Cabinet in conflict

'There is a chance that Ivana Bacik’s election can shape the dynamic of the next few years here. But only if her party is brave,' writes Fergus Finlay

The Tánaiste and Fine Gael party leader said even he is not automatically entitled to a place on a Fine Gael ticket, in what was seen as a thinly-veiled attack on former TD Kate O'Connell

Appeal of the greener grass of nations that value their young looming larger

Given the fragility of the situation in the North at the moment, the Tánaiste's comments on a united Ireland were opportunistic and poorly timed.

Sinn Féin urges doubling of capital investment in next budget

The party has delivered on its promise and since then, its support has not only consolidated but has continued to grow

There will be 'a jobs-led recovery'

A vote on the venue for the election of Cork's next Lord Mayor has sparked a political row and prompted calls for a “neutral venue” to be chosen.

The only party other than Sinn Féin to gain significant support was the Social Democrats, whose support doubled from 2% to 4%.

The practice did little to engender trust in the political process

SF and FG level pegging, FF lagging behind

Dublin Bay North TD Richard Bruton said there is now a significant need to rebalance the risk, pain and suffering, both economic and social, associated with the travel restrictions

Brexit, Donald Trump and the Rio Olympics dominated the headlines in 2016. Here are the moments that had us talking from this week’s episode

Sinn Féin is gaining ground with younger voters who want affordable homes and rent control

Only public ownership and control of the new maternity hospital can guarantee comprehensive, secular care

Fans will be back at sports matches in early July as part of so-called test events. Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers said that the plan is to begin allowing fans back in on low numbers.

'Undesirable' practice works against the principle of home ownership, says Tánaiste

Data protection and GDPR arrived in the mainstream last week in Ireland, roughly three years later than they should have.

FF and FG need new purpose and energy rather than different leadership

Two polls published this week on both sides of the border reveal some surprising attitudes to the prospect of a united Ireland or the breakup of the UK within the next few years.

Government must not proceed with plans for congestion charge

Unchanging institutions rejected

A weekend opinion poll records that support for government pandemic measures has fallen dramatically.   Support for the Government's handling of Covid-19 has fallen to 43%, the first time it has gone below 50%.

A concerned citizen contacted IABA president Dominic O'Rourke telling him around 30-40 people from across the country were training in a gym in Portlaoise on March 13

Fines, not signs, needed to tackle dog fouling 

Save Our Bride Otters campaign confirmed they hoped to appoint a legal team soon to mount a judicial review of the river Bride flood relief scheme, which is designed to protect Blackpool from flooding

While he is keen to reject any suggestions of seeking to move against his party leader, it would be foolish to dismiss his activities as anything other than positioning himself to succeed Martin — when the time comes, of course 

TRACKING the progress of Hazel Chu during the week, the one person who came to mind was Jackie Healy-Rae. Hazel and Jackie may be from different planets, but in one respect they’re from the same side of the street.

We need a glimpse to the end in sight to give us all hope

This republic’s established political parties and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party have little enough in common other than a common enemy.

The driving test backlog would take 20 weeks to clear if all those eligible were offered a test, the RSA has admitted.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald's request for a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the matter has been rejected.

No indication if higher taxes will be needed to boost  economy post-Covid, but it is part of a 'wider discussion'

People in Yemen are starving to death; they are dying in hospitals, homes, and on the roadsides while fleeing to safety.

Embarrassing 'botún' in Dingle became talking point during Seachtain na Gaeilge

Mary Lou McDonald called the leak of a doctors’ pay agreement by the then-Taoiseach to his friend 'an abuse of power' and said 'politically this can’t be tolerated'

Emotions are our species’ navigation system. Ignoring feelings isn’t strong, it’s actually stupid

Stephen Donnelly spoke to AstraZeneca's Irish country representative on Thursday night to voice his 'frustration' about delays in supply, however, the drug manufacturer still cannot provide timelines on delivery

Minister Simon Coveney’s visit to Tehran should be welcomed during what is a pivotal time not just for the revival of the Iran nuclear deal but also the wider issues affecting the Middle East.

Though it seems unlikely that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have agreed on a good-cop-bad-cop routine in how they might debate Sinn Féin, this week’s events hinted at such an arrangement.

Former senators Gerry Horkan and Marie Byrne are to be supported by the parties in a bid to gain one Seanad seat each.

Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting criticisms were valid and would be taken on board

Confidence in its handling of the pandemic has also slipped, a new opinion poll reveals.