Politicians should not return after Christmas unless the Taoiseach sets a definite date for the next general election, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said.

Luxury chocolate firm Bean and Goose has raised €200,000 to help drive online sales, writes Trish Dromey.

Looking for an alternative to Easter eggs? Mary Arrigan selects 10 volumes for children to feast their eyes on.

The leadership contest has effectively been going on for over a year, points out Alison O’Connor.

Shane Lowry will forever remember 2016 as the year he got married and then learned he will become a father five weeks before the 2017 Masters.

Nick Easter believes England lost their identity during the World Cup and welcomes the intent of new head coach Eddie Jones to devise a game-plan founded on traditional Red Rose strengths.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree has been in regular contact with Dylan Hartley to ensure he would be ready if needed during the World Cup.

Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1: Brendan Rodgers always talks a good game, but now his Liverpool players have to give voice to his optimism if they are going to save their season after this humbling defeat.

RBS Six Nations: England 47 Italy 17: England full-back Mike Brown receives medical attention for a head injury.

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Religious-run schools and hospitals will be stripped of the ability to sack staff for being gay, divorced, or unmarried parents by Easter, Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin says.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to “make it absolutely crystal clear” to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s RBS 6 Nations chances.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has had his 12-week ban for using abusive language reduced to eight on appeal.

The last time Nick Easter walked onto the pitch at the Aviva Stadium was in 2011, and England looked on the cusp of a first Six Nations Grand Slam for eight years.

Quite the day for Harlequins, all told.

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has backed Nick Easter to continue playing for some time after the veteran number eight inspired a 24-18 Champions Cup victory over Leinster.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Scarlets 20 Harlequins 22

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

Clermont Auvergne 23 Harlequins 13

An opportunistic second-half strike from Republic of Ireland striker Andy Keogh - made possible by a howler from visiting goalkeeper Ross Worner - and a Martyn Woolford effort ensured Millwall progressed to the Capital One Cup second round with a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Doug Howlett says it’s crucial that Munster put to bed the dismal Rabo Direct Pro 12 loss to Glasgow last weekend.

SO THAT’S Mother’s Day over with for another year.

Michael Owen will start his first match in 14 months as Stoke tackle Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round today.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned against downgrading the status of religious education in UK secondary schools in his last Easter sermon as leader of the Church of England.

MATCHWINNER Antony Gardner believes Crystal Palace are well placed to reach the Carling Cup final after last night’s 1-0 success at Selhurst Park.

NORTHAMPTON produced a disciplined and ruthless performance to defeat Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins and record their seventh win in their last eight outings.

KAGISHO DIKGACOI’S late header secured a first home win for Palace since October and left Birmingham’s European adventurers empty-handed.

HARLEQUINS’ record 14-match unbeaten run came to a halt at The Stoop last night after they were overpowered by four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse.

England forward Nick Easter has conceded he could have been one of the players shamed in the leaked review of the World Cup, but has moved defend his position.

GLENN MURRAY headed the winner in extra time as Championship side Crystal Palace stunned Manchester United in the Carling Cup quarter-finals last night.

Harlequins 25 Connacht 17

Thomas Waldrom has joined England’s Rugby World Cup squad as the official replacement for injured prop Andrew Sheridan, manager Martin Johnson has announced.

ANGRY Martin Johnson blasted England for being “sloppy” and warned they will be dumped out of the Rugby World Cup early unless there is an immediate improvement.

England number eight Nick Easter failed a fitness test on his tight calf shortly before today’s World Cup warm-up clash with Ireland.

Scotland 3 Wales 1

HARLEQUINS qualified for the Heineken Cup next season in dramatic fashion as they won the Amlin Challenge Cup, Europe’s second-tier knockout tournament, for a record third time.

CONOR O’Shea may spend most of his time in London these days but he clearly knew enough about Irish and especially Munster rugby to plan and plot their downfall at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Munster 12 Harlequins 20

The Archbishop of Dublin has said the inquiry team sent to Ireland by the Pope is expected to report to the Pontiff by Easter.

England stood on the brink of completing their first Grand Slam since 2003, with Ireland the final obstacle between themselves and European rugby’s most treasured prize.

Stand-in captain Nick Easter warned England will have to produce their best ever performance if they are to win the Grand Slam against Ireland tomorrow.

Nick Easter will captain England against Ireland in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash after Mike Tindall was ruled out with an ankle ligament strain.

IF ENGLAND wanted to dampen expectations that they will claim their first Grand Slam in eight years in Dublin next weekend then they did rather a good job of it at Twickenham yesterday.

Sale Sharks have announced the signing of number eight Mark Easter from their Aviva Premiership rivals Northampton.

Martin Johnson has warned England how desperate Scotland will be to wreck their Grand Slam dreams at Twickenham a week on Sunday.