RTÉ’s top 10 highest-paid presenters earned a combined pay of more than €2.6m in 2014, the broadcaster has revealed.

Our glorious Taoiseach believes this nation’s little people would be happy for him to remain at the helm well into the 2020s, with his ‘regime’ following a path similar to that of the Kim dynasty in North Korea.

RTÉ has received a dressing down for remarks fashion designer Paul Costelloe made on air that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland found offensive to women.

A fashion designer who talked about Irish emigrants “damaging” young English virgins has been criticised by a broadcasting watchdog.

For a reformed party boy, you would have thought boxer Kenny Egan would be more choosy about parties these days.

“Fine Gael TDs relieved at Peter Mathews departure,” reports Michael O’Kane (Irish Examiner, Oct 4). They were relieved when George Lee left, as well.

WOULD we even notice if the Irish government shut down?

Fine Gael abortion rebel TD Peter Mathews quit the party yesterday as other Fine Gael TDs expressed “relief” the Dublin South maverick had gone.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has ruled out removing the Government’s €500,000 pay cap on bankers’ salaries.

Comic Dave McSavage is turning his gaze on the big questions, says Richard Fitzpatrick

DAVID Bobbett, a global entrepreneur and a major shareholder in H&K International, was on a fast track to becoming a fatal statistic. On the face of things he was an unlikely candidate.

It would go on forever, wouldn’t it? After all, look at the value of property. Up went the price of your house: Boom. Then there was a stage 4. This was the big dump where everyone got dumped, and dumped upon

“It would go on forever, wouldn’t it? After all, look at the value of property. Up went the price of your house: Boom. Then there was a stage 4. This was the big dump where everyone got dumped, and dumped upon.”

Love him or hate him, Charlie Bird will be missed on our TV screens. But is that really because of his news skills, asks Padraic Killeen

Without any fanfare, one of the country’s best-known journalists bowed out from his on-air career with RTÉ after almost 40 years with the station.

Iconic RTÉ reporter Charlie Bird has announced his retirement after 38 years on the airwaves — but insists he wants “new challenges” in an apparent push for bids from rival stations.

Listening to the Business Programme on RTÉ Radio (Jun 2) presented by George Lee, I was very surprised to hear George asking American Ambassador Rooney what economic advance he would give the Government.

Enda Kenny will today mark 10 years as leader of Fine Gael.

SATURDAY

WHY would the news of an imminent Central Bank forecast fill a reasonably sane man with foreboding?

SATURDAY

THE budget contains “plenty of maggots” and is “really going to bite”, former Fine Gael TD George Lee has warned.

ON the eve of an EU summit, where a draft new treaty emerges, expect a return of the “no alternative” brigade.

JOHN FITZGERALD will go forward for ratification as the new Limerick U21 hurling manager at a board meeting tonight with former senior star Ollie Moran set to fill a role as a selector in his management team.

THE parachuting of Pat Cox, former Fianna Fáil, Progressive Democrat and independent politician and latest blow-in to the ranks of Fine Gael to contest the presidential election, should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

A FATHER and son yesterday sat side-by-side in a council chamber, ensuring the continuation of the Healy-Rae political dynasty into a third generation.

WAKEY, wakey. The alarm clock is set early this morning for our new cabinet.

FIANNA Fáil has been all but wiped out in Dublin, reduced to just one TD in the city as a swathe of ministers were toppled.

INDEPENDENT TD for Dublin South, Shane Ross, has held out the prospect that Fine Gael could form a Government with the support of “like-minded” independents following the election of the largest ever number of non-party candidates across the country.

Shane Ross says he's "no George Lee", and will stay in the Dáil for as long as his supporters want him there.

DID you hear the one about the big British star who walked into a pub in Ros Na Rún?

OUTREACH AWARD

BANKING expert Peter Mathews denied he was another “George Lee” being parachuted into national politics as he was unveiled as Fine Gael’s newest recruit yesterday.

THE arrival of Shane Ross, journalist, author and senator, into the general election campaign, seeking a Dáil seat in George Lee’s old constituency of Dublin South, is not just significant in itself: it could lead to other similarly minded individuals pitching themselves to the electorate, offering themselves as new legislators to add to the public voices they already use.

Senator Shane Ross is to run in the upcoming General Election.

2010 was a disastrous one for Taoiseach Brian Cowen, but he is far from alone, writes Shaun Connolly, Political Correspondent

FINE GAEL has secured permission from the High Court to bring proceedings aimed at forcing the Government to hold by-elections in Dublin South and Waterford constituencies.

Fine Gael has been granted leave by the High Court to bring a legal challenge to the Government’s delay in calling the Waterford and Dublin by-elections.

Fine Gael is going to the High Court today to put pressure on the Government to call the Waterford and Dublin by-elections.