Interest rates are expected to be left on hold when Bank of England officials announce their last policy decision before the British General Election tomorrow.

Freedom of movement is a basic human right in states around the world, including in this Republic, where such liberties were hard won by people down the years.

Norman Baker has quit as a Home Office minister, complaining that working under Home Secretary Theresa May was like “walking through mud”.

We could see a general election where a large number of independents are elected

JUSTICE Heather Hallett reviewed a Government assurance scheme for fugitive republicans linked to almost 300 murders.

The EU should stop obsessing about who becomes head of the European Commission and focus more on promoting growth and engaging with the electorate, according to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

Negotiations between the Coalition Government on the detail of water charges are continuing with the focus now on who will qualify for the remediation package.

Portugal’s lenders yesterday started their final evaluation of its performance under its bailout, with further reforms on the agenda and the question of a standby loan when it exits the programme next month still unresolved.

The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is insisting there is no rift in the Coalition government over the property tax payment methods.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen has heaped praise on the Coalition Government’s efforts to wave goodbye to the Troika, saying he hoped Ireland would not need a second bailout.

MUSCLING in on popular culture is all the political rage in Britain at the moment with even deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg hosting his own radio phone-in.

Portuguese politicians are poised to authorise an unprecedented set of tax increases despite concerns that the latest austerity package will deepen the bailed-out country’s recession.

According to Mr Éamon Ó Cuiv in the Dáil, Ireland and other EU members are expected to approve three treaties, including the Fiscal Compact Treaty.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore argued the Government acts only in the public interest - just hours after a violent protest disrupted his party's national conference.

OUTRAGED Labour TDs have pledged “blood on the walls” if the Coalition Government tries to push through cuts in child benefit and welfare rates.

“THE real function of a fiscal council is to speak truth to power, to remind governments of harsh economic facts they may not want to hear, when they least want to hear them — at budget and election time. How will the Coalition Government respond in deed to the bold advice given by the newly established Irish Fiscal Advisory Council?”

TOO scared to run a candidate for the presidency, Micheál Martin is left looking like a politician on the run from the people.

THE Coalition Government has rushed to stamp out any suggestion of a rift between them over plans to scrap premium Sunday and overtime pay rates for low-paid workers.

Political Reporter Juno McEnroe looks at the winners and losers of the Seanad elections

THE failure to impose losses on senior bondholders to help pay for the latest bank bailout could go down as the Coalition Government’s first election lie.

Ireland was bracing itself today as the Government prepared to unveil the most feared budget in living memory.

Independent TDs are now adding to the pressure on what is left of the Coalition Government.

The cost of doing business in Ireland is slowly eroding the Celtic Tiger boom, it was claimed today.

NEVER before was the number of Green Party deputies so appropriate to get into government.

A senior Irish Government minister today called for a sense of perspective in the deepening crisis facing his boss, premier Bertie Ahern.

The deepening crisis facing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern over cash payments he accepted when Minister for Finance in the 1990s was tonight sharply dividing his Government.

More than 21,000 low-income families are to get extra social welfare cash in 2006 in a bid to tackle child poverty, it emerged today.

THE State paid for a teenage girl to travel abroad for an abortion in 2005, the Irish Examiner has learned.

IRELAND’S EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy yesterday stood over his decision to announce an ambitious decentralisation programme in his last Budget as Finance Minister two years ago.

Sinn Féin today refused to rule out tax increases if the party gets into government, but said any rises would be fair and committed to delivering better public services.

PEOPLE earning over 100,000 a year should be subject to a top rate of tax of 45%, the Green Party said yesterday.

Political Editor

DEBATE on the status of Ireland’s neutrality is certain to be rekindled by today’s shock revelation that an Israeli request to transport 28 Patriot missiles to the United States through Shannon Airport was granted by the Coalition government.

THE Government said last night it would reject any attempts by the EU Commission to introduce a tax on children’s clothes and shoes.

AS deputies depart the Dáil for three months it is timely to assess the record of the Coalition Government.

The Coalition government are being called upon to answer a series of questions about the Flood report.

THE Labour Party is turning its back on neutrality and deserting public service workers by backing the Nice Treaty, the Green Party said yesterday.