The Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, has accused the EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, of failing to stamp out discrimination against gays and lesbians working for EU institutions.
Ms McKenna had asked in a European Parliament question if Mr Flynn would be taking any initiatives to give those in long term homosexual relationships the same entitlements under EU staff regulations as married heterosexual officials.
Mr Flynn replied that staff regulations were concerned only with married couples and afforded no concessions to non married couples, whether homosexual or heterosexual.