It is still very early days in the Covid-19 outbreak from an Irish perspective, though it may not feel like it.

As it happens, going by Thursday’s giant jump to 191 cases in a single day, we could be looking at about 450 new cases come tomorrow night, writes Cianan Brennan

Despite the Government’s best efforts, Ireland — perhaps predictably — descended into something approaching hysteria yesterday afternoon.

“They want to be shut out, hence no serious effort to form a government of the left.”

Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to press his rival Micheal Martin for equal treatment for Fine Gael if it enters coalition with Fianna Fail.

Negotiating teams are set to ramp up talks to form a government next week with senior ministers, party managers and leaders all weighing into what could take a number of weeks to cobble together a new coalition.

A bitter personal row between Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin marred the first day’s sitting of the 33rd Dáil, which failed to elect a Taoiseach.

Fine Gael's parliamentary party meeting has heard strong calls not to go into government with Fianna Fáil.

A vote for Ceann Comhairle first order of business in 33rd Dáil, says Cianan Brennan.

Fianna Fáil is set to pave the way for coalition talks with Fine Gael after rejecting any possibility of forming a government with Sinn Féin.

Fianna Fáil calls for Fine Gael to support it in government from the opposition benches have been dismissed as “arrogant” and “unworkable”.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is under fire for failing to sanction a party councillor who subjected Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to a personalised attack about his race and family status.

Mr Varadkar defended the government's record on trying to help people off the street, but also said several times that the injured homeless man had been known to support services.

The woman was found, in a freezing and very distressed state, outside the GPO on O’Connell Street shortly after 9pm by a homeless volunteer who runs a soup kitchen for the homeless every Thursday night.

GDPR hovers over the continuing standoff between a government department and the Data Protection Commission, writes Cianan Brennan.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out a taxpayer bailout of the Football Association of Ireland, as the FAI outlined that its liquidation is a serious possibility should such a move fail to materialise.

Demands have been made to clarify who knew what, and when, as concerns were raised over a potential unofficial policy to pay off criminals to ensure housing construction sites were not attacked.

The controversy over the Public Services Card appears to be unspooling on a public relations basis, rather than a legal one, writes Cianan Brennan.

Questioning the Data Protection Commissioner’s judgment gives lie to the contempt with which the State holds privacy rights and the office itself, writes Cianan Brennan

The incident at the Douglas Village Shopping Centre is an exceptional one, one which insurance sources and loss assessors we spoke to struggled to put a timeframe on, writes Cianan Brennan.

Health Minister Simon Harris has responded to the report on removing private care from public hospitals by saying he believes “passionately” in universal health care.

The Irish Medical Organisation says there is no evidence that capacity or waiting lists will improve by banning private patients from public hospitals.

Cianan Brennan Housebuyers are confident prices will begin to fall next year, with many believing the market has reached a tipping point.

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, faced calls for her resignation last night as the fallout from the Data Protection Commissioner’s investigation into the Public Services Card continued.

A rapist released from prison last January has been jailed for 18 months for breaching the conditions on a suspended sentence.

A plumber with Dublin City Council who threatened to put a bullet in the head of two work colleagues has received a fully suspended sentence.