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Alain Lamassoure wants the 'old and unfair' practice of special tax deals to end

European Parliament sets sights on tax deals

It is time to put an end to the "old and unfair" practice of special tax deals for multi-nationals, according to the chair of the European Parliament's investigation committee into the Lux Leaks controversy.

Special Reports • 13 Mar 15

Brian Hayes said the terms of reference of the inquiry must be fair and balanced

Tax deal inquiry should not be 'witch hunt'

Any investigation by the European Parliament into "sweetheart" tax deals between multinationals and member states should not be a "witch hunt" against individual countries like Ireland, according to Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes.

News • 15 Jan 15

MEPs want the EU to consider ordering search engines to separate their commercial services from their businesses

EU lawmakers urge regulators to break up Google

European Union lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a motion today urging competition regulators to break up Google, the latest setback for the world's most popular search engine.

Business • 27 Nov 14

Jean-Claude Juncker said the gender balance of his commission was 'pathetic'

Juncker keen for commission to start work

Jean-Claude Juncker joked that he couldn't have a sex change to help the gender balance of his new European Commission, branding the figure of nine women out of his 28 strong cabinet as "pathetic".

Special Reports • 24 Oct 14

Brian Crowley was the only Fianna Fáil member to retain his seat in May's European Elections

Crowley angers FF by joining conservative group

Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley has left the liberal group in the European Parliament to join the political family currently hosting British Conservative MEPs, as well as a number of far right parties.

News • 23 Jun 14

Janusz Korwin-Mikke made his comments during a live TV debate

Poland investigates new MEP over rape comment

Polish prosecutors are investigating whether comments made by a right-wing politician elected this week to the European Parliament warrant prosecution for incitement to rape.

News • 28 May 14

EU leaders will consider whether to back Jean-Claude Juncker tonight

Kenny gives Juncker strong backing for Euro post

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has given his strong backing to former Luxembourg prime minister Jean Claude Junker becoming the next President of the European Commission.

News • 27 May 14

Francois Hollande said the EU had become 'remote and incomprehensible'

Hollande calls on EU to reduce its role

French President Francois Hollande has called for the EU to reduce its role "where it is not necessary" after Eurosceptic parties made sweeping electoral gains across the bloc.

News • 27 May 14

The ECB will now have the power to shut down euro zone banks deemed to be too weak to function

MEPs approve law for wind-up of problem banks

European lawmakers have signed off on new laws to make it easier to shut problem banks after long wrangling over rules for an industry blamed for triggering the economic crisis.

Business • 15 Apr 14

A number of relevant committees in the European Parliament will assess the petition

Group seeks ban on EU embryo research funding

A hearing is taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels on an initiative to oblige the EU to ban funding for activities that "presuppose the destruction of human embryos".

News • 10 Apr 14

Europe's telecommunications industry reacted angrily to the vote

European Parliament votes to abolish roaming fees

The European Parliament has endorsed a sweeping package of EU telecommunications reforms, including a much-awaited measure to end roaming charges for cross-border mobile phone use.

News • 04 Apr 14

Clashes between gardaí and a number of anti-austerity protesters outside the venue

Protest as EPP congress opens in Dublin

Around 2,000 delegates have attended the opening day of the European People's Party congress at the Convention Centre in Dublin.

News • 06 Mar 14

The fund aims to help people who are homeless move into permanent accommodation

MEPs endorse anti-poverty programme

The European Parliament has endorsed 'The Costello Report', a €3.5 billion European aid fund for the most deprived.

News • 25 Feb 14

Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek put forward the report

European Parliament backs anti-homophobia report

The European Parliament today voted in favour of an EU roadmap against homophobia and discrimination.

News • 04 Feb 14

Nessa Childers has announced she will run in Dublin as an Independent

Hayes and Childers to run for MEP seats in Dublin

Minister of State Brian Hayes and Ireland East MEP Nessa Childers have both announced their intention to run in the European Parliament elections on 23 May.

News • 29 Jan 14

Irish student Laura Hegarty (centre) is pictured with European Parliament President Martin Schulz (Pic: Paul Cunningham)

Irish student praises new Erasmus+ programme

Irish student Laura Hegarty has attended a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg where a €14 billion fund to help young people to study in other EU countries was signed into law.

Special Reports • 11 Dec 13

Monthly move from Brussels to Strasbourg is estimated to cost between €156-204m a year

EU lawmakers vote to end their 'travelling circus'

EU lawmakers today voted overwhelmingly to scrap the European Parliament's second headquarters in Strasbourg.

Business • 21 Nov 13

Malala Yousafzai will be recognised for her campaign on education by the European Parliament

Malala Yousafzai receives Sakharov Prize

A Pakistani teenager who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban has received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in the European Parliament.

News • 20 Nov 13

The Parliament's Economic Committee is to finalise the terms of the inquiry into the conduct of the Troika

EP to finalise planned inquiry into Troika conduct

The European Parliament should finalise its plan to investigate the conduct of the Troika in bailout countries, such as Ireland, next month.

News • 24 Oct 13

Enda Kenny spoke with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz ahead of his speech (Pic: merrionstreet.ie)

Youth unemployment levels 'an abomination' - Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has described the high levels of youth unemployment across Europe as "an abomination".

News • 02 Jul 13

Michael Noonan hopes for EU agreement on winding up failed banks when finance ministers meet again on Wednesday

Noonan hopeful of EU agreement on failed banks

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has said that he is optimistic that agreement can be reached on a mechanism to wind up failed banks when his EU colleagues meet on Wednesday.

News • 24 Jun 13

Irish is currently the only one of the EU's 23 official languages not included on the site

European Parliament set to add Irish to website

The European Parliament appears to be set to produce an Irish language version of its website.

News • 21 May 13

President Michael D Higgins was speaking to MEPs as part of Ireland's six-month EU Presidency

President warns MEPs about impact of austerity

President Michael D Higgins has delivered a strong warning to MEPs on the dangers of following a policy of austerity without considering the social consequences.

News • 17 Apr 13

The European Parliament has agreed to a compromise package on banking union

Agreement reached on single supervisory mechanism

EU politicians have agreed to allow the European Central Bank to police euro zone banks.

Business • 19 Mar 13

Joerg Asmussen said the Parliament already had a say in the appointment of the EBA chairperson

Euro Parliament 'should have say' in banking role

The European Parliament should have a decisive say in choosing the chairperson for the upcoming EU banking supervisor, ECB board member Joerg Asmussen has said.

Business • 18 Mar 13