Fianna Fáil has called for a 5% rise in rent supplement; a rent cap scheme that would outlaw increases of more than 10% at any one time; and the building of 45,000 more social houses to tackle the crippling housing crisis.

Air passenger information should be more readily exchanged between European states in order to prevent terrorist attacks and co-operate with the US on security issues, the foreign affairs minister has said.

Brian Cowen called a senior economist who took part in a golf excursion with him and Anglo Irish directors for advice on the night of the bank guarantee – the only external expert who was asked for their opinion.

Enda Kenny will today announce the new minister for justice with much speculation last night pointing to Fine Gael party chairman Charlie Flanagan as the likely successor.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen has heaped praise on the Coalition Government’s efforts to wave goodbye to the Troika, saying he hoped Ireland would not need a second bailout.

The Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party has said that neither the Taoiseach nor the party are to blame for the Government losing the referendum to abolish the Seanad.

The Government will spend nothing on top-of-the-range Audi cars to ferry EU officials around for the presidency, but the car manufacturer will receive “prime-time advertising” on air, a senior Fine Gael figure said.

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 small number of private schools have refused to co-operate with a Department of Education review of the €100m annual bill for teachers in fee-paying schools.

Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan has questioned how Health Minister James Reilly’s plan to ban smoking in cars will be enforced.

Labour TD Liz McManus is to quit the Dáil at the next election, she revealed today.

The body of a man missing for two days was found dumped today after he was shot dead in the first gangland-style killing of the year.

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern has demanded the Bank of Ireland explain why new security procedures, to prevent raids like yesterday’s €7 million robbery, were not adhered to.

Brian Cowen will be the next Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, it was confirmed today.

The Tánaiste and Finance Minister Brian Cowen is expected to be appointed Fianna Fáil leader without a contest next week.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and Education Minister Mary Hanafin have both come out in support of Brian Cowen as the new leader of Fianna Fáil.

A global anti-corruption organisation has raised questions about the appropriateness of former Junior Minister Tom Parlon's new job as head of the Construction Industry Federation.

THERE were no wigs on the screen but skin and hair almost flew when two of the leading political ladies went at it over education spending yesterday.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s trenchant defence of his café bar proposals was roundly criticised yesterday by fellow Government TDs and by organisations opposed to their introduction.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell’s plan to introduce café bar licences is set to trigger the biggest backbench revolt in eight years of coalition government.

NOT a single euro has been raised yet through the Government’s highly publicised sell-off of State lands and buildings.

MINISTER for Education Noel Dempsey yesterday defended his track record on special needs education as parents protested about cutbacks.

A TRADE body has instructed the country’s leisure centres to ban mobile picture phones amid fears of paedophiles preying on children in swimming pools.

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy last night defended the 3% increase to the education budget next year and stressed the Government had given the sector €2.4bn extra over the years 1997-2003.

The forthcoming abortion referendum should be scrapped because of the lack of calm debate, according to Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan.

A Fianna Fail TD has lodged a complaint against the deputy leader of Fine Gael, Jim Mitchell, with the Public Offices Commission about a possible breach of the electoral act.