The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane has lost a Supreme Court challenge over the decision not to hold a public inquiry into his killing, but won a declaration that an effective investigation into his death has not been carried out.

Cork’s senator Jerry Buttimer is spot on when he says that staff at hard-pressed, hospital emergency departments shouldn’t have to spend time on so-called patients who are there not as a consequence of an accident or an emergency, but simply as a consequence of having drunk far too much alcohol.

The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision allowing the State deport to Jordan in 2016 a man allegedly involved with Islamic terrorists.

The ‘common approach’ of the Paris Agreement must have the same rules for the likes of China and India as it does for the EU, or else it will be weakened, writes John Light.

A woman with profound physical and mental disabilities living in a damp council house unsuitable to her needs has lost her High Court case aimed at being rehoused in more appropriate accommodation.

A teenager found guilty of the false imprisonment of Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest has commenced proceedings to have his conviction overturned.

Hillary Clinton has told Democrats they have “just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling” by nominating her for US president on a night awash with history.

In the face of rampant extremism, social democracy, it seems, has nothing to say, writes Fergus Finlay

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed that he will bring a memo to Cabinet next week to establish a Citizen’s Convention to examine the current controversial abortion laws.

A law lecturer wanted in Britain for making indecent images of a child has launched a last-minute legal bid aimed at halting his extradition to England.

The Vetting Act that safeguards children has been stalled for amendments to ensure it does not breach privacy rights, the Department of Justice has confirmed.

Ireland has been redefined. We are all equals as citizens under the Constitution, writes Jerry Buttimer.          

The UN has repeatedly criticised Ireland’s human rights record on a range of fronts. Some of those failures and what the State is doing to address them are listed here.

Ó Ríordáin ‘expects’ referendum on blasphemy this year

Enda Kenny has signalled there will be no referendum on reducing the voting age during the lifetime of this Government.

On 31 March of this year the Constitutional Convention recommended to the Government, by an overwhelming majority of 85%, that economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, such as healthcare, housing and social security, be given enhanced protection in the Irish Constitution. 

On the immediate appointment of the new Irish minister for the diaspora, I wrote to Jimmy Deenihan TD asking him what he would be doing with the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention on extending votes to Irish citizens abroad in future presidential elections?

What if you came back from holiday to find squatters in your home? Rita de Brun checks your rights

The Cabinet is expected to agree today to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage.

The Constitutional Convention has recommended that the offence of blasphemy be removed from the constitution.

A referendum on extending marriage rights to same-sex couples was set to be triggered by Cabinet today for late next year or early 2015.

Gardaí have investigated over 200 cases of human trafficking in the past four years, but the numbers are actually far higher according to campaigners.

Gerry Adams will meet with the Irish diaspora in London tonight to address a conference focusing on the Good Friday Agreement along with the past and current difficulties.

Pro-choice groups have launched a campaign calling for a referendum to change limited laws on abortion.

The Government will consider referring the future role of the Seanad to the Convention on the Constitution after the electorate decided in a referendum to retain the upper house.

Senators who demanded voters sweep away the “dysfunctional” upper house insist they still have a mandate to serve in the chamber they discredited.

The Taoiseach said he was "naturally, personally disappointed" by the defeat of the referendum to abolish the Seanad, as attention now turns to the need for political reform.

The Convention on the Constitution is recommending allowing Irish citizens abroad the right to vote in Presidential elections.

After initial criticism, the convention chaired by Tom Arnold has seen interest grow as its January deadline looms.

The Convention on the Constitution has launched an online survey to gather the views of Irish citizens living outside the state on voting in Presidential Elections here.

The Government has officially committed to holding a referendum on lowering the voting age.

Britain breached the human rights of relatives of two IRA men by failing to promptly investigate their deaths at the hands of the SAS, a European court has ruled.

Government TDs will face into three referenda to be held on the same polling day, just a week after the announcement of the budget.

The Israeli government’s settlement policy has clearly violated the rights of Palestinians and breaches one of the Geneva Conventions, a UN report says.

British Culture Secretary Maria Miller today promised no church would ever be forced to conduct a gay wedding as she faced a furious backlash from traditionalist Tories over Government plans for same-sex weddings.

The Government has today published the report from the expert group set up to advise the Cabinet on abortion law.

A significant complaint about the Government’s failure to act on a ruling from the European Court of Justice to regularise abortion legislation has been lodged by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects could be put on a plane to the United States within days after Europe’s human rights judges rejected their bid for an appeal.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects could be put on a plane to the United States within days after Europe’s human rights judges rejected their bid for an appeal.

Micheál Martin proposed same-sex marriage to Enda Kenny on the floor of the Dáil — but the Taoiseach could just not make up his mind.