Completion dates on approved upgrade works on five community hospitals across West Cork have been pushed out by up to three years, it has emerged.

In 1983, former Cork South West TD Jim O’Keeffe was involved in the discovery of a Russian spy ring in Dublin. His story now features in a new RTÉ documentary, writes Robert Mulhern

Mr Daly, who is Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, said he has formed his highly critical view of the influence of unions within the health service over his 14 years as a public representative.

The power of trade unions in the health sector is the greatest barrier to reform and progress, newly appointed minister for state at the Department of Health Jim Daly has said.

Deeply disappointed Fine Gael TDs have questioned Leo Varadkar’s junior ministerial reshuffle as he faces a backlash over the lack of female appointments.

LATEST: Leo Varadkar has been accused of "undervaluing women's voices" after appointing less females than Enda Kenny to junior ministry roles.

Fine Gael members turned on each other last night as deputy leader James Reilly accused rebel TDs of using him as a “punchbag” and “proxy” in order to get to Enda Kenny.

Enda Kenny has survived a leadership heave but is still likely to face dissent in his party after a decision by rebellious backbenchers to temporarily back down.

A “rattled and shaken” Taoiseach Enda Kenny had his leadership called into question for the first time in six years by angry Fine Gael TDs and senators last night.

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.

Crunch talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael face collapse if Enda Kenny does not soften on the issue of minority government today.

Labour figures have backed acting minister Brendan Howlin to take over the leadership as recriminations break out over mismanagement of the party’s election campaign.

The fire services in West Cork were stretched as they faced a weekend of illegal gorse fires.

Enda Kenny is attempting to make up lost ground in his bid to form a government, after launching negotiations several days after Micheál Martin opened talks with potential coalition partners.

He shares the same name of a famous political figure and Independent TD Michael Collins could have a lot to offer the party.

Being a TD is not the ideal job for somebody who wants to strike a good work/life balance and it’s much worse for rural TDS who are away from home midweek. Georgina O’Halloran talked to three parents, including two women, about the sacrifices they have made and will make

A flood relief candidate hopes to be Cork South West’s very first female TD, says Catherine Shanahan

The Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) committee has been invited to appear before a Dáil committee on environment and local government to discuss its controversial merger report which has split the region.

A massive expansion plan for the country’s premier whitefish port will have a significant economic impact on the fishing sector in the West Cork region, Deputy Noel Harrington believes.

Efforts to 'Reboot Ireland' have failed to make a dent on the political landscape.

Government TDs have said the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland should be considered as pressure mounts for an emergency Dáil debate on the Gaza crisis.

GAA president Liam O’Neill is convinced people will have a deeper understanding of the Sky Sports media rights deal after yesterday’s Oireachtas committee on transport and communications debate.

Every address in the country will have a new seven character postcode by early 2015.

The Government comfortably survived one of its biggest tests yet, as TDs last night approved the first crucial stages of the coalition’s welfare budget cuts in the Dáil.

A Government TD has accused campaigners marching today against proposed changes to the West Cork ambulance service of “reckless scaremongering”.

Schools in West Cork have to hold five fundraisers per year to keep services running, a survey shows.

A 92-year-old woman has been told she must wait four years for an appointment to check if she needs a hearing aid.

TDs and senators claimed more than €600,000 in expenses in December, the latest figures show.

EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has been urged to take action if universities are found to be wasting public money after it emerged they spent more than €750,000 on taxis in the last two years.

A CRUMBLING pier could leave an island population stranded in west Cork.

MORE than 50 schools have been added to the Department of Education’s Summer Works Scheme for a range of repairs and other projects to be carried out during the school holidays.

Dunboy Castle near Castletownbere, Co Cork, was meant to be a dream six-star hotel. Instead, despite massive investment, it lies idle, reports Catherine Shanahan.

THE average age of Cork’s Dáil representation has dropped by eight years since the last general election in a reflection of the changed face of politics after last Friday’s ballot.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin last night defended his decision to field more than one candidate in constituencies across the country.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

THE Government made no effort to seek a pairing arrangement with the opposition before deciding to use the jet to allow a junior minister attend a Dáil vote, Fine Gael said last night.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has said a drunken drive involving one of his deputies, which has now sparked a Garda probe, should not have happened.

The Garda Commissioner is seeking a report into an incident involving a Fine Gael TD at Leinster House to decide whether further action is required.

BY any standard, the alleged behaviour of Cork South West Deputy PJ Sheehan, who reportedly threatened to damage the career of a garda who prevented him driving his car from the Dáil because he was “extremely intoxicated”, is unacceptable of an elected representative.

A NIGHT of high drama in the Dáil saw the Government scramble to victory but lose three of its supporters over a Green Party animal welfare law.

Fianna Fáil today condemned drink drivers who break the law after one of its TDs was arrested over the Bank Holiday weekend.