The HSE’s commitment to public accountability has been called into question by a support network for family carers whose request for data on home care waiting lists was met with delays and piecemeal responses.

It will be another two years before a new Fair Deal-type scheme for people in their own homes is up and running, it has emerged.

There is no crisis in the mental health services — but there are “challenges”, says Minister of State for Mental Health, Jim Daly.

A dedicated mental health phoneline similar to the 999 system is to be established by the end of the year, Fine Gael TD Jim Daly has promised.

A Sinn Fein senator has said her party is willing to enter coalition talks with Fine Gael amid speculation the two parties are “cosying up” together.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he has not “slapped down” minister Jim Daly over his talking up a Fine Gael-Sinn Féin coalition.

Minister Jim Daly has been slapped down again by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after saying he had no objection to going into Government with Sinn Féin.

The possibility of unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if the Eighth Amendment is repealed has moved a step closer after another Government minister said he is backing the plan.

The power of trade unions in the health sector is the greatest barrier to reform and progress, newly appointed minister for state at the Department of Health Jim Daly has said.

Jim Daly, the minister of state for mental health, has vowed to plug gaps in the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) as he launched a suicide prevention plan for Cork.

The new Mental Health Minister Jim Daly has admitted services for children with mental health difficulties are “not good enough” and that he is “not happy with them”.

The Department of Finance has expressed disquiet with Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan for failing to share full information on mortgage matters before the Dáil.

The inability of the Children’s Ombudsman to investigate most complaints about schools has prompted a call for a dedicated ombudsman for education.

There are calls for an education ombudsman as new statistics claim 95% of parents' complaints go nowhere.

A Fine Gael TD says “a gross injustice has been perpetuated by successive governments” on motorists in Cork who are subsidising road repairs in other counties while they watch their own crumble.