Hate is just emotion, however distasteful the comment, whomever the target. It should not be prosecutable, unless it becomes incitement or violence, says Margaret Hickey

Like a lot of podcast genres — and browsing a bookshop — when it comes to book shows, it’s about finding what suits you.

THE multibillion-euro betting, gaming, and gambling industries in Ireland are regulated by arcane laws, principally the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act and the Betting Act of 1931.

I want to thank Michael Clifford for his caustic, abusive and deeply personalised review of my new book Frenzy and Betrayal. In a single article he starkly illustrated an important issue my book addresses which undermines trust in Irish journalism — the incapacity of some journalists to reassess false narratives in which they are heavily invested and the tendency to contemptuously reject any challenge to such narratives.

Back in the 1970s, a few years after Bob Dylan released Blood on the Tracks, he was being interviewed about how it was such an outstanding album.

It's never a good position to be in when people are laughing at you rather than with you, to be the butt of all jokes. If you’re a political party it’s tragic.

Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he still does not understand why Government-commissioned barrister Seán Guerin went out side his terms of reference in his report into allegations of Garda misconduct by Sgt Maurice McCabe.

Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe has settled his legal action against the State, the HSE and Tusla for an undisclosed sum.

Something has to change.

Former professional boxer Jim Rock has lost his claim for damages against ex-justice minister Alan Shatter following a collision between their cars on a road in south Dublin.

The legal professions will no doubt forcefully reject the almost unprecedented challenge made by Isme, the small and medium business representative organisation, to the Oireachtas finance committee yesterday.

The amount paid out by the State Claims Agency (SCA) in damages concerning medical negligence claims totals over half a billion euro over the past two years.

The justice minister claims he wants to sit down with McCabe and discuss his legacy. It’s all a far cry from the government line just a few years ago, writes Michael Clifford.

I can only imagine what a bittersweet weekend it must have been for Frances Fitzgerald and Nóirín O’Sullivan.

As a senator, Frances Black has recently been battling against Israeli settlements, but she is also looking forward to gigging again with her old friends, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

All Fine Gael members selected to run in the next general election will gather today, adding to speculation that Leo Varadkar is preparing to go to the country.

The time to go is gone. If it were ever a plan in the Government to cut and run for a general election the moment has passed.

Former justice minister Alan Shatter has launched a scathing attack on Transport Minister Shane Ross, accusing him of “bombastic fakery” and “fantasy politics” over his plans to reopen Stepaside Garda Station.

Former garda commissioner Martin Callinan briefed celebrity solicitor Gerald Kean for almost an hour before a radio appearance in which Mr Kean questioned and criticised whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Following a series of high-profile scandals, the Department of Justice has become the new ‘Angola’ writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

Former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald directly contacted the Garda commissioner in 2015 to raise concerns that issues relating to whistleblower Maurice McCabe were not being resolved.

The old saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Micheál Martin was born under a lucky star. It’s called Fine Gael. He inherited a once-great political edifice in ruins and his own reputation in tatters. Nothing survived the deluge, writes Gerard Howlin.

It was her action, or inaction while in Justice that finally led to Frances Fitzgerald’s downfall, writes Elaine Loughlin

And the kicks just keep on coming for Poor Frances, writes Daniel McConnell.

Everybody is rushing to stand at McCabe’s shoulder. There is no risk now, writes Michael Clifford

The Department of Justice is now, in some ways, considered the new ‘Angola’ of Irish politics, writes Juno McEnroe

The Office of the Attorney General yesterday backed Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald’s decision to take no action when she was told of the Garda legal team’s alleged strategy to discredit Maurice McCabe in May 2015.

She is either the least curious justice minister in the history of the post or else she is smart enough to know when not to ask a question if you don’t want to know the answer.

Since he first approached the body politic bearing his uncomfortable truths, Maurice McCabe has been a thorn in the side of successive governments, writes Michael Clifford

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin...

We have a free legal aid system and because those who represent criminals are assured of payment they are happy to put forward a case on the criminal’s behalf. 

“Justice delayed is justice denied” is a legal maxim which states that legal redress that is not delivered on time is the same as no redress. 

The horse and greyhound racing industries have banned the long-standing practice of allowing under-age on-track gambling.

The court poor box has been used more than 1,300 times in the last three years in spite of the Government saying in 2014 that it was to be scrapped and replaced with a fund to help victims of crime.

A senior Government Minister is rejecting claims that Shane Ross's politics are contaminating Fine Gael.

Alan Shatter says Shane Ross's politics is "contaminating" Fine Gael.

There are “substantial” managerial and cultural problems in the Garda Síochána — but efforts to address them should not “completely undermine” the capability of the organisation to fulfil its function, former justice minister Alan Shatter has said.

The sooner we stop talking palaver about the decent men and women in the force the better. writes Gerard Howlin.