Being the son or daughter of a politician can get you elected, but may be an unfair point of comparison once you are in office, says Political Correspondent Elaine Loughlin.

The Government’s Judicial Appointments Bill is no longer a “dog’s dinner” but rather a plate of “caviar and oysters”, Transport Minister Shane Ross has said.

While the recommendations to repeal the Eighth Amendment and to allow unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy will be put to politicians next week, it remains unclear if they will back the plans.

Ireland is set to travel a bumpy — and very expensive — road in the journey to meet its clean energy and carbon emission reduction targets, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

A row has erupted in Kerry after members of the Healy-Rae political dynasty were accused of “shamelessly” taking credit for the work of other councillors.

The Healy-Raes are defending their high attendance at funerals in Kerry, and also the so-called ‘bereavement packs’ they send to the families of deceased constituents.

I spent a major part of last week on my knees praying for good weather. 

The Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is coming under fire in Kerry for not pursuing an early offer of a senior ministry; and there is criticism also that the Healy-Rae team — who voted different ways on Friday — did not secure a specific deal for Kerry.

After Danny Healy-Rae's climate change comments, many are searching for answers.

Danny Healy-Rae’s pronouncements in the Dáil last night on climate change and how "God above is in charge of the weather" have left many shaking their heads.

The Healy-Rae brothers are split on their support for a minority Fine Gael Government.

Time is now the enemy as policy issues need to be decided for government, writes Michael Clifford

If the current political drama was a movie, it would be if not Back To The Future then at least Back To The Past.

Deeply frustrated Independent TDs will decide this morning whether to vote against Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin’s bids to become taoiseach rather than abstain as previously expected.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny looks set to defer the vote for taoiseach in the Dáil which was due to take place next Wednesday, it has emerged.

The eldest daughter of Danny Healy-Rae has been co-opted onto Kerry County Council in a seat vacated by her father on his election to Dáil Éireann.

Kerry is already experiencing a historic Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalition — the two parties have united on Kerry County Council and now support each other.

Not a cow milked in the Kingdom last night by the looks of things.

Arthur Spring — in his own words — is in a dogfight for North Kerry’s final seat but the nephew of the former Labour leader tells Tony Leen there is still everything to fight for

With minutes to spare before the 12pm deadline, the Independent councillor for the Killarney area, Danny Healy-Rae, surprised everyone and handed in his nomination papers to run in the 2016 general election.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has released a 2016 election song, which proclaims he is so busy covering the new huge constituency of Kerry” there is no time for tae”.

There is an old saying in rural Ireland that the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. These are wise words that were never lost on the Healy-Rae political dynasty from Kilgarvan in Co Kerry.

Spontaneous and warm tributes by councillors and management were yesterday paid to Irish Examiner journalist Donal Hickey at his last county council meeting after almost half a century.

Not even the rise of Sinn Féin, which took the last seat in South and West Kerry and out-polled Labour in the Killarney area, could dwarf the gigantic performance of the Healy-Rae organisation.

Johnny Healy-Rae is tallying an impressive 3,141 votes in South and West Kerry on his first time before the electorate.

It’s scaling the heights of election gimmickry to place candidates’ photographs on top of Ireland’s highest mountain, but all’s fair in the war of politics.

A heated row erupted at yesterday’s meeting of Kerry County Council while a motion on hedge-cutting was being discussed.

At least Jackie Healy-Rae was partly right when announcing at the start of yet another TV probe into the Kerry political dynasty: “We’re like Santa Claus, we’re everywhere”.

The controversy surrounding a call to relax the drink-driving laws for rural drivers has taken a sinister turn, with members of the Healy-Rae political family receiving death threats.

‘Irish Examiner’ reporter Donal Hickey, who has lived most of his life in the countryside, says easy access to transport colours city dwellers’ opinions on relaxing drink-driving laws for those in rural areas

One of the biggest weddings ever witnessed in Kerry saw a member of the famous Healy-Rae political dynasty tie the knot with his long-time sweetheart on Saturday.

WE’VE all seen the late-night TV ads in which the sultry voice whispers: “Hot girls in your area waiting by the phone now, call: 1590....”

CELEBRATED sports commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh got a rousing welcome in sunny Killarney where he was parade Grand Marshal.

SO THIS Government dies as it has lived — to the sound of ravenous dogs feeding off what’s left of Ireland’s economic carcass.

ONE of the country’s most colourful TDs, Independent Jackie Healy-Rae, is to step down from public life – but his county councillor son Michael has been put forward to contest the next general election in Kerry South.

“LIVE from his no-expense-spared tour of London, Kerry and Cannes, heeeeere’s the rock n’ roll Ceann Comhairle – Johnny Junket!”

THE ethics registrar of Kerry County Council is investigating a conflict of interest allegation against Independent Fianna Fáil councillor and leading plant hire contractor Danny Healy-Rae, it was confirmed yesterday.