Taoiseach said there were 'political factors at play' and that the protracted talks may now go right to the wire of the December 31 deadline'

The Taoiseach says safety issues facing schools "will be ironed out" as he played down the threat of industrial action by teachers.

Speaking at the McGill Summer School this afternoon, the Taoiseach sought to re-affirm his party’s stance on the issue, saying it remained a “core” policy.

The Taoiseach announced that household visits were banned across the country on Wednesday night, and raised Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal into Level 4

October 15 had been the date set by Boris Johnson for the UK to walk away from any trade negotiations if a deal had not been reached

Taoiseach Michaél Martin is among the leaders attending the summit in Brussels

Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan will move to level four from 12 midnight tonight

Fresh from delivering Budget 2021, Paschal Donohoe sits down with Political Editor Daniel McConnell and reveals making major decisions amid a pandemic has brought the coalition closer together

But escalating restrictions due to soaring cases could derail plan

'Unprecedented level of resources' put in place in the health sector, will enable it to cope, says Martin

The Government has spent just under €11. 5m on advertising since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week the government passed the milestone of 100 days in office.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government will not move the country straight to Level 5 and will continue with its 'graduated' Covid-19 plan.

EU in 'full solidarity' with Ireland, says European Council president

The rise in Covid numbers are deeply worrying, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told his parliamentary party, but a move to level 4 or level 5 would have “a severe and detrimental” impact on the economy.

The meeting comes after the Tánaiste's stinging attack on the Chief Medical Officer earlier this week

The day began with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s severe kicking of Dr Tony Holohan and team ringing loudly in our ears.

Mr Healy-Rae told the Taoiseach his comments were "a disgrace"

Fianna Fáil TD Jim Callaghan: "We've got to recognise that this having a terrible impact on young people in this country."

Do the two known errors with the Leaving Cert calculated grades process call into question the integrity of a system the Department of Education promised would be accurate and fair? The full extent of the flaws in the system will only really be ...

School principals have called on the Department of Education to clarify the exact extent and consequences of the errors uncovered in this year's Leaving Cert calculated grades

The Taoiseach announced plans for 100 new jobs at Cork tech firm Workvivo which has defied the coronavirus business curse, growing by 40% since March. Workvivo could have been designed for a post-Covid-19 world.

The government has been criticised for approving ministerial advisors for 10 junior ministers. The original plan would have seen all 17 junior ministers with their own advisors, but the government reduced the number.

DCU Professor Dr Anthony Staines: 'We have got to get ahead of this virus, we cannot continue chasing it around the country.'

The group will analyse recommendations made by public health officials before presenting workable options to the cabinet

A raft of new measures to improve the lot of the Fianna Fáil party have been presented to TDs and Senators tonight as it reels from a historically low poll rating.

The incidence rates of Covid-19 in some parts of Dublin are now up to three times the national average. Nationally, there have been 53 cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks.

Not all heroes wear PPE. Tucked away and out of sight, the country’s 60 or so public health specialists are at breaking point, writes Neil Michael.

Ryanair: 'Irish aviation and tourism cannot delay another week or month while Micheál Martin dithers and delays or while NPHET mismanages Ireland’s test and tracing system.'

Dublin is expected to be put on a higher alert level than the rest of the country when the Government launches its medium-term plan for living with Covid.

More than €8. 72m has been spent by the Government on Covid advertising since the start of the pandemic, it has been revealed.

The Taoiseach is under mounting pressure from within his own party after support for Fianna Fáil slumped to an all-time low. Increasing numbers of Fianna Fáil TDs now believe Micheál Martin must be replaced if the party is to survive.

The Taoiseach has accused British prime minister Boris Johnson of creating "assertions that are in no way connected with the reality" on Brexit.

As a leader, Charlie Haughey embraced dictatorship qualities — but he always involved his Cabinet. That was the summation of one Fianna Fáil TD in reaction to the party's dismal poll ratings.

The Taoiseach has dismissed the latest opinion poll which puts his party at the lowest ever level of support. Micheál Martin has said "no government can run on opinion polls from month to month, and it shouldn't.

Marie Sherlock: 'If the Government are serious about protecting workers in difficult circumstances such as what the Debenhams workers have found themselves in, then they must choose to act.'

Micheál Martin said the Government’s medium-term Covid plan will have the flexibility to assess the situation from county to county.

The Taoiseach has warned the public to prepare for a no-deal Brexit after speaking with Boris Johnson.

One protestor missed her daughter's first day of school to take part in the three-day sit-in, saying it "was a major sacrifice"

The Taoiseach wants to see spectators return to sporting events and is pushing to have this included in next week's Covid plan.

The current nationwide coronavirus restrictions will be extended until September 15. They had been due to expire on September 13 - but will be extended by two days until the publication of the government's long term Covid-19 roadmap next Tuesday.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said "there was no heads up" from the UK Government on their Brexit proposals

The Taoiseach has said Brexit talks with the UK can only continue if there's mutual trust.

The chief executive of Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Séan O’Donoghue has said that fishermen are not being afforded the same rights as other citizens under the new penalty points system introduced at the weekend.

Donegal-based farmer seen as the most likely choice, primarily on geographical grounds, to take Dara Calleary's post

Varadkar suggests EU Commissioner still has questions to answer and to 'consider his position' if he is unable to

A Supreme Court judge who attended the golfing dinner in Galway faces a testing week after political pressure mounted on him over the weekend.

It is an anecdote so well-worn that it has made its way into the popular lexicon, and become a jokey shorthand for all sorts of political incidents.

In his first 55 days as Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has been repeatedly beset by distractions and controversies 

The old adage of a week being a long time in politics now seems hopelessly old-fashioned given the pace of events in the past 48 hours.