Parliament turns from retirement home to nursery

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 role of MEP is often thought of as the ultimate gravy-train for politicians, but it is fast becoming a nursery for new entrants rather than a retirement home for those at the end of their career.

French President François Hollande, his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, the current prime ministers of Greece, Denmark, Belgium, and Malta, and the British deputy prime minister are all graduates of the European Parliament.