Emergency draconian laws designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus could save tens of thousands of lives, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has told the Dail.

The new legislation is set to be debated from 2pm to 5pm today.

From broadband and Brexit to swings and printers, TDs kept up the tradition of irritating voters with bizarre behaviour, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is to look at an "alternative way" to investigate the controversy around Dara Murphy's Dáil expenses.

The outgoing Cork North Central TD insisted that he has been “compliant” with Leinster House rules

Latest: Outgoing Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy has insisted he has “been compliant” with Leinster House rules about his attendance at all times.

The Finance Minister says more explanation is needed as to why a €1.6 million printer is not yet operational.

A review of the recording of TDs attendance records in Leinster House will go ahead in a bid to restore “credibility” and “confidence” in the system.

Three young climate activists appeared on RTÉ’s Today with Maura and Dáithí.

Is there no end to the inappropriate behaviour of our publicly elected representatives in the Dáil?

In a major Houses of the Oireachtas Commission survey which was leaked earlier this week, officials found that a large number of people working in Leinster House have suffered significant bullying and harassment.

Legislation for Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas tonight.

TDs and senators had to refund almost €10,000 in expenses this year after an audit found they could not provide supporting evidence to justify claiming such allowances.

The Government's fast-track housing scheme is expected to be revamped if it is extended beyond the end of the year, with permissions likely to be limited to just one year to encourage construction.

There is “no single policy or legislative initiative” that the Government can take to make insurance providers cover Irish leisure, tourism and adventure operators, according to the minister for state with responsibility for financial services and insurance.

Politicians have clocked up more than €9m in expenses, claiming back everything from coffee to Irish language books to meals they hosted.

Harmless websites such as YouTube, several newspaper websites, and Dublin pubs and restaurants are among some of the surprising victims of the Houses of the Oireachtas strict firewall.

Like many major, complex, modern organisations, the Houses of the Oireachtas has its own IT networks, writes Daniel McConnell.

Tough new sanctions for politicians and remedies for citizens wronged by them are to be slapped on TDs and senators in the autumn following the Angela Kerins judgement.

A Fianna Fáil TD has said it is “bizarre” that politicians are denied access to the identities of members of the public who submit Freedom of Information requests on their expenses.

Despite the surging costs, secretary general of Oireachtas services Peter Finnegan said the price tag represents "outstanding" value for the taxpayer.

It jumped from €112m in 2017 to €134m in 2018.

The tax-payer is set to splurge just over €350,000 on new bespoke, tailored uniforms for staff at Leinster House and Áras an Uachtaráin.

The launch of ‘Dáil 100’ at the Cork County Council offices is part of a programme of events commemorating the first public sitting of Dáil Éireann in 1919.

Forty-seven TDs and senators who were overpaid expenses were made refund over €166,000, it can be revealed.

TDs are to get their own personal trainer to ensure they are fighting fit for the next general election.

The new Bill “pushes to the boundaries” and represents “a major step forward” she told RTE radio’s Morning Ireland.

Don't be fooled by this so-called Green Wave. And climate change deniers and delayers needn’t busy themselves ridiculing those Vega-wearing, Tesla-driving vegans just yet.

Minimum rates of pay for workers in the construction sector are set to rise by 5.4% while rates in the electrical sector will increase by 2.7%.

Health Minister Simon Harris has witten to politicians, ordering them to publicly support childhood vaccinations to combat anti-vax “scaremongering” and “populist nonsense”.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said no trade deal between Britain and the United States which undermines the Good Friday Agreement is possible.

Legislation allowing judges set guidelines on personal injury awards in line with other countries should be in place by the summer, the minister in charge of insurance policy says.

A declaration by the Supreme Court that the Dáil Public Accounts Committee acted unlawfully towards former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins would have a “chilling” effect on the work of parliamentary committees, lawyers for the State and PAC have told the court.

A seven-judge Supreme Court will hear final submissions today before deciding whether or not the Dail Public Accounts Committee acted unlawfully "as a whole" in its treatment of former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins.

The State last year splurged almost €100,000 on catering for guests to an evening State reception and a buffet celebrating President Michael D Higgins’s inauguration.

The PAC acted beyond its scope in its questioning of Rehab former CEO, Angela Kerins, but balancing the power of legislature with the rights of the individual will not be easy, says

The proposed reduction in a waiting period for a divorce, he said, would reduce trauma for families.

The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has sought an investigation into allegations surrounding surveillance in prisons.

Vulture funds will escape tougher regulations after a Central Bank report for the government and finance minister recommended no changes be made to the current code on mortgage arrears.

Farming families are being “preyed upon” by so-called vulture funds who are “killing off farm businesses”, while small businesses are being intimidated into silence, according to bodies representing the sectors.