Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has said a decision by businessman Denis O’Brien to sue the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and its members, including himself, is “outrageous” and that the Oireachtas body will defend itself.

Today’s High Court clarification by Justice Donald Binchy that an injunction originally granted to Mr Denis O’Brien did not restrict the free reporting of a speech made in the Dáil is an important victory for democracy, suggests constitutional law lecturer Dr Laura Cahillane.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald will likely only face a motion of censure for abusing Dáil privilege and alleging named individuals were evading tax, says the Government’s chief whip.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said that Fianna Fáil are aligning themselves with Sinn Féin, by considering a motion of no-confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

A powerful Dáil committee is seeking to delete the names of politicians accused of having Ansbacher-linked accounts from the official record and haul in a TD who named them for a private dressing-down.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for a meeting with Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett after accusing him of bias.

The role of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Ireland’s financial crisis and any pressure it applied on the Irish Government will form part of the long-waited Oireachtas banking inquiry under terms agreed.

Former charity chiefs could be compelled to answer questions about spending state funds under proposals to beef up the investigative powers used by the Public Accounts Committee.

The launch of the long awaited Oireachtas inquiry into the banking collapse has been postponed until next month.

Former Rehab bosses Frank Flannery and Angela Kerins have been warned they may be compelled to co-operate with the Public Accounts Committee as its trawl widens into the charity’s use of public funds.

Booze-loving TDs have been tipped the wink to carry on drinking until all hours despite the public outrage sparked by the Lapgate controversy.

The long-awaited Oireachtas banking inquiry could last up to 200 days and cost €3m, TDs have been informed.

The issue of whether the late-night Dáil bar should have its hours reduced to normal bar hours is to be examined by an Oireachtas committee dedicated to overseeing rules for politicians in Leinster House.

Authorities in Leinster House are to consider shortening the hours of the Dáil bar.

A full-blown tribunal into the banking crisis has been ruled out by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Proposals for a new Dáil dress code have been taken off the table.

DÁIL Éireann will not probe the spending of €2,600 on phone calls to a TV reality show but has decided instead to ban TDs and Senators from making premium rate calls.

GREEN TD Paul Gogarty won’t face further sanction over his foul-mouthed outburst in the Dáil – thanks to the precedent set following a “fracas” between TDs in 1947.

Green Party whip Dan Boyle called on the Tánaiste Michael McDowell to withdraw remarks made in the Dáil today in which he accused Green Party chairman John Gormley of "behaving like a fascist".

Opposition leaders today complained that they are not allowed to meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who begins a four-day state visit to Ireland this weekend.

THE Supreme Court judgment that Brendan Howlin was not entitled to protect the identity of his source may prevent whistleblowers coming forward with information about wrongdoing, the Labour Party deputy said yesterday.