Juno McEnroe Political Correspondent

The plight of the Catholic Church in Ireland, beset by scandal, dwindling numbers, and rapid change in the surrounding culture, is an ironic juxtaposition — in terms of timing and context — with the Labour Party.

The double standards and discomfort of Michael D Higgins’ self-appointed adherents is comedy gold, writes Gerard Howlin

Patient advocates Vicky Phelan and Stephen Teap have warned that the Government is trying to delay a review into CervicalCheck smear tests as it will show that up to another 200 women were misdiagnosed.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has confirmed that the Government wants to nail down a date for the next general election and that it would “make sense” to go to the polls in June 2020.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has raised concerns about the North being left in limbo without peace and infrastructure funds as attention focuses on efforts to avoid a hard border.

The wimmin’ are gone entirely mad. Losing the run of themselves. Nothing will ever satisfy them now. 

The prospect of a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael grand coalition is even closer, with Micheál Martin refusing to rule out the arrangement after the next general election.

It’s Tuesday night and dotted around the bar is an EU commissioner, a former education minister, the secretary general of a government department as well as a scattering of local and national politicians.

Ireland’s healthcare system is crumbling with overstretched acute hospitals attempting to treat patients with equipment that is increasingly obsolete, consultants have warned.

An Garda Síochána is in crisis and must urgently change now or risk failing to ever reform, the head of the commission into the future of policing has warned.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has revealed that the money has been found to pay for €170m in water charge refunds and departments will not be asked to cut services to help foot the bills.

Lucinda Creighton has said she will not get involved in any campaign ahead of next year’s referendum on abortion.

Simon Coveney has defended the first-time buyer’s grant but conceded that all housing policy will have to be examined ahead of the budget.

IT isn’t often that a nationalist southern newspaper is in agreement with a lofty, unionist member of Britain’s House of Lords, but it is hard to argue with the logic of Ulster Unionist, Peer Lord Empey, regarding the Taoiseach’s contradictory remarks over Brexit.

Many lone attackers share information on their plans prior to the attack, which gives hope that their family or friends will tell the authorities, writes Cormac O’Keeffe            

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has revealed radical plans to overhaul the social welfare system, in what is seen as the start of his bid to become the leader of Fine Gael.

A border poll may undermine relations with the North and would be “unsuccessful”, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has insisted.

The head of the EU’s police agency said it is “only a matter of time” before the bosses of organised crime gangs, such as the Kinahan cartel, are “caught and locked up”.

Thousands of social media posts of suspected Islamic extremists living in Ireland are being viewed every week, security sources have told the Irish Examiner.

The Taoiseach must be given “space” to negotiate the best deal for Ireland in relation to Brexit, a Fine Gael MEP has claimed.

The head of Europol does not believe a border poll or the reunification of Ireland would spark a return of terrorism in the North.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has pledged local authorities will significantly ramp up their housing construction after just building 72 units last year.

The head of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has said its growth figures, which were dubbed ‘leprechaun economics’, do not reflect reality and a new system of measuring the economy is now being developed.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has opened up the possibility of a border poll in the context of Brexit negotiations.

A Sinn Féin TD says it's "quite possible" that his party will have a new leader within the next five years.

The new system of politics is not working and must be reviewed, according to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

The new system of politics needs to be reviewed according to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

Bafta award-winning Irish actor Stephen Rea says the Government has let down the arts.

When England was being blitzed during World War 2, one of the main factors in maintaining the morale of the population was the strong, confident and decisive leadership of Winston Churchill.

The impact of austerity cuts and the State’s contractually driven approach to the healthcare professions must change if hoped-for improvements are to be realised, writes Ray Kinsella

Irish Water has sent bills to 90,000 ghost houses, as it struggles to get to grips with the identity of its customers.

The MacGill Summer School is nothing more than a ‘talking shop’ or junket for ‘has beens’ or ‘wannabes’. It offers nothing constructive to help solve problems of this country.

A person’s right to a home and adequate housing should be enshrined in the Constitution, a leading social justice campaigner has demanded.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised to put more cash back in people’s pockets, and said Irish emigrants were not returning home because they would be “screwed” for tax.

After a trend, this column is today being presented as an inquiry into inquiries, writes Michael Clifford

Rising employment and a larger collection of taxes could help fund free GP care for adults under a proposal being considered by Health Minister Leo Varadkar.

Irish Water has confirmed it suffered a loss of €139 million in 2014 as both the chairman and the chief executive of its parent company, Ervia, admitted “mistakes” were made in how the water utility evolved in its first year in operation.

The former head of Bord Gáis has warned that Ireland will not meet its energy targets by 2020 and will face fines of up to half a billion euro per year unless a “ground changing and radical” white paper on renewable energy is produced.

Irish Water “came up short” due to a series of failures, the head of the utility’s parent company has admitted.

The troika told Joan Burton Ireland would “have to give us everything you have” in a flash of “vicious bluntness” the Tánaiste revealed.

BDSM, Bertie’s unbelievability, and bad marriages dominated as the opening of the MacGill Summer School took some unusual twists.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has admitted to tensions within the Coalition as she said it was too early for Labour and Fine Gael to consider a pact at the general election.