Barry Cowen’s confession.

Fianna Fáil's Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan has accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of "disrespecting both him and his community" after being overlooked for a junior ministry.

Fine Gael Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, the former junior tourism minister, has lost out on being returned to office under the new coalition.

Micheál Martin, a savvy political operator, keeps his circle small. He has curated relationships over a number of years, and takes their counsel seriously. Although most formal appointments haven’t been made yet, his pick of personal advisors will come as no surprise to those who have observed him in Leinster House for the last two decades.

Ireland's newly-appointed Rural Affairs Minister, Heather Humphreys, has said that she doesn't think there's any concern about a lack of regional balance in the new cabinet.

It's clear that the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael attempted to improve the gender balance of their Seanad showing, with Fianna Fáil electing three women, and Fine Gael electing four.

Ms Hackett, a farmer from Offaly, and the party's spokesperson for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine was elected to the Seanad in a by-election in November last year.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will lead a beefed-up climate and transport department should a government deal between his party, Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil be approved today.

Green Party deputy leader, Catherine Martin, says that when the Taoiseach changes there will be an opportunity to renegotiate the terms of the programme for government.

TDs are to be offered direct access to the Government and potentially special treatment for their constituencies if they bolster the proposed three-way coalition.

Ms Martin also reiterated her concern that there are a number of Independent TDs who “have a different ethos” and are in conflict with the Green Party

The Fine Gael party is investigating a four-page leaflet which was sent to constituency delegates urging them to vote against the programme for government.

One of the southwest’s major tourist attractions, Muckross Traditional Farms, in the heart of the Killarney National Park, is to shut down indefinitely in September, and will operate on a very limited basis for the next two months, staff have been told.

However, saying the F-word is not strictly against the rules, a previously secret document reveals.

Did you know that calling someone 'corrupt' in the Dáil is not allowed? Yet Paul Gogarty’s “F**k You, Deputy Stagg” outburst in 2009 broke no rules.

Key Independents who are needed to bolster the three-way coalition have concerns about a lack of supports for rural areas but are still being lined up to back the new government.

The leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have agreed a programme for government.

We are now, as one TD said, in “crunch time” in government formation talks.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the surface and into the headlines underlying behavioural problems and social tensions that have been simmering for many years, one of them being adversarial clashes of interests that set city residents against the universities they host.

As the final days of government formation talks are approaching, issues around rural Ireland were back to the negotiating table.

The TD Michael Healy Rae has been refused permission for the conversion of the ground floor of a pub in Tralee to rental apartments.

Leo Varadkar has said the Government will extend the pandemic unemployment payment beyond June 8 but a date for how long it will continue has not been decided yet.

There is “no excuse” for the mass teen brawls that have been breaking out across Cork and Dublin since lockdown, a TD has said.

There are fears among some Green Party members that key areas in which they want to see "radical change", such as health and housing will be sacrificed due to concerns over the economy.

Discussions on housing in government formation talks have been "parked" due to consistent disagreement.

The group of four say Eamon Ryan is no longer the right person to lead the party and are urging Catherine Martin, the party’s deputy leader to challenge him.

In practise this means that if 20 TDs spent 3 hours meeting, and over the next two days one of them developed symptoms, all 20 would have to self-isolate for 2 weeks.

There was a renewed sense of optimism within the Green Party negotiating team after briefings with officials from the Department of Environment and Climate Action on Monday.

Deliveroo has today revealed the most popular restaurants politicians in Dublin like to order from.

The Teachers' Union of Ireland says they will work with the proposal and will meet with the Department of Education to make sure it is fair for each student.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned Fine Gael TDs about being “buoyed” up for any snap election and said his party would be in a “weak” position trying to justify one to the public.

A health and safety report commissioned as part of a review of the Houses of the Oireachtas due to Covid-19 has recommended that a compliance officer be nominated to “ensure social distancing and hygiene rules are being maintained within the chamber”.

The possibility of a snap autumn election has been raised by junior Fine Gael ministers who have raised opposition to Green Party demands to cut emissions by 7% as part of any coalition deal.

There is currently no state agency which has the statutory authority to carry out workplace inspections

Laois TD Sean Fleming has shaved all his locks off not because all the barbershops are closed due to Covid-19 restriction but for a little boy who needs life-saving treatment in the US.

Have the civil war parties gone though a sea change in one of the most contentious political issues, the price of building land? Or is it a question of spin de jour? wonders Michael Clifford

TDs are being paid unvouched travel expenses without needing to fob in to Leinster House despite the national lockdown.

The major concern about the policy framework document during the Fianna Fáil meeting was how it was going to be paid for.

Bríd Smith acknowledged that these buses are taking "emergency workers and essential workers" to and from their jobs.

Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins says he has reported them to gardaí

A number of Fine Gael ministers do not believe a government can be formed and that a second general election will be needed.

Overall, there are 36 female TDs, one more than the previous Dáil

The Social Democrats say they will look at any proposal for coalition government produced by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

It was agreed today by the Dáil Business Committee, but the decision is due to be signed off later this week.