The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against plans to develop a large, fast-food, drive-thru restaurant close to a primary school in north Dublin.

Inspections will be carried out on 231 high-rise buildings to ensure their external cladding is not a fire hazard.

Ronald McDonald House provides ‘a sense of normal’ for families with children confined to hospital in Dublin, writes Deirdre Reynolds.

The Government has been accused of “presiding over the demise” of Bus Éireann as the country faces into a nationwide bus strike.

The Government has been accused of “presiding over the demise” of Bus Éireann as the country faces into a nationwide bus strike.

Opposition parties are to raise whistleblowers’ concerns on the management of air corps staff exposure to hazardous chemicals in the Dáil today.

The Labour Party has unveiled its new look front bench with several former ministers covering multiple portfolios.

The race to replace ex-tánaiste Joan Burton as Labour leader began today after almost three months of a phoney war between the main potential successors.

Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan will compete for the role of ceann comhairle when the new Dáil votes on the position during a secret ballot tomorrow.

If Aer Lingus is sold to IAG, Ireland could end up owning a version of it again in future, if New Zealand’s experience is any guide, writes Kyran FitzGerald.

Nearly €4 out of every €5 spent on education goes on pay and pension, writes Gerard Howlin

Temperatures have been so cold in the Supreme Court due to a faulty heating system that the chief justice brought a thermometer to court so she could send the readings to the minister in charge.

Government TDs opposed to the sale of Aer Lingus are set to meet unions this week amid growing speculation that the Cabinet is to sign off on the drawn-out €1.3bn deal by the middle of April.

A showdown over job losses and connectivity routes to Heathrow, as well as the development of Cork and Shannon airports looms in the proposed €1.4bn Aer Lingus takeover, as Labour TDs increased the pressure for a tougher deal.

Grass-roots members have overwhelmingly rejected plans to sell the State’s “jewel in the crown”, Aer Lingus, unless IAG agrees to an independent valuation of the firm alongside further regional connectivity and jobs guarantees.

The Labour party national conference has passed a motion calling on the Government to obtain certain guarantees around employment and other issues at Aer Lingus if it is to accept any future offer from IAG.

Senior Labour figures have ruled out expressing support for €1.36bn offer to buy Aer Lingus until after the general election.

Aer Lingus shares fell in Dublin trading amid growing political opposition to a takeover bid by IAG, the owner of British Airways.

While taoiseach in 1982 Charles Haughey fulfilled the invitation to the White House for St Patrick’s Day that had been extended to his predecessor Garret Fitz-Gerald. Mr Haughey then invited the president to Ireland on a state visit.

Vital court services are at a tipping point after years of “very severe reductions in funding and staff” and need immediate investment to ensure the safety of existing services and fresh value for money plans.

Families of seriously ill children and adults awarded a combined €1.3bn in compensation through wards of court system are being “locked out” of any role in how the State invests the funds.

Paramedics have told a Limerick murder trial that the victim was found in a pool of blood with puncture wounds “everywhere”.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has ruled out the introduction of a minimum effective corporate tax rate.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has ruled out the introduction of a minimum effective corporate tax rate.

Limits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.

The country’s judges have reacted angrily to cutbacks to mobile phone and textbook allowances.

A win wasn’t part of Vinnie Byrne’s grand design in yesterday’s HSI /Blue Grass Spring Tour at Maryville Equestrian Centre in Cork, so when it came it proved a nice bonus.

Separating couples anxious to avoid taking their child custody and property battles to court have been turning in increasing numbers to the Family Mediation Service.

It is reported that children have received letters from Revenue demanding payment of the property tax.

The head of a Government-appointed advisory group on tax said millions of euro in potential savings from reforms of child benefit payments should be spent on childcare and service supports.

The new chairman of the Simon Communities of Ireland has called on Nama to disclose details of its vacant property portfolio after a minister said empty houses and apartments could be used to ease homelessness.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore launched a blistering attack on Fianna Fáil after the party warned it would table a motion of no confidence in Health Minister James Reilly.

There are “no knives” out for embattled Health Minister James Reilly, insisted a Labour Party Cabinet colleague last night, as opposition parties moved to try and oust him.

Health Minister James Reilly faces political exile after Opposition parties announced plans to table a motion of no confidence in him.

Yesterday’s confirmation in the Dáil from Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin that the Government will extend Freedom of Information legislation to all public bodies, including An Garda Síochána and the Central Bank, is very welcome.

The Katie Taylor machine rolls on to Waterford tonight after a unanimous victory over American Liz Leddy at the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork last night.

THE Government has slashed over €10 billion from the planned spend on roads, railways, schools and other infrastructure for the next five years.

With all bar four of the 43 constituencies in the General Election finished counting, the country’s political scene has undergone a sea change.