The speech given by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in the Dáil on Thursday relating to the country’s abortion laws was nothing short of remarkable, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

‘Legalise all abortions, without restriction, for unborn babies up to 12 weeks.

AT THE 1982 Fine Gael ard fheis, hard-line conservative TD Alice Glenn praised her party leader’s support for a pro-life, anti-abortion referendum, should the party be elected into office later that year.

As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar eases into his first Christmas as leader, he must be counting his lucky stars that we were spared an unnecessary election, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

The old saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

In 1989, then-finance minister and would-be taoiseach Albert Reynolds was eviscerated for dismissing Fianna Fáil’s coalition with the Progressive Democrats as a “temporary little arrangement”, writres Daniel McConell.

This is a problem far bigger than Barry Walsh, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

No doubt the Alliance are damaged but the gang of five have shown far more to justify their time in Government, writes Daniel McConnell.

Well, we got our backsides handed to us, and then some.

If there is any further dragging of heels by the banks, he must exercise the full range of powers at his disposal — and demand more from Donohoe if necessary, writes Daniel McConnell, Political Editor