State papers revealed justice minister and Limerick TD Gerry Collins had become aware in November 1980 that the well-known manor and estate in Adare, Co Limerick, was due to be sold.

All too often people with complex and challenging needs end up in prison because it is the only service with no waiting list, a mental health expert has said.

The man was described as having filthy feet and a rare nail disease not seen in Ireland in decades.

There is a strong likelihood the country’s military officers will reject the Public Service Pay Commission’s (PSPC) “paltry set of recommendations for increased allowances” unless the Government acts swiftly to address key issues highlighted by the association which represents them.

Leo Varadkar’s departmental staff attempted to access “inappropriate” sites including porn, gambling, and other adult material but were blocked.

The cost of funding public tribunals and commissions of inquiry into wrongdoing by state agencies and individuals will reach close to €500m by the end of this year.

Revenue is on course to have 200 additional customs staff in place by the Brexit deadline of March 29 – and is considering the recruitment of further people in the event of a no-deal.

Tusla has raised concerns about a further 748 adoption cases from St Patrick’s Guild which contain evidence of names being changed, cash payments and other “irregularities”.

Leo Varadkar has conceded the €5m strategic communications unit (SCU) may be gone next year as he accused the opposition of hurling “venomous” slurs at him and his staff over the unit.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has all but confirmed the demise of his much-feted Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), saying it is “distracting” from the work of Government.

Sinn Féin plans to table a motion in the Dáil calling for the government's Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) to be disbanded.

The Department of An Taoiseach paid out over €120,000 to two firms to help run a two-day technology event in June. Leo Varadkar opened the Data Summit at the Convention Centre Dublin which hosted speakers included vice president and chief internet evangelist at Google, Vint Cerf, and Ireland’s data protection commissioner Helen Dixon.

The Department of An Taoiseach paid out over €120,000 to two firms to help run a two-day technology event in June.

Bertie Ahern reflects on Martin McGuinness, a fellow negotiator who did his best to make peace work

French President François Hollande is to visit Ireland later this month, it emerged yesterday.

The garda ombudsman (GSOC) raised questions about the independence of the Guerin inquiry, and separately tried to get the probe to extend its timeframe to complete its work.

Gardaí are monitoring “a small number of people” but have stressed the threat level here remains low.

The Department of Justice accused the BBC of damaging the reputation of Martin McAleese in an 11-page complaint about its “seriously flawed” documentary on the Magdalene laundries broadcast last summer.

Struggling borrowers facing repossession of their home in the courts are expected to be offered increased legal support as part of the Coalition’s package of reforms on mortgage arrears.

The financial services sector has the potential to create up to 10,000 jobs over the next five years, according to a major strategy document released by the Government.

Sinn Féin's Liadh Ní Riada is going on "language strike" in her work as a Member of the European Parliament.

William Kelly, 24, continued a growing family tradition in the protection of the State yesterday.

Sinn Féin has launched a series of proposals for political reform which would alter the method of how TDs and senators are elected, would automatically make the North’s 18 MPs members of Dáil, and give members of the Assembly speaking time.

A judge found guilty of attempting to deceive an elderly friend out of half his estate is to resign.

A judge found guilty of attempting to deceive an elderly friend out of half his estate is to resign.

Gardaí, the Defence Forces, and Revenue Commissioners are accessing record levels of private landline, mobile phone, and internet records.

DERMOT McCARTHY is around long enough to know that this week’s controversy about the extraordinary pension and pay-off he received in July will pass.

Behind the clockwork-efficiency of the state dinner for Queen Elizabeth lay tales of last-minute mercy flights to Dublin, six-hour dashes across the country with smoked salmon and ‘forever secret’’ ingredients. Pól Ó Conghaile gets the real story

Cutting 30,000 public sector jobs and slashing the number of politicians by a third are among a raft of proposals unveiled today to shake-up government.

The National Task Force on Emergency Planning says it is possible that flights may not operate in or out of Ireland for a number of days.

THE Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called for investment in public infrastructure projects through a build and leaseback form of public private partnership as one way of resurrecting the state’s ailing finances.

IS Bertie Ahern among the 125,000 new users to sign up to Facebook since January?

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin has said the Government is prepared to reform Ireland's labour laws as part of the social partnership process.

FINE GAEL would appoint a dedicated minister and give him or her funding of €50 million a year to combat anti-social behaviour.

IT dawned on me this week why the Comptroller and Auditor General publishes a report on the overspending by various Government departments every year.

Harry McGee, Political Editor

CRUCIAL business expertise and acumen is to be made available free of charge to the voluntary sector through the Boardmatch initiative launched yesterday by the Secretary General at the Department of An Taoiseach, Dermot McCarthy.

BERTIE AHERN yesterday turned the tables on one of the most trenchant critics of the Government’s decentralisation programme, Professor Ed Walsh, and also lashed the “gombeen” opposition to the plan.

AS a representative of the surviving children of Garda Richard Fallon, who was murdered on Arran Quay on April 3 1970, I am delighted to see that a commission of investigation is to be established by the Government.

The video evidence in the trial of a garda accused of assaulting a colleague outside the Department of An Taoiseach was not available, a court heard today.

THE child abuse inquiry collapsed last night after chairperson Justice Mary Laffoy announced she will resign.

THE Taoiseach’s top officials have been holding ongoing secret meetings with Independent TDs who previously propped up the Government.