Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has claimed there would be little demand among parents to share the current 26 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Health, housing, and broadband are set to dominate three more days of talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil this week aimed at extending the life of the minority Government.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will review and exchange assessments on the confidence and supply agreement next Tuesday after talks on a renewal of the deal got under way today.

Confidence and supply talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will begin this afternoon.

Fine Gael has insisted any changes to the confidence and supply deal with and Fianna Fáil must be fully costed. The call comes just hours before the high-profile negotiations are set to begin.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are set to hold the first confidence and supply renewal talks on Thursday amid an ongoing stand-off between the parties over how long the negotiations will last.

Don’t be fooled by the confidence and supply talks spin. The general election is just around the corner, writes Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Talks are beginning between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil this week to discuss extending the Confidence and Supply agreement.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has backed down on his Halloween confidence and supply deal talks deadline after a senior official u-turned to say the crunch date was "never a deadline and more of a target".

The crunch confidence and supply deal talks must end by Christmas to allow the public to know exactly where the Government stands in the lead up to any no deal Brexit crisis, Fianna Fáil has said.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said that a minority Government could not be allowed to "limp from week to week" and that an election would have to be called if a new confidence and supply agreement was not negotiated.

As the Dáil returns, the Irish Examiner political team examines the issues that will dominate the headlines inside and outside of Leinster House

With the country beset by crises in health and housing and by Brexit, it is reckless to question the confidence-and-supply deal and flirt with instability, says Micheál Martin

The Taoiseach is “not contemplating” a confidence and supply deal with Sinn Féin or other parties if a new agreement cannot be reached with Fianna Fáil.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has sharply rejected Fianna Fáil accusations he is seeking to force an election before Christmas.

Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, has dubbed “absurd” claims that holding off the confidence-and-supply talks would impact on Brexit negotiations.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, have met to begin discussions about extending the current confidence-and-supply deal.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he does not want a ''cliff edge'' end to the confidence and supply arrangement.

The Taoiseach insists his relationship with Micheál Martin is not as bad as people may think, despite the Fianna Fáil leader describing him as “prickly” and “authoritarian”.

Micheál Martin has launched the strongest attack yet on the government over the re-negotiating of the confidence and supply arrangement.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is pushing to renew the confidence and supply deal with Fianna Fáil before the Budget to allow the Government to get a handle on future spending.