The State “kowtowed” to churches for decades when it came to the care of children and the Government’s proposed constitutional amendment is needed to put things right, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.

A number of groups have today officially launched their campaign for a No vote in the Children's Rights Referendum.

The Christian Solidarity Party is holding a protest outside the Dáil this afternoon over the decision to close Ireland's embassy in the Vatican.

Fine Gael's Damien English is top with 9,290 votes in Meath West but has not reached the quota of 10,045.

IN his letter (January 11) concerning the bishops and Cóir, Barry Walsh makes at least two errors that must be corrected.

Independent candidate Maureen O’Sullivan leads the way in the Dublin Central by-election after the first count this afternoon.

A DIGITALLY generated newspaper advert with Pope Benedict and two bishops wining and dining at a Limerick pub is to be checked out by the Advertising Standards Authority.

More than three million voters go to the polls today in one of the tightest general election contests in history.

A total of almost 470 candidates have been nominated to contest the upcoming election in the 43 constituencies nationwide.

CATHOLIC bishops yesterday called for the family based on marriage not to be removed from the Constitution.

THE Office of Public Works seems to have embarked on a crusade of political correctness which, to date, has put the Sacred Heart across the gardaí in at least one station.