Former justice minister Dermot Ahern has said he is surprised that the radicalisation of Irish Islamic State bride Lisa Smith did not ring alarm bells, given that she began the process while serving in the army.

A post-Brexit hard border would be a "disaster" for Ireland, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has warned.

Update 2.45pm:Former senior advisor to Fine Geal Frank Flannery has hinted it might be time to end the era of civil war politics.

Fianna Fáil has ruled out propping up Fine Gael, and said it was aiming to get the Coalition out of office.

The Minister for Communications, Dermot Ahern, has initiated a public consultation process on draft regulations to combat spam.