phil Hogan.

Phil Hogan has been confirmed as the new European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in the 28-member Commission named by president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this morning.

Former Environment Minister Phil Hogan could find out today which job he is getting in the new European Commission.

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 Taoiseach Enda Kenny is in Brussels today for a special meeting of the European Council to discuss international developments in Ukraine, Iraq and Gaza.

During the recent European elections, Fine Gael candidates wouldn’t answer the following question: what will happen to the €300,000,000 the Central Bank gets when it sells the first of the promissory note sovereign bonds later this year. Will that money be destroyed?

Members of the Ballyhea Says No campaign are to meet the Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan today to discuss Ireland’s debt burden.

Phil Hogan faces an uphill battle in his bid to become the next European Commissioner.

WHERE did it all go wrong? The government elected with the largest majority in the history of the State hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of being re-elected.

Counting in two of Ireland's European Parliament constituencies is resuming around now.

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.

Beaten European parliament candidate Eamon Ryan has said that he and other party candidates will consider running in upcoming by- elections after the Green Party leader failed to win a seat in Dublin.

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.

A second day of counting in the European election gets under way today with a former minister awaiting a recount in a battle for a seat.

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