The Chairman of the Dáil, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, has said pending reforms as to who Committees operate would negate any need for sanctions for politicians who break the law.

There have been calls for a new standards body to set rules for Oireachtas committees and for members to be trained following a significant Supreme Court ruling.

Some of the country's top public officials have warned the Angela Kerins judgement could cost the taxpayer “millions of euro” in damages.

Ex-Rehab boss Angela Kerins said she is “very disappointed” by her High Court defeat in her case against members of the Public Accounts Committee.

The next Ceann Comhairle will be able to lobby the Government on behalf of their constituents, it has emerged.

TDs may have to vote on whether the Oireachtas will defend a lawsuit launched by Denis O’Brien against a committee and its members in relation to comments made about his banking arrangements.

Tycoon Denis O’Brien’s legal action over speeches made in the Dáil in relation to his banking affairs with Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) has been adjourned to October.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin yesterday suggested a strong defence should be prepared to challenge businessman Denis O’Brien’s legal action against the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Following the last general election, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission obtained independent research into public awareness and knowledge of the Oireachtas.

Banks are to be asked to cough up some of the cost of running the banking inquiry which will examine decisions and actions of some of their top executives in the run up to the €440bn state guarantee.

Private debt collectors are to be employed on an “ongoing basis” to chase up unpaid Dáil bar tabs running into tens of thousands of euro.

Details have emerged of yet another State body that has had to make a substantial tax settlement.

Gerry Adams has asked the Oireachtas to provide mental health services for TDs and senators who are reluctant to access treatment in their local areas due to "societal stigma".

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has been hit with significant penalties after it was found to have carelessly under-declared its tax liabilities for taxies used by staff to commute from work.

The setting up of a parliamentary banking inquiry is gathering pace, with Oireachtas sources suggesting that its work will begin before the Dáil summer recess.

Fine Gael’s claims that the abolition of the Seanad will save €20m per year were cast in serious doubt last night after the Houses of the Oireachtas wrote to the Referendum Commission warning that the €20m figure related to costs and “may not fully translate into savings”.

Clashes have been sparked by Government claims on how much shutting down the Seanad will save taxpayers.

Almost €1m in legal fees has been paid by the taxpayer to the legal team of former judge, Brian Curtin, to cover the cost of a Dáil inquiry into his fitness to be a judge.

THE Government took a brief break from taking an axe to public services last week in order to bulldoze through its labyrinthine €112m Oireachtas budget without any potentially embarrassing debate.

Proposals to filter emails sent to TDs and prevent “waste” from clogging up mailboxes are being considered following a recent avalanche of complaints.

WHEN it emerged that thousands of calls had been placed from within Leinster House to vote for Michael Healy-Rae in a 2007 reality TV programme, the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil was blunt in his assessment.

TDs and Senators will be publishing their expenses online and in full from today.

A new regime of expenses for our TDs and Senators has been agreed.

SEAMUS KIRK, a Fianna Fáil deputy for almost three decades, has been elected the new Ceann Comhairle.

Seamus Kirk was elected as the new Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil by a margin of 87 votes to 51, and promised to play his part in parliamentary reform.

A LETTER writer to the Irish Examiner during the week asked if the manner in which John O’Donoghue was essentially forced to step down as Ceann Comhairle was “trial by media and mob justice.” There can be little doubt that there was an element of this in what happened. People are becoming dangerously exasperated.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has admitted that the controversy surrounding the expenses regime for politicians is damaging to the political system.

The Minister for Finance is coming under pressure to speed up the reform of TDs' expenses following the news that the auditor charged with overhauling the system resigned because he was being ignored.

The auditor responsible for overseeing the expenses regime for TDs and Senators has accused politicians of ignoring his proposals for reform.

LABOUR welcomed the late night announcement that John O’Donoghue is to resign from the position of Ceann Comhairle having cornered him into doing so by proposing a motion of no-confidence.

EMBATTLED Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue is defiantly clinging to his job despite growing anger over his expenses bill and pressure from the Opposition to consider his position.

THE revelations about the brazen extravagance of the members of the House of Commons came about when information was leaked to the press.

Unprecedented pressure was heaped on Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue today after a senior Government minister branded the expenses controversy a running sore that needed dealing with.

In the run up to the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the opposition parties obviously had little stomach for a political confrontation over the extravagant expenses of John O’Donoghue as Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism.

A GARDA-DRIVEN Audi A6 travels from Dublin to collect John O’Donoghue at Kerry Airport when he flies home to his constituency for weekends at the expense of taxpayers, it has emerged.

OPPOSITION TDs are to demand answers from Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue on why he trebled the number of staff in his office which costs the taxpayer almost half a million euro a year.

THE cost of the day- to-day running of the Oireachtas has more than doubled since 2004 while the number of civil servants has increased by more than a third.

A GROUP of Fianna Fáil TDs have told Finance Minister Brian Lenihan they will oppose any effort to get them to “clock in” so that their attendances in the Dáil can be monitored.

IRELAND spends more supporting its national politicians than comparative parliaments, yet six members of the Oireachtas are not satisfied with their salary.

THE Oireachtas imposes no limits on the amount of credit TDs and senators can claim in the Dáil bar and restaurant, leaving them free to run up massive tabs for food and drink.

THE number of Oireachtas committees should be slashed according to proposals currently with the Department of Finance.

POLITICIANS in Leinster House have been told to take a 10% cut in their expenses under cost-saving measures announced last night.