Newly appointed chief whip Regina Doherty has denied there will be paralysis in the implementation of legislation due to the cross-party consensus now needed.

Leo Varadkar was seen as the major loser in Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s new Cabinet, given his demotion to the Department of Social Protection.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have had to row back on their positions on Irish Water and water charges and no one has an answer for those who have been paying their bills, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has pledged to “intensify” efforts to form a lasting government and said that all options will be examined after calls for his party to open negotiations with Fianna Fáil.

Efforts to encourage more women to enter politics have suffered a setback as a result of the failure of the Taoiseach to include any female TDs in his junior ministerial appointments, it has been claimed.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing a backlash from backbenchers after his decision not to promote any female Fine Gael TDs to junior ministerial posts.

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".

As nominations open for the job of Labour leader, one backbencher has outlined for the need for a "generational shift" to revitalise the party.

One of the Dáil’s leading backbench TDs has called on all political parties to fund a counselling service to help TDs and senators cope with some of the abuse they receive from the public.

Fine Gael has put in place counselling services for TDs and senators who may be “experiencing difficulties” in their professional or personal lives after the tragic death of minister of state Shane McEntee last year.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are set to address a series of “town hall”-style meetings over the coming weeks as Fine Gael takes its abolition of the Seanad roadshow to the country.

Senator David Norris is unlikely to face any sanctions when a complaint is lodged against his “sexist” language towards Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty.

A Fine Gael TD is to lodge a formal complaint over what she says are sexist comments by Senator David Norris.

Labour backbenchers are pushing their ministers to introduce a higher rate of tax in this year’s budget for people earning over €65,000.

People would vote to abolish the Dáil if they were given the chance, a TD has warned as the future of the role of the Seanad came under fire.

Government plans to tax maternity benefit have been branded the “nastiest” part of the budget and effectively a “tax on childbirth”.

TENSIONS are growing between the Coalition partners in the run-up to the budget, with some in Fine Gael claiming savage cuts will be necessary because Labour is protecting the pay of public sector workers.

A number of rural bus services face the axe with other routes to become less frequent because of falling passenger numbers, it emerged today.

Meath East TD Mary Wallace has confirmed that she is one of the junior ministers who will lose their jobs in the reshuffle being announced by the Taoiseach this afternoon.