A TOP consultant who has warned of major cutbacks at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital has been told by Finance Minister Michael Noonan there is no more money and the hospital will have to make do with it’s allocated budget.

WATER charges will not be imposed on households for at least three years, the Government signalled last night.

Here is a timeline of some the major events in the life of the Fianna Fáil-Green coalition:

WHEN he was taoiseach, Bertie Ahern spoke of his intention to step down from politics when he was 60. He will reach that age next September, so stepping down at the general election means that he is essentially fulfilling that intention.

GREEN senator Dan Boyle has effectively admitted he believes Fine Gael will win the next general election.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan should do his “patriotic duty” and resign, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said.

One of the country’s most senior trade unionists today hit out at Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny’s controversial call for the national wage agreement to be scrapped.