The European Commission has asked the European Court of Justice to fine France €142,425 (£112,169) a day for its discriminatory failure to abolish its legal ban on women working at night, writes Patrick Smyth, in Brussels.

The move, initiated by the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mr Padraig Flynn, follows a ruling against the French in the court in March 1997.

The daily fine would apply from the time of a second decision of the court and is levied at this level according to a formula reflecting the seriousness of the breach of EU law and French GNP.