A former government minister has laid the blame for the crisis facing the Government over the botched water charge regime with the troika.

Five trade unions which have led the campaign to stop water charges have urged all members to join scores of nationwide demonstrations tomorrow.

Anti-water charges campaigners predict more than 100,000 protesters will be on the streets at 70 demonstrations around the country this Saturday.

It isn’t every day that Trinity College students get the pleasure of seeing their professor endure a head to toe drenching but, then, Orla Hardiman is not your everyday academic.

Files have been sent to the gardaí and DPP by political funding watchdogs in relation to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil branches.

Independents have to put egos aside and come together,writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has been accused of suffering from a “frightening” level of denial over Ireland’s ambulance crisis after a series of scandals were highlighted in the system.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has denied there is any racial profiling by the Gardaí.

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes has denied his decision to seek a Fine Gael nomination to run for the European Parliament is because he took part in the failed 2010 heave against party leader Enda Kenny.

Independent TDs accused the Coalition of attacking the old, the sick and the young while corporate profits and the wealthy are protected.

A senior official with the Department of Finance has told the High Court that promissory notes issued in 2010 by the finance minister to recapitalise Anglo Irish Bank and other institutions for €31bn were “unusual” instruments but not unlawful.

A woman illegally adopted almost 60 years ago has accused the Government of not going far enough to help her and thousands of others.

Political correspondent Shaun Connolly says three new blocs of rebel TDs want more speaking time in the Dáil, and may have designs on forming a new party

The legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances was about “the internal politics of Fine Gael” and cohesion in the Coalition rather than the protection of women, the Dáil has heard.

A special cabinet meeting on job creation will be held next week.

Calls to allow abortions in cases where a baby has no chance of survival outside the womb dominated last night’s Dáil committee meeting on amendments to the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

A leading Labour rebel has broken all ties with the party after expressing despair with its leadership.

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.

A ring of steel has been erected across both sides of the border as the world’s leaders descend on Fermanagh for the G8 summit on Monday.

A group of cross-party TDs and senators plans to table an amendment to proposed abortion legislation which would allow for terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has been branded a hypocrite over his attitude to the Mick Wallace penalty points affair.

The school principal whose criticisms of Dublin TD Derek Keating prompted a Fine Gael aide to remove and dump thousands of copies of a local newspaper has denied his actions were politically motivated.

The school principal whose criticisms of Dublin TD Derek Keating prompted a Fine Gael aide to remove and dump thousands of copies of a local newspaper has denied his actions were politically motivated.

Opposition TDs were divided in their response to the proposed X case legislation.

The privatisation of the State’s forestry agency, Coillte, “looks more un-likely every day”, according to Pat Rabbitte, the minister for communications.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste met last night as divisions deepened between the Coalition parties over proposed abortion laws which Labour sources claimed were “unworkable”.

Ulster Bank has issued a statement this evening encouraging any customers who are experiencing financial difficulty to contact the bank as soon as possible.

A South Dublin TD has today called on the Central Bank should intervene after it was revealed that Ulster Bank is sending out repossession notices to people in mortgage arrears.

It has emerged that TDs who boycott the property tax will have it deducted from their Dáil salaries.

Adoption tracing and information legislation cited as a “priority” by successive governments since 1997 has been delayed again.

Gardaí will be questioned and their phone records possibly examined by the Garda Ombudsman as part of an investigation into complaints by TD Clare Daly, who has been cleared of suspected drink-driving.

Independent TD Clare Daly has said test results of a recent urine sample provided to gardaí show a result of 45 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine, which she says is 33% below the allowable limit of 67 milligrammes

United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly has admitted she was stopped by gardaí and breathalysed last night.

IT’s almost 18 months since the prospect of changing the terms of the promissory note was first raised by Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

An election expert has said the only possible two-party coalition Government that could emerge in the next General Election, based on the most recent polls, would be Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin says he regrets the decision not to increase tax on higher earners in December's Budget.

Moves to legislate for the X case ruling were widely welcomed by the opposition as Dáil parties pledged not to “play politics” with the issue.

Medical experts and pro-choice groups welcomed plans to legislate for abortion in limited circumstances — but stressed that a broader referendum on the issue may still be needed.

Opposition parties have made a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Government to scrap the dreaded property tax.

The Government is 85% of the way though one of the steepest fiscal adjustments ever undertaken by any OECD country.

Opposition TDs have named Judge Mary Devins as one of the high-profile people who had penalty points wiped from their licences by gardaí.

A political move is under way to have departmental budgets scrutinised every three months.

An alternative budget for the Government aimed at protecting families struggling to survive has been published by left-wing TDs.

A motion put forward in the Dáil this evening, calling on the Government to legislate for the X Case has been defeated by 101 votes to 27.