A leading Fine Gael minister has backed a former Fianna Fáil senator’s bid to be returned to the Upper House.

It’s simple. If I’m heterosexual, I can get married to the person I love. If I’m not, I can’t, writes Fergus Finlay

Former president Mary McAleese is set to intervene in the marriage equality referendum campaign just days before polling and make a significant speech about why her family is voting yes.

The country’s most senior Catholic cleric has said the Church may have to stop providing marriage preparation courses if the marriage equality referendum is passed.

A controversial senator, who quit Fianna Fáil over his opposition to adoption by same-sex couples, has claimed some gay people believe marriage equality funding would be better spent on HIV tests for the community.

Supporters of gay marriage in Ireland are hoping the move to legislate for gay marriage in the UK will influence the Irish Government.

The number of women trafficked to Ireland and forced into prostitution could be cut if vice laws were reformed to target the men who pay for sex, it was claimed today.

CHILDREN of gay and bisexual parents experience homophobia in schools and in the health services, according to a new report.

A FÁS-funded project for women affected by prostitution is helping them exit the sex industry and access jobs, education, as well as courses in yoga.

The Government was today urged to roll-out tough new laws banning men from buying sex to clampdown on organised crime and human trafficking.

A major conference on sex trafficking being held in Dublin today has heard that the only way to end the exploitation of women is to criminalise the buyers of sex.

AS a former board member of the Equality Authority I wish to express my deep dismay at the resignation of Niall Crowley as its CEO.

WITH two totally unrelated strokes of a pen, the Government has managed to do what it has failed abjectly to do in the past decade, and that is to put domestic violence seriously on the political agenda.

A UNITED front of women’s welfare groups yesterday helped to secure Government funding to save the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency (NDVIA) from closure.

IF prostitutes are so prevalent in this country, if there are so many men willing to use their services, should prostitution be legalised?

THE Garda Síochána was called on yesterday to make tackling domestic violence one of its top 10 priorities.

THE National Women’s Council is to protest at the Irish Open next month if a row over membership is not resolved.

THE National Women’s Council (NWC) will not be backing the new national agreement because it fails to provide proper childcare facilities and tackle poverty.

MATERNITY pay and leave in Ireland is among the worst in Europe, according to a new report.

VICTIMS of domestic violence will soon be able to apply again for temporary barring orders against an abusive partner, after the Government introduced an amendment to the law yesterday.

A quick look at the main points of Budget 2003.

CHILDCARE providers warned last night that the VAT increase announced by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy yesterday will dramatically increase the cost of childcare.

WOMEN can be trusted with the arts but not with the country’s money is the Government’s message, according to a new study.

Woman are still treated in inferior ways - and inequality will damage the Irish economy, the National Women's Council of Ireland said at a conference today in Dublin.

Bord Fáilte was criticised today for sponsoring a tournament at a golf club that refuses membership to women.

THE National Women’s Council are planning a campaign of protest at the choice of Portmarnock Golf Club to host next year’s Nissan Irish Open over its failure to admit female members.

Child benefit increases and the removal of those on the minimum wage from the tax net are among the pre-budget proposals being put forward by the National Women's Council of Ireland.

WOMEN aged over 35 are to be targeted in a job placement scheme to get them back to work.

THE National Women’s Council paid tribute to legal rights campaigner Josie Airey, who died on Monday after a long illness.