THE Oireachtas Commission is unable to provide a complete record of TD and Senator expenses over the last decade because of a 32-month gap in official archives.

THE resignation of two Fianna Fáil TDs from the Parliamentary Party has brought Taoiseach Brian Cowen within a vote of having to dissolve the Dáil.

IRELAND spends more supporting its national politicians than comparative parliaments, yet six members of the Oireachtas are not satisfied with their salary.

THE leader of a visiting American congressional delegation Richie Neal has said Ireland’s corporate tax rate is not the target of Washington’s crackdown on tax-dodging.

A REFURBISHED 147-pupil national school at Faha, outside Killarney, was officially opened yesterday by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue.

The life and work of renowned Irish documentary-maker George Morrison will be celebrated in style later this month.

MINISTERS last night ratcheted-up pressure on Fianna Fáil TD Beverly Flynn to surrender a €41,000 allowance intended for independent deputies.

LIFE returned to normal in a scenic, rural area of Kerry yesterday with the official opening of a new €1.35 million bridge by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue.

FINE Gael was incensed last night after being accused of “legislating by Google” by a spokesman for Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.

A party of Irish delegates will arrive in South Africa today to discuss ways of resolving conflicts around the world.

SEVENTY-seven TDs will decide the successor to Bertie Ahern as taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil as the party’s policy precludes senators, MEPs and Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue from voting.

THE fact that Valentia coastguard station was involved in helping a large proportion of all incidents at sea last year is being used to bolster the case for the retention of the station.

The Vietnamese prime minister will today sign a tax pact with the Irish Government during a two-day official visit.

A FINANCIAL crisis could force the closure of a Kerry counselling service in the new year.

Politicians from Uruguay are to meet the President and Taoiseach during a four-day visit to Ireland this week.

HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm yesterday agreed to hold a special meeting with female TDs and senators to discuss their concerns over women’s health issues.

THE head of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, accepted yesterday that what happened to the women wrongly diagnosed in Portlaoise was appalling and had undermined public confidence in breast cancer services.

The number of Dáil TDs should remain at 166 but changes must be made to several constituencies, a state body said today.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was yesterday challenged to investigate a claim that one of his senior ministers was a regular consumer of cocaine.

The author of a book in which a Government minister allegedly admits to using cocaine today refused to name the politician.