Saturday, December 17, is set to be a long day, with Varadkar reportedly warning his colleagues proceedings in the Dáil could run as late as midnight before the new Cabinet is in place

A mistake is often made about how the government in Ireland works. When we say the word government, it leads one to imagine this vast edifice of connected entities all pulling in the same direction in a coherent fashion. The truth is vastly different.

As Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has played the key role in seeking to 'reset' the Anglo-Irish relations so badly damaged by now-departed British prime ministers Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss

Sacking and demoting people the week before Christmas will be a trying task for both Varadkar and Martin.

In Leinster House, at the bottom of the main grand steps that lead to the entrance to the Dáil chamber are a set of couches.

The trojan horse of GDPR has been widely misused by government departments

It would happen like clockwork. Day after day, even during the lean days of the political off-season, in would arrive the email from the Sinn Féin press office, offering one of their TDs for media comment on the Leinster House plinth.

While some may baulk at the idea of her holding ambitions to lead, Foley is now a Cabinet minister of two and a half years’ standing and that fact alone puts her in the running

Last Monday afternoon, photographer Moya Nolan and I were in the portrait room in the Department of Finance with ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe.

On December 15, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his Cabinet will formally tender their resignations to make way for a new leader as Leo Varadkar will once again become leader of the country.