The Defence Forces’ training camp in the Curragh features “bad sanitary conditions” and is "not fit for anybody”, members of an Oireachtas Committee claim.

The joint Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs and defence has been urged to visit Naval Service headquarters to investigate for itself how bad manpower levels are.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has been urged to visit Naval Service headquarters to investigate for itself how bad manpower levels are.

A €10 million package to increase allowances for members of the Defence Forces does not go far enough to stem the exodus of soldiers leaving the army, according to Fianna Fáil.

Gerard Craughwell thinks it would be a good way to recognise unsung heroes across the country doing important work.

Businessman and TV personality Gavin Duffy will formally enter the presidential race within a week after leaning heavily on Fianna Fáil to allow councillors to nominate a contender for the role.

Your lunchtime headlines:

Fine Gael are expected tonight to consider allowing party councillors back a non-party candidate for the presidential election, a move that will likely help Independents get nominated.

It could be argued that Gerard Craughwell — one of the potential candidates for the presidency — has dented, if not wrecked, his prospects before the starting gun has been fired.

Your morning headlines

Potential presidential election candidate Gerard Craughwell has risked undermining his campaign by claiming the highest office in the country is a “meet and greet job” that has no impact on the general public.

Independents are moving closer to securing the required numbers to get a candidate into the field for a potential presidential race to challenge Michael D Higgins.

President Michael D Higgins has sharply denied he timed his announcement to seek a second term in order to block other candidates from challenging him.

Sinn Féin remains convinced of the need for a presidential election, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald saying she is mulling over a list of names before a party meeting later this month.

Poor Gerard Craughwell. Those Fianna Fáil feckers. How could they do it to him?

Children may be compelled to hand over their mobile phones to their teachers at the start of each school day if proposed legislation introduced in the Seanad is passed.

Okay folks, it’s showtime! The late PJ Mara’s open invitation to electioneer and party would have nothing on President Michael D Higgins, writes Gerard Howlin.

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has won a fight to keep his ministerial post after a power struggle with Independent Alliance colleague Sean Canney over who should be the junior minister.

The naval service is facing a personnel crisis, having failed to secure sufficient numbers for its latest recruitment class.

Last Sunday, the great and the good gathered on a cold and breezy O’Connell St for the annual Easter Rising commemoration, writes Daniel McConnell.

Independent senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh will decide whether to run for the presidency after the Eighth Amendment referendum. He has been offered financial aid for a campaign that could cost half a million euro.

The position of President of Ireland should be contested by way of an election, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald says, adding that her party has plenty of suitable candidates.

President Michael D Higgins has given his strongest hint yet that he may seek a second term at Áras an Uachtaráin, saying he has laid “solid foundations” so far during his time in office.

RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan is “most unlikely” to be the Fianna Fáil candidate to become president, party figures have said.

Special medals given to members of the Defence Forces to commemorate the 1916 centenary are being sold on Ebay and similar online auction sites.

Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly is considering running for president and says he has the support of politicians and sporting communities.

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has signalled that she wants to run to succeed Michael D Higgins as President.

Fine Gael senators have warned that the introduction of minimum alcohol pricing will see job losses and floods of shoppers crossing the border if changes are not enacted in the North at the same time.

Just two-in-five farmers wear sun screen.

The Labour Party has said it would back and campaign for Michael D Higgins if he was to seek a second term as President.

Plans to scrap the Good Friday alcohol ban will not end the block on sales in restaurants and other areas because of legal loopholes in the proposed legislation.

Plans to scrap the Good Friday alcohol ban will not end the block on sales in restaurants and other areas because of legal loopholes in the proposed legislation.

Senators are fighting to end the “outdated” law that bans pubs from serving alcohol on Good Friday.

“Who is Gerard Craughwell?” was the question Shane Ross asked me outside Government Buildings shortly after 6pm yesterday.

Fine Gael has been dealt a further blow after high- profile candidates failed to get elected to the Seanad.