For a government that promised to put an end to the cronyism and stroke politics which brought Irish politics into disrepute, the performance of the Fine Gael–Labour Coalition in this regard has been truly abysmal.

JUST 15 out of 270 doctors recruited from abroad to meet an urgent shortfall in junior hospital doctors have been cleared to start work — two months after they arrived here.

IRISH agriculture has a key strategic role in contributing to British and European Union food security, the Irish Farmers Association president Padraig Walshe declared yesterday.

IRELAND and the rest of Europe should be increasing agricultural production, not reducing it, as the world faces a food shortage crisis.

SURGICAL patients infected with the MRSA superbug spend on average an extra 18 days in hospital compared with patients who undergo surgery but are MRSA-free.

DRUGS strategy minister Pat Carey yesterday said he was “very concerned” at the sharp rise in cocaine use and said action was being taken.

THE arrest of a former IRA prisoner freed early under the Good Friday Agreement in connection with an audacious €300,000 vodka truck hijacking yesterday dealt a further blow to the peace process yesterday.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese must scrutinise the way in which the controversial Immigration Bill was forced through the Dáil, opposition parties said last night.

Fine Gael Seanad Justice and Equality Spokesperson Senator Sheila Terry said today that Gardaí should be equipped with cameras in order to record domestic violence injuries, following a dramatic drop in the number of domestic violence convictions.

Fine Gael Seanad transport spokesman Senator Fergal Browne, has called on the NRA and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council to explain why they paid €3.65m in compensation for half an acre of land.