Two of the country’s leading homeless organisations have revealed it is cheaper for them to borrow from commercial banks than to apply for loans through the Government’s Housing Finance Agency.

The largest trade union in the country has backed next week’s mass rally against water charges as protesters vow to bring the capital to a standstill with their opposition to the levy.

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.

Government ministers last night stood over budget cuts as frustrated TDs came under pressure from constituents to demand a U-turn on some of the tougher measures.

A grassroots Labour movement aimed at taking policy development away from highly-paid “handlers” and giving it back to ordinary members will be launched next month.

IT was hardly blue murder, more a case of bureaucracy gone mad.

Embattled senator Ivor Callely was tonight facing a Garda investigation over allegations he used forged documents to claim expenses.

A senior Government Minister has said Ivor Callely still has a case to answer in light of fresh allegations over his expenses.

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has made a formal complaint to Gardaí concerning Ivor Callely's expenses.

THE Green Party leadership has been accused of a “con job” by grassroot members who were kept in the dark about major parts of the NAMA plan when they voted to support it at a special convention last month.

THE minister in charge of the drugs strategy has “serious concerns” about this year’s cocaine awareness campaign, which cost in the region of €500,000.

IF BRIAN COWEN was a sports coach and the junior ministerial line-up his team, yesterday’s changes would probably rank as fairly substantial. Three players were kicked off the panel and five faces brought in.

FIANNA FÁIL was last night accused of a “clear breach of the Programme for Government” by one of the Green Party’s most vocal TDs.

Dublin City Councillor Bronwen Maher has put her name forward for the election to choose the new chairperson of the Green Party.

A GREEN Party TD yesterday said he was “not surprised” by any of the evidence presented to the Mahon Tribunal given the culture of corporate and political donations which has long existed.

An extra 200 buses should be purchased and Dublin’s Westlink toll barrier raised at peak times to help struggling commuters, it was claimed today.

The Progressive Democrats today pledged to slash the tax burden on low and middle income earners if the party gets into government after the next General Election.

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty was ejected from the Dáil tonight for attempting to raise an issue about the risk to households from sub-standard gas pipes which could leak or explode.

A code of conduct should be introduced to ensure politicians deal sensitively with issues relating to EU citizens working in Ireland, a TD urged today.

Youths should be made to take off their hoods in shopping centres to cut shoplifting and prevent intimidation in the run-up to Christmas, it was demanded today.

MINISTERS were ordered by the Taoiseach last night to hold “clinics” for Fianna Fáil backbenchers every Tuesday night.

CONSTRUCTION on a €9.5million building for the North Western Health Board began before formal funding for the project had been secured, a Dáil committee heard yesterday.

A TOWN with 10,000 homes is to be built in west Dublin after approval was granted by An Bord Pleanála yesterday.

Political Editor