The Catalonia region's parliament has cleared the way for an independence vote that Spain's government contends is illegal.

As Judge Mary Laffoy gets ready to present her report on the Citizens’ Assembly, Alison O’Connor says we are in for a tortuous few months before we get to vote on the issue.

The Citizens’ Assembly is meeting this weekend to consider how best to respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.

Runaway Fine Gael leadership candidate Leo Varadkar has ruled out calling a snap election and will not give Enda Kenny an official Brexit role should he gain power.

Fine Gael leadership contender Simon Coveney has said he is uncomfortable with some parts of the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations and will not vote in favour of what he called “abortion on demand”.

Just because the Citizens’ Assembly has recommended a woman’s right to choose, that doesn’t mean the citizenry will endorse that position in a vote, says Michael Clifford.

The Oireachtas no longer has the excuse of saying it does not know the way forward on abortion after the Citizens’ Assembly delivered its judgments, writes Alison O’Connor.

Spain’s liberal newcomer party Ciudadanos (Citizens) agreed yesterday to back acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in a confidence vote, but the support is not enough to end an eight-month political stalemate.

The regional parliament of Catalonia approved a plan to set up a roadmap for independence from Spain by 2017, in defiance of central government.

The agent of Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has denied reports he had talks with Roma over a possible transfer of the player to the Serie A club.

Royal Bank of Scotland will hand restructuring chief Rory Cullinan the task of overseeing another major scaling back of its investment bank, sources told Reuters, allowing it to focus on lending to British households and businesses.

Royal Bank of Scotland is likely to write down the value of its US bank, Citizens by about £4bn (€5.4bn) next week, industry sources said, potentially wiping out much of the state-backed bank’s annual profit.

Royal Bank of Scotland will raise $3bn today when it spins off a 25% stake in one of America’s biggest regional banks.

As many as 30,000 jobs are to go at Royal Bank of Scotland over the next few years as part of plans to shrink the bailed-out bank, it was reported today.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit back at Jose Mourinho’s claim that Chelsea are the “little horse” in the title race.

Alex Ferguson feels Manchester United must rediscover their urgency after losing 1-0 at Norwich with a lacklustre attacking display.

CITIZENS who reach the age of 100 traditionally get a greeting in the post from Áras an Uachtaráin.

A NATIONAL gathering of concerned citizens is to be held in the summer with a view to re-invigorating Ireland’s democratic institutions and restoring trust in public life.

Lost documents are delaying some benefit payments in the North for up to two months, it was claimed today.

Manchester City are to face Borussia Dortmund in Germany on August 4 as part of their pre-season campaign.

CITIZENS who want European Union action on an issue will be able to sign-up online, adding their names to the one million signatures needed to kick-start legislation.

ROBERTO MANCINI believes the next five games will determine the outcome of Manchester City’s season – starting with tonight’s night’s clash with Bolton.

Manchester City are looking to develop their global fan base thanks to the magnetism of the Barclays Premier League.

Angry union leaders will meet bosses at Royal Bank of Scotland today to discuss restructuring plans that they fear could lead to 20,000 job losses.

Royal Bank of Scotland is this week set to unveil a dramatic restructuring in which assets worth several hundred billion pounds will be put up for sale.

The embattled banking sector fought back from hefty falls on the London market today as the US Federal Reserve sought to offer reassurance over America’s troubled financial sector.

An inquiry into the deaths of a family of four in their Co Wexford home last year will report in September.

CITIZENS wronged by inaccurate reporting in newspapers and magazines should find it easier to obtain apologies or clarifications once a regulatory system takes effect later this year.

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin spoke of his ambition to catapult the business “to the top of the premier league” this week if his attempts to land Dutch bank ABN Amro are successful.

IRISH people should devote two hours a week to volunteering work in their community, a new advisory group has recommended.

CITIZENS are rightly concerned that the electoral register for Dáil elections is accurate and fully inclusive. But Government is also responsible for ensuring that elections to the Seanad are fully democratic.

Top-flight players ranging from banks and insurers to brewer Scottish & Newcastle and miner Anglo American will be updating the market during a busy few days for corporate news this week.

Royal Bank of Scotland put investors on standby for another strong set of results today after seeing “good progress” over the first part of the year.

Royal Bank of Scotland is set to generate one quarter of its profits from the United States after agreeing a £5.8bn (€8.5bn) acquisition last night.