Online gambling

The U.S. Justice Department last week demanded information from some of the world's biggest investment banks as part of the probe into online gambling companies such as Britain's PartyGaming.

The move was the latest in a U.S. crackdown on online gaming, which began with the arrest of BETonSPORTS' Scottish Chief Executive David Carruthers in Texas last July.

McCreevy later told reporters the U.S. rules were a "prima facie" case of protectionism and that the World Trade Organization was a possible venue for tackling them.

However, due to the WTO's protracted negotiations to secure a new world trade agreement, he would not rush to file a complaint.

"It's not something of major momentum," McCreevy said.

There have been no face-to-face talks about the issue with Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, McCreevy said.

McCreevy has launched legal actions against several EU countries to tackle obstacles to foreign competition.