A mother and her young son who have spent several weeks living in a tent outside the offices of Carlow County Council have launched a High Court challenge over the local authority's refusal to provide them with emergency accommodation.

There will be significant reform of the planning system despite a Department of Environment review finding no criminality or corruption across seven local authorities.

A new state agency to monitor animal feed must be set up to prevent a reoccurrence of December’s pork contamination crisis, it was claimed today.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is due to formally appoint Ger Deering as Ireland’s first taxi regulator today.