Figures released by The Standards in Public Office Commission show that no candidates breached the spending limit of €230,000 in the recent European Elections campaign.

BRIAN Crowley, MEP, emerged as Europe’s most popular and improbable liberal in recent European Parliament elections. Among the minority of countries where European Parliament members are elected by constituency, as distinct from a list system or a combination of both, Crowley amassed more votes than any other ‘liberal’.

Officials in Castlebar have begun rechecking votes in the Midlands Northwest European constituency.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has passed the quota and been elected an MEP in the Midlands Nortwest constituency.

Ten heads of state or government and 100 ministers sharpened their political teeth in the European Parliament, giving them an advantage in EU politics, but it is a trend Ireland has not followed.

The Labour Party has pitched itself against Fianna Fáil in the battle for the last of three seats in Dublin, where Emer Costello remains its only hope of avoiding a wipeout in next Friday’s European elections.

There is cause for concern for Labour ahead of this Friday's local and European elections, with the publication of two new opinion polls.

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

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

Parliament hopefuls ready for battle

MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher and Meath Senator Thomas Byrne will represent Fianna Fáil in the European elections in the Midlands-North West region.

New rules to take some of the glamour out of smoking were passed by the European Parliament, but the industry’s massive lobbying campaign won important concessions.

Fianna Fáil has asked a leading mortgage arrears campaigner to consider running for the party in Dublin in the European elections.

A deal to reverse an allegedly catastrophic drive towards emptying the seas of fish has been agreed.

The European Parliament is the one main EU institution that still does not have a website in Irish six years after the language achieved official status.

Senior management at the Irish Coast Guard has slated parts of the first draft of a report into the service which Transport Minister Leo Varadkar is using to push through major reforms and cost-cutting rationalisation, with the likely closure of Valentia and Malin Head stations.

EU countries will be allowed to privatise their fish quota under what Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney describes as a “huge success” for the country.

Even tougher trade sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands have been demanded by the European Parliament in retaliation for over-fishing of mackerel.

Ireland’s fishing industry is calling on the EU to implement sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands following the breakdown of bilateral talks in Iceland.

MORE than 30 former ministers are in receipt of pensions in excess of €100,000 a year.

MICHEÁL MARTIN moved to pull Fianna Fáil out of a presidential election crisis and phoned party members to discuss problems about now backing a candidate for the Áras.

A new EU directive to charge truckers for air and noise pollution is being criticised by a Fianna Fáil MEP.

Emergency services on both sides of the border are this afternoon battling bog, forest and gorse fires.

Counting is underway in the by-election in Donegal South West, with Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty apparently on course to take the seat.

Counting will get underway at 9am today in the by-election in Donegal South West.

Campaigning will intensify today ahead of Thursday's by-election in Donegal South West.

DESPITE the great optimism and relief that greeted Brian Cowen’s appointment as Taoiseach opinion poll after opinion poll has recorded a relentless collapse in his support.

THE people of Donegal South-West were “not put at a disadvantage” by being left almost a year and a half without full Dáil representation, according to the Taoiseach.

THE 16-month delay in holding a by-election for the Donegal South West constituency was “so inordinate” that it amounted to a breach of a Sinn Féin senator’s constitutional rights.

“THEY gave me nothing and I owe them nothing” was how Jim McDaid summed up his relationship with Fianna Fáil back in 2007, just after he regained his seat on the party’s ticket in Donegal North East.

The President of the High Court will deliver his judgment next month on Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty's challenge over the refusal by the Government to move the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election.

The Government has indicated that voters in Donegal South-West, Dublin South and Waterford will go to the polls early next year.

The Taoiseach has said the by-election in the Donegal South West constituency will be held in 2011, but there is no specific date at this time.

Former Minister Willie O’Dea has called on the Taoiseach to move the writs for byelections to fill the three vacant Dáil seats.

THE Government has declined to clarify its position on an ongoing High Court bid to force it into calling a by-election in Donegal south west.

Sinn Féin's legal challenge to the Government's refusal to move the writ for a by-election in Donegal South West will be heard in October.

DID you happen to see the Heineken Cup final (albeit on Sky)? There was a defining moment in the second half.

THE Government has had to rely on the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle to stave off an unwanted by-election.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has said he did not wish to see the ministerial pension debate extend beyond serving members of the Oireachtas.

Six Fianna Fáil politicians in receipt of an Oireachtas pension on top of their salary are expected to surrender the pension payment today.

BERTIE AHERN has relinquished his €83,000 ministerial pension but a number of Fianna Fáil politicians are holding out as Taoiseach Brian Cowen refuses to place any pressure on them.

THE stability of the Government has been questioned by Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore following the resignation of Martin Cullen from his Dáil seat.

ICELAND’S application for membership of the EU has been given the thumbs up by the European Commission.

Minister Mary Hanafin has signalled that by-elections in Donegal and Dublin are unlikely to take place before the end of the year.