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.

The vindicated Garda whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe, should receive a state apology and have his access to the force’s Pulse computer system restored immediately, opposition parties have argued.

A Government TD has publicly and personally apologised to Sinéad O’Connor for describing the singer as being “as mad as a brush” on Twitter following her interview with Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show.

A Fine Gael TD has today apologised to singer Sinead O'Connor for comments he made about her mental health.

Independent TD Clare Daly said she took a hot whiskey to beat a cold before being pulled in by a Garda patrol car on Monday night on suspicion of drink-driving.

Legal and constitutional challenges restrict further reductions of premium pensions for politicians and office holders, according to junior finance minister Brian Hayes.

Health Minister James Reilly has set himself on course for a battle with trade unions after declaring that the Croke Park Agreement needs to be renegotiated.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin today accused Socialist TD Clare Daly of having a "brass neck" after she questioned him about allowances and expenses in the Dáil.

Changes to abortion laws will be debated in the Dáil in April, as independent and small party TDs introduce a motion this week calling for legislation to give effect to the X-case judgment.

Embattled Taoiseach Brian Cowen defied his critics today and said he will lead his party into the March General Election and beyond.

Micheál Martin, who unsuccessfully challenged Taoiseach Brian Cowen's leadership of Fianna Fáil, has now urged his party representatives to rethink Mr Cowen's leadership.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan made his leadership ambitions known and encouraged dissent among Fianna Fáil backbenchers over the course of last year, it has been claimed.

IF the announcement that price hikes ranging from 15% to 45% in VHI premiums from next month was not bad enough, the company’s chief executive, Jimmy Tolan, has warned that continuing increases in the cost of health cover over the coming years is practically inevitable.

BRIAN COWEN has insisted he is not a “Taoiseach on probation” in an effort to quell a growing threat of backbench revolt and ease political uncertainty ahead of today’s auction of Government bonds.

Senator Ivor Callely has been suspended from Fianna Fáil - while an internal investigation is carried out by the party.

Richard Bruton is among the rebel Fine Gael TDs to survive Enda Kenny's front bench reshuffle today.

A standards watchdog today said there was enough evidence on controversial expenses claims by Senator Ivor Callely to warrant an inquiry.

Work to pave the way for the reconstruction of the railway viaduct which collapsed into the sea a week ago began today.

A GREEN Party TD has criticised Fianna Fáil for calling on RTÉ director-general Cathal Goan to consider resigning after the Brian Cowen portrait controversy.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan is being urged to drop plans for a half per cent increase in VAT in 2009 when he brings the Finance Bill to the Dáil today.

Ireland’s longest running tribunal which forced the resignation of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ended today after 10 years and a cost of €300m.

DEVOUT liberal Ivana Bacik and stanch conservative Ronan Mullen were last night poised to go head to head when the Seanad count resumes.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley is expected to be formally unveiled as the new Green Party leader tomorrow evening.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley and former MEP Patricia McKenna will fight it out to become the next Greens leader, it emerged today.

Nominations for the next leader of the Green Party are due to close today.

The Green Party in the North will have direct input into policy in Dublin, it was claimed today.

Independent TD Finian McGrath has said he hopes to reach a deal with Fianna Fáil today that will see him become a member of the next Government.

A gang who brutally battered an Estonian man to death as they hijacked his car may have struck before, it was revealed today.

A gang who brutally battered an Estonian man to death as they hijacked his car may have struck before, it was revealed today.

Child-centred policies, community gardaí and renewable energy will be Green priorities in Government, it was claimed tonight.

Northern Ireland cannot afford a postponement of Assembly Elections next March, the leader of the Irish Republic’s Green Party Trevor Sargent insisted today.

TÁNAISTE and Justice Minister Michael McDowell last night warned no one would get a “007-style” licence to kill when laws are tightened giving householders more rights to defend their homes.

The cost of a house is now 11 times the value of the average pay packet, the Dáil heard today.

The Taoiseach must sack Minister of State Frank Fahey over allegations of dodging tax, it was claimed tonight.

The Taoiseach today called on the Greens to put up or shut up about allegations on the business practices of Minister of State Frank Fahey.

A group of Fianna Fáil backbenchers is reportedly forming a new committee in an effort to get their opinions heard ahead of the next general election.

The Mahon Tribunal has heard that former Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright failed to declare almost £3,000 in donations from a leading property firm to the party's inquiry into election funds.

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.

Dangerous conditions in Irish workplaces are leading to far too many deaths, campaigners said today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today defended the decision to part-privatise Aer Lingus by saying it would secure its future.

FIANNA FÁIL Deputy GV Wright was ordered by the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday to provide details of payments, or political donations, received from developer Robert White.

Planning corruption in the 1980s and 1990s has left hundreds of thousands of victims in its wake, it was claimed today.

FORMER political lobbyist Frank Dunlop has told the Mahon Tribunal he gave a total of £18,000 (€22,855) in bribes to the late Fianna Fáil councillor, Cyril Gallagher, during the early 1990s.

The Taoiseach was today challenged to take action against a TD and senator under the spotlight of the Mahon Tribunal into planning corruption.