The Health Minister has strongly defended junior minister Pat Breen over his role in the broadband tender controversy which led to the resignation of Denis Naughten.

Unlike his first hustings, Leo didn’t read straight from his script, addressing the audience directly and lobbing in a few sly jabs at Simon, writes Lisa Hand

A full State inquiry into Ireland’s Olympics ticket touting scandal was initially rejected by Government because it would “take years” to complete.

Sports Minister Shane Ross has called on senior International Olympic Committee members to intervene in Ireland’s black market ticket scandal after hitting a “brick wall” in his attempts to get answers from officials in this country.

The long-awaited Government announcement of broadband services for rural Ireland is already facing criticism amid opposition claims the involvement of private firms could see fee hikes and service cuts in the years to come.

Enda Kenny is close to securing the support of up to 10 Independent TDs after rural deputies held a vote on whether they would back him for taoiseach.

An ousted Labour TD has claimed voters will be given “one of the greatest snubs in history” if his party returns to power with Fine Gael.

Party policy is to scrap Irish Water, transfer some workers to local authorities, and lay off surplus staff

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has once again ruled out any deal with Fine Gael, saying his party “didn’t get a mandate to put Fine Gael back into government” amid growing concern the stalemate could cause a second election.

A leading Fianna Fáil TD has brushed off an incident with a water protester outside the Dáil this afternoon which saw a man grab him by the tie and throw a punch at him.

Cutting the period of bankruptcy back to a single year looks on the cards after Labour united around the move.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was accused of condemning women to inhuman torture as the Coalition voted down proposals to allow terminations for fatal foetal abnormality cases in Ireland.

Voters are tired of politicians in Leinster House talking endlessly about making up numbers, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin declared as he ruled out a coalition with Fine Gael.

Simon Coveney says he has ‘no ideological problem’ about going into partnership with Fianna Fáil, but would his party really jump into bed with its nemesis, asks Juno McEnroe

A Labour TD is insisting he won't vote for John McNulty in the Seanad by-election as the cronyism row rolls on.

Tánaiste Joan Burton used Leader’s Questions to invite Garth Brooks to climax his world tour in Dublin as the row over whether it could open in Ireland raged on.

The Government has been accused of sacking former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan on a “trumped-up charge” in a bid to protect embattled Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has been told to “get out of Dublin” and meet rural communities to see the importance of the Rural Transport Network which he plans to abolish.

One of the country’s biggest unions mounted pressure on the Government to abandon budget cuts that will hit the vulnerable.

The Labour Party has been accused of a bias against rural Ireland as it examines plans to include farm assets in means tests for college grants from next year.

A LABOUR backbencher has expressed concern over Ireland’s ability to successfully lead the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) given the financial constraints and crises closer to home.

How much can Ireland really be expected to achieve as the newly appointed OSCE chair, asks Caroline O’Doherty

PROPOSALS put forward by the Shannon Airport Authority to put the airport on a long-term lease to a private company came under fire yesterday.

TWO men were trapped in their overturned car for over half-an-hour after it crashed on Co Clare’s notorious “ugly mile” in exactly the same spot as a crash last month.

MICHEÁL MARTIN was first out of the blocks after the Fianna Fáil leadership became vacant — announcing his candidacy for the position and then watching as a steady stream of TDs declared support for him.

MICHAEL Woods last night joined the exodus of senior Fianna Fáil figures standing down at the looming election as it emerged that Defence Minister Tony Killeen will receive a golden goodbye of some €237,000 when he exits the Dáil.

SHANNON Airport would lose out on the €5 million-€10m it receives annually from the Dublin Airport Authority, to cover likely losses, if complete autonomy was secured.

Richard Bruton this evening made an eleventh hour appeal to Enda Kenny not to go ahead with tomorrow's vote of confidence, and instead to step down as Fine Gael leader.

The Government tonight comfortably won a vote on one of the most divisive issues it faced in recent times - just hours after up to 15,000 pensioners marched on the Dáil.

THE opening of Ireland’s newest Tesco store in Kilrush today heralds the beginning of a new chapter for the economy of west Clare, according to Tony Killeen, Minister of State.

FIANNA FÁIL councillors yesterday called an emergency meeting with all elected party members in the Shannon region in an effort to lobby support for Government intervention.

Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen said today's approval of a draft Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US would help Shannon Airport “go from strength to strength”.

Junior Minister Tony Killeen is coming in for further criticism today following revelations that he sought the early release of a convicted murderer in recent years.

Labour Affairs Minister Tony Killeen today refused to resign after it emerged that his Co Clare constituency office sent two letters to the Minister for Justice urging that a convicted child rapist be freed.

Síle de Valera is due to step down from her role as Junior Minister for Education today ahead of her retirement from politics at the next election.

THE Oireachtas Committee which will examine if the Constitution should be changed following the Supreme Court decision on statutory rape may repeal the emergency laws on child abuse introduced last month.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern re-ignited the reshuffle row yesterday with a blunt signal to junior minister Síle de Valera she will have to leave office this year.

INDEPENDENT TD James Breen was ordered from the Dáil yesterday after waving an Irish Examiner story about MRSA fatalities at Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and demanding greater patient safety in hospitals.

A third TD has been thrown out of the Dáil for trying to raise a health issue with the Taoiseach this morning.

Fianna Fáil TD Sile de Valera has announced her intention to quit politics after 30 years.

GALWAY’S golfers are all set to atone for the defeat of their hurlers by Cork in Sunday’s All-Ireland final following a fruitful opening day in the Bulmers inter-club festival at Rosslare.

THE somewhat expected root-and-branch changes among the ranks of junior ministers did not materialise yesterday, as only one Minister of State, Jim McDaid, was sacked by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.