A 32-year-old man has appeared in court following an investigation into an incident that saw six horses and two dogs shot dead in Co Cork over the weekend.

When is a pencil mark a number ‘1’ vote or an inconsequential slip of the hand?

A son of former TD Charlie O’Connor died from multi-drug toxicity, a coroner has found. Father-of-one Robert O’Connor, 35, was found dead in his home at Rialto Cottages in Dublin 8 on April 19 last year.

Former tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has hinted at a potential return to the political arena after leaving the door open for parties to convince him to run again.

"I missed you all," Mary Hanafin gushed to reporters in the manner of a faded film star who had just glimpsed the limelight once more thanks to a cameo role in a B movie.

A 38-year-old man had four counts of sending threatening text messages to gardaí dismissed by a judge because the prosecution failed to prove they were sent within the State.

Glanmire CC 5-04 CCN Carrignavar 2-10 (aet)

Fianna Fáil will not take any action against Albert Reynolds, despite the Mahon Tribunal making adverse findings against him.

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul has been providing specialist help for staff encountering a high level of fear and panic, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

RESTRICTIONS on dental cover for medical card patients are causing chaos, confusion and hardship, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

ANGER was growing among support groups yesterday at the Government’s planned reform of the One Parent Family Payment that would see it scrapped when the youngest child reaches 13.

THE Government frantically dispatched its jet to fly home a junior minister on Tuesday in time for the crucial vote on the Cabinet reshuffle.

Embattled Tallaght Hospital revealed an overhaul of its management today in the wake of the unchecked X-ray and unopened referral letters controversy.

THE HSE has short-listed four internationally renowned consultant radiologists to lead a “warts and all” investigation into Tallaght hospital’s X-ray review standards.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney insisted she will not resign but said it is up to the Taoiseach whether or not she stays on in office in a looming cabinet reshuffle.

Embattled Health Minister Mary Harney, who is in the middle of a St Patrick’s Day mission to New Zealand, has said that Tallaght Hospital chiefs gave her assurances no letters remain unopened.

ELDERLY people are being subjected to unnecessary confusion and worry because of a new system to process medical cards for over-70s which was described yesterday as “a form of madness”.

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s plans to cut hundreds of special needs assistant places could force a vital special needs school to axe a series of courses on the curriculum, its principal has claimed.

AN INITIATIVE to speed up welfare claims by allowing newly unemployed people certify their own means is being examined.

MORE lone parents should be allowed access to the Rental Accommodation Scheme, while Fás needs to drop its “stupid” start times for courses, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe has insisted that opposition to the introduction of third-level tuition fees by Green Party TDs and independents who support the Government is not a setback to his plans for a graduate loans system.

OIREACHTAS members will today quiz the head of a new department unit set up to replace the Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) about its priorities, amid concern over the “silencing” of the outgoing agency’s role.

A 20-year-old man gunned down in a car outside his home was involved in a serious assault in the last few weeks, it emerged tonight.

FIANNA FÁIL backbenchers have hit out at the junior ministers in their party for saying they would be willing to sacrifice their positions for the good of the economy.

AS rural areas blew cold on Lisbon in the run-up to the referendum, yes campaigners were heard to assure themselves that whatever happened in the regions, the Pale would keep the colour in their cheeks.

HE ROSE a taoiseach and sat down as Bertie the backbencher.

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy killed at the weekend by a bolt of lightning was described yesterday as a model student and a “lovely young lad”.

ONE shy of first place in 2006, Dundalk was not to be outdone this time around in its quest to capture the title of cleanest town in Ireland.

FINE GAEL last night accused the Government of launching a “sinister” bid to intimidate the Mahon Tribunal as seven ministers attacked the inquiry.

GOVERNMENT ministers remain steadfastly reliant on their ministerial cars and government aircraft to travel countrywide and worldwide, according to new figures.

Politicians today described the death of a man as the latest in a wave of cold-blooded gangland executions.

THE beginning of the crime debate saw TDs disappearing from the chamber as quickly as a gram of coke at a middle-class dinner party.

THE new Minister for Transport, who hasn’t travelled aboard a Dublin Bus in years, is primed to set an example to his cabinet colleagues with cycling, walking and public transport excursions.

McDowell talked emotively about his love of country, which he had demonstrated by his involvement in politics at considerable cost to himself.

Communications and Marine Minister Noel Dempsey has hailed Fianna Fáil’s performance so far as excellent.

FOR sale: One used Taoiseach, slightly worn, very ratty.

Thugs who attack fire and ambulance crews over Halloween must face the full force of tough new laws, politicians urged today.

HOW does a Taoiseach shoot himself in the foot?

A Government TD has called for work on extending the Luas line in west Dublin to Saggart to begin without delay as public consultation on the project today closed.

SOME newspapers go to extra lengths to satisfy their readers. The New York Times has just announced the appointment of its first perfume critic, who will assess and rate the various scents on the market.

The gardaí were today urged to launch a massive crackdown on pyramid schemes which have cost Irish people millions of euro.

More than 50,000 students receiving their long-awaited Leaving Certificate results were today urged to consider careers in science, engineering and technology.

The mobile phone industry must cooperate with a European Commission examination of the potential risks of children being exposed to bullying and porn, it was urged today.

Some cash-strapped parents are being hit with school book bills that can run to several hundred euros, according to Fianna Fáil’s Charlie O’Connor.

BACKBENCH TDs and senators spent €500,000 last year on foreign travel, including a number of fact-finding trips to exotic long-haul destinations.

DUBLIN County Council conducted the business developers wanted done rather than being driven by regard for the wellbeing of the people, former Labour member Eithne FitzGerald told the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday.

Top Irish experts will today discuss the bird flu epidemic, which has already spread to several EU countries.