Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will “run as far away as possible from a domestic agenda” if a Brexit deal is agreed and he calls a snap general election.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has warned the next 24 hours will make or break any hopes of a Brexit deal by this Thursday's EU summit as fears continue to grow that an agreement will fail to be reached this week.

Top government advisers have been warned to dampen down talk of a November general election.

Homeless people feel the streets of Cork are not safe, according to frontline workers speaking in the aftermath of the fatal assault on Timothy Hourihane.

A deal may not be reached until hours before Thursday’s EU summit, Tánaiste Simon Coveney tells Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Gardaí in Cork have interviewed people who were in the tented village on Mardyke Walk where homeless man Timmy Hourihane suffered a fatal assault on Sunday morning, as it has emerged that a ‘dangerous element’ had moved into the area in recent weeks.

Surging optimism for a breakthrough Brexit deal also sent the value of the two main Irish banks, AIB and Bank of Ireland surging by an unprecedented €1.5bn by last night.

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.

An extension to avoid a crash-out Brexit has been raised by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after British prime minister Boris Johnson’s proposals fell significantly short of a deal.

Blockades are continuing at meat processing plants around the country as just four of the 20 pickets have been lifted.

“We'll stop taking time off school when they stop taking time off our future,” said Caoimhe Horgan, 15 from Macroom.

The Government has warned protesting beef farmers the future of their industry is “hanging in the balance”, insisting they will cause “irreversible damage” to their families and livelihoods if they refuse to end their stand-off with the State.

Fine Gael has promoted TD Noel Rock to replace Maria Bailey as Chair of the Oireachtas Housing Committee.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged Rural Independent TD Noel Grealish to "withdraw" or clarify his claims that African asylum seekers are in reality economic migrants coming to Ireland to "sponge" off taxpayers, amid growing calls for him to resign.

Government ministers take issue with Higgins over ‘political matters’

Tánaiste Simon Coveney denies that the Government is preparing for up to 10,000 tourism and hospitality sector jobs to be lost by Christmas in a worst-case scenario Brexit amid growing demands for the cabinet to reveal its full Brexit plans.

A “huge communications failure” is how the latest CervicalCheck scandal, which left thousands of women in the dark for months about their test results, is described in a damning report.

The Port of Cork is doubling the size of its customs building in Ringaskiddy due to the increasing likelihood of a hard Brexit.

Central Bank warns also of major economic slowdown, sterling crisis

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan is facing demands to explain the “murkiness” of her role in the Maria Bailey swing case after an independent report confirmed she gave her colleague “initial” legal advice.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he wants to hear what incoming British prime minister Boris Johnson has to say about how he intends avoiding a hard Brexit.

The Government has joined the growing backlash against US president Donald Trump’s racist attack on four Congresswomen.

"To be honest I don't think I will be going back, ever."

Male naval personnel were forced to change on the side of a road and female colleagues in a mini-bus with no curtains before Sunday’s national commemoration events after a room set aside for them was allegedly used for a “VIP reception”.

The Government is seeking to downplay fears that surging nurses’ pay deal costs could force the health service to seek extra funds or cut back services. , insisting money is available to operate the system.

The Green Party leader has said he would be open to going into government after the next election.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has asked the EU to reappoint ex-Fine Gael minister Phil Hogan to a €270,000 a year commissioner role, despite farmers accusing the EU agriculture commissioner of “selling them out” over the Mercosur beef deal.

The leadership issue has been put on the back burner before the general election but unless there is a positive result, the knives will be out for Brendan Howlin, writes Political Correspondent

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is to deliver a personal apology to Majella Moynihan, who was threatened with dismissal from An Garda Síochana for having pre-marital sex with another garda recruit and for giving birth to a baby out of wedlock.

Ireland South will be without any representation in Europe for almost two months as a marathon €1m recount gets under way.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar plans to visit the Dublin communities living in fear after three daytime gangland murders in recent days.

The race for seats in Ireland South has heated up as Labour candidate Shelia Nunan and Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle have both been eliminated in the 15th count.

All four European parliament seats have been filled in Dublin but counting continues in South and Midlands-North West.

Dublin's four new MEP seats have finally been decided, after three days of counting.

The likely MEP elections Green gallop and a predicted left-leaning parties transfer trend could kick-start a debate about a long-overdue Irish "progressives" political bloc, writes political correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Ms Clune is one of three sitting MEPs contesting Ireland South, with five seats up for grabs. But she was placed seventh in a Red C poll.

Post-election legal action, drinking with Nigel Farage, a brother involved in anti-Government protests, EU broadband funding demands — oh, and the little matter of the Ireland South MEP race. Fiachra Ó Cionnaith meets Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly.

Ireland South MEP candidates will battle it out for crucial European election votes tonight at an Irish Examiner town hall debate with just a week to go before the national ballot.

Outspoken Independents, a celebrity candidate, and a risk that the result could cause a snap general election mean the sprawling Midlands-North West is set for high drama, writes Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must apologise directly to families whose dead relatives were treated “appallingly” at University Hospital Waterford after it emerged that two families have made formal complaints.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has twice declined to fully apologise for his response to the Waterford hospital morgue crisis to date, despite admitting he regrets how his initial comments questioning the doctors claims "came across".

New laws designed to tackle revenge pornography and upskirting are welcome but the government needs to include proper sanctions in any measures, domestic abuse charities have warned.

Opposition parties say the Government is using Brexit and financial cost fears to delay 146 badly-needed bills backed by the Dáil and Seanad from becoming law, says Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

The Government will be powerless to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s “repulsive” show-of-strength march by the New IRA-linked group embroiled in Lyra McKee’s killing unless it introduces new emergency laws.