Structures are not in place for a border poll and a national dialogue is needed to ensure all voices are heard ahead of any such vote.

Britain's likely next prime minister Boris Johnson has been warned he will not be able to win the Brexit stand-off by "sloganeering" and must put his "ego" to one side if he is to find a solution to the crisis.

He was a respected commentator, a man of sharp intellect, an inspirational strategist and a driving force in modern politics.

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

MEP Brian Hayes has called for a grand coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in government for five years in order to hold the centre ground and a majority in the Dáil.

The head of AIB has warned that Brexit will weaken Irish financial institutions as foreign firms relocating here will poach the best talent with better pay offers.

Promises to increase the state pension look set to be stalled after Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar admitted a rise of €5 a week in next month’s budget would eat up all his funds.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has strongly hinted at his interest in leading Fine Gael and of having a vision for the party and the country, ahead of a pre-Dáil conference next week.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has further distanced himself from talk of a post-Brexit united Ireland poll after the North’s first minister, Arlene Foster, told him to concentrate on “reality” instead of “summer school” comments that cause “instability” in the province.

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            

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

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

Young people are drinking increasingly dangerous amounts of alcohol, junior health minister Kathleen Lynch warned yesterday as she called for a national conversation about excessive boozing.

Nine months after the Seanad was saved, we’re still wondering why it was retained, writes Prof Gary Murphy

The head of the Jack and Jill Foundation says the new Health Minister was foolish to address plans to overhaul the medical card system, before an expert panel reports on the issue.

Former tánaiste Michael McDowell has said "it is the business" of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to explain to the Dáil the controversial circumstances surrounding the resignation of the Garda Commissioner.

Joan Burton has called for the Constitution to be reviewed every five years ahead of a series of referendums scheduled to take place next year.

The selection of Frenchman Cyril Roux as financial regulator and deputy Central Bank governor in succession to Matthew Elderfield has caught a few people on the hop, although the appointment has received a broad, if cautious, welcome.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been challenged to a head-to-head debate on TV on the future of the Seanad by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who accused him of avoiding public discussions.

I listened to Enda Kenny at the opening of the Macgill Summer School in Glenties, recently and was pleasantly surprised and impressed.

The middle classes “who live in leafy suburbs” must refrain from recreational drug use in order to curtail the power of drug barons and the spread of narcotics in jails.

The head of the Revenue Commissioners has def-ended the property tax and declared that it is fair and equitable for citizens as the scope of charges is wide.

Not before time, some home truths about Ireland’s flourishing drugs trade were spelled out yesterday at the MacGill summer school in Donegal by a man who knows what he’s talking about, Inspector of Prisons Judge Michael Reilly.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been challenged to promise he will reform the Seanad if its abolition is rejected by the people in October and to introduce radical political reforms.

Dáil backbenchers have criticised the political party whip system in place for parliamentary votes and called for political reform.

The future of the Green Party was thrown into disarray last night as its leader, Eamon Ryan, announced that he intends running for election in the European Parliament next year.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said his embattled junior minister John Perry should be given time and space to deal with a court order to pay €2.5m in debt.

Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton has apologised to Cork property developer Michael O'Flynn as part of a settlement of his defamation action against her.

I have attended MacGill Summer School for 30 years.

In her recent article, Martin needs to offer hope and solutions (Jul 27), Patricia Casey — commenting on his recent MacGill Summer School address — criticises the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, claiming he “seems to find it very hard to talk about the Catholic Church in an upbeat way”.

THE hypocrite now crash landing on the runway of cheap publicity is the delayed Leo Varadkar descending from Planet Pompous.

Leo Varadkar laid himself open to accusations of hypocrisy last night after he criticised media interest in the use of the government jet during an attack on journalistic standards at the MacGill summer school.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is unable to detail more than 4,000km of travel he has claimed expenses for.

HOSPITALS who fail to clear their lists of patients waiting over a year for procedures will have funding pulled, Health Minister James Reilly announced.

LEAVING Certificate pupils look set to be rewarded for studying science as Education Minister Ruairi Quinn examines the possibility of giving students extra points for taking up subjects.

THE future of 2,800 jobs at Superquinn has been secured after its directors dropped a legal challenge to put the business into examinership.

A group representing bank officials has reacted angrily to a call from the Financial Regulator for the cap on bankers' pay to be scrapped.

A CAP of €500,000 on bankers pay should be scrapped and lifted so banks can attract fresh talent and new leadership, according to Financial Regulator Matthew Elderfield.

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey was branded an arrogant “latter-day prince” last night after his use of the Government jet drew fire.

MYSTERY speculators were allowed to make massive junk bond profits from Anglo Irish in the run-up to the bank guarantee scheme, Enda Kenny last night claimed.

THE Greens last night ratcheted-up pressure on Fianna Fáil for radical reform of corporate donations to political parties by calling for legislation by the end of the year.

AH, the smack of firm Government! How we have missed it these past three years.