A GOVERNMENT TD has clashed with the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) over the stormy issue of granting licences to net hares for the coursing season which commences next month.

IN a landmark prosecution under new ethics legislation, a former Fianna Fáil TD yesterday denied misleading Revenue to obtain a certificate to satisfy the Standards in Public Office Commission that he was tax compliant.

IRELAND is in danger of sliding down “a slippery slope” into euthanasia, a leading Fine Gael TD and suicide expert has warned.

THE Taoiseach should urgently recall his cabinet and reconvene the Dáil in order to deal with the mounting industrial crisis in Shannon, Fianna Fáil backbenchers insisted last night.

FIANNA FÁIL members of a committee asking the Government to review its policy on the release of school exam results insist they support Education Minister Mary Hanafin’s firm opposition to school league tables, despite an apparent split from the party line.

ANTI-CORRUPTION measures must be further improved to enhance people’s confidence in the Government, Dáil and other public bodies, the State’s ethics watchdog has said.

The Standards in Public Office Commission has expressed concern at the length of time it is taking to resolve issues surrounding the tax affairs of Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins.

The number of people who died by suicide in Ireland rose by 3% last year, it emerged today.

Fine Gael senator Michael Finucane has spoken out about his experience of being kidnapped by the IRA 14 years ago.

CHANGES to community employment schemes will allow over-55s to serve for six years, but won’t actually increase the reduced numbers of places on FÁS programmes.

THE father of a young woman who hanged herself hours after being transferred from a private hospital to a public ward vowed last night to pursue the Department of Health though the courts until he got justice for his daughter.

MINISTERS were ordered by the Taoiseach last night to hold “clinics” for Fianna Fáil backbenchers every Tuesday night.

FIANNA FÁIL backbenchers yesterday backed John O’Donoghue’s call for Michael McDowell to change the controversial ban on children being in pubs after 9pm.

THE difficulties caused by the 9pm ban on children in pubs were predicted by the opposition when the law was introduced last year, Fine Gael tourism spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said yesterday.

The State's ethics watchdog has postponed an investigation into former Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins, who had a bogus non-resident account.

FINE GAEL last night chose Cork South Central TD Simon Coveney as their European election candidate to replace retiring party MEP John Cushnahan in the South constituency.

FIANNA FÁIL TD Michael Collins could be jailed for six months and or fined over 3,500 after his tax affairs were yesterday referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Dáil has heard that Limerick West TD Michael Collins has no special arrangement with Fianna Fáil and the Government.

POLITICIANS are entitled to their views, but the smoking ban is here to stay, said Health Minister Micheál Martin yesterday as yet another backbencher publicly opposed the move.

DRINK-DRIVING Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright last night made an emotional apology to his party colleagues for the embarrassment caused by his offence.

FINE GAEL yesterday accused the Taoiseach of “appalling leadership” and “disgusting government” in his handling of the Michael Collins tax evasion affair.

FIANNA FÁIL denied last night that pressure applied directly by the party leadership led disgraced tax evader Michael Collins to resign the party whip.

THE credibility of the Taoiseach’s leadership was on the line last night as two errant Fianna Fáil TDs refused to resign, despite admitting tax evasion and drink driving.