A number of government ministers who lost their seats last weekend are planning to run for Seanad Éireann in next month's elections.

Another Labour TD has decided not to contest the general election, and has claimed that democracy has been degraded in Ireland.

Deputy Joanna Tuffy claimed that two of the country’s leading homeless charities - Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust - were not doing enough to tackle the homeless crisis.

Instead of finding sustainable solutions to housing and homelessness problems, the focus is on identifying a villain of the piece, now all we’re missing is an inquiry, says Michael Clifford

In your article ‘Bank loans “best” for homeless charities’ it is stated that I “asserted up to €500 million in funding for social housing made available by the Housing Finance Agency was left unclaimed” (Irish Examiner, August 25).

Two of the country’s leading homeless organisations have revealed it is cheaper for them to borrow from commercial banks than to apply for loans through the Government’s Housing Finance Agency.

The State has received over €12.74bn from all bank-related levies, investment income and disposal of investments since the bank guarantee of 2008.

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Mothers I know who work full-time and whose children are in primary school have full-time childminders, writes Victoria White

New building regulations and local planning appeals have delayed dozens of major school building projects this year.

Outrage erupted after a leading former IRA figure shared a blog post suggesting rape victim Maíria Cahill enjoyed a "year-long sexual liaison" with her attacker.

The Coalition is expected to announce a raft of junior ministerial appointments today including new positions in social protection and environment.

The spotlight is now firmly fixed on Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he finalises the shake-up of his junior government ranks, writes Political Correspondent Shaun Connolly

Outgoing Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has insisted the Coalition will not be plunged into instability as a result of his resignation as Labour leader. He urged his successor to keep the party in Government until the end of its mandate in 2016.

The scale at which urban property taxpayers are subsidising rural ones could provoke a renewed backlash against the levy, Government TDs have warned.

A system for parents to independently appeal schools’ refusal of children for enrolment should be kept in any new Government rules on admission, TDs and senators have recommended.

A change in leadership would not reverse the unpopularity of the Labour Party, its TDs maintain after the latest opinion poll showed it has just 6% of popular support — its lowest in more than 25 years.

Deputy Joanna Tuffy bemoans a lack of in-depth analysis in the arguments to retain or abolish the Seanad (Irish Examiner, 24 June).

A look behind the shroud and spin in Ruairi Quinn’s statements, those of the NCSE, and of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s pontificating in the Dáil last week on the special needs education cuts casts some light on what happens inside the Department of Education.

Labour backbenchers are pushing their ministers to introduce a higher rate of tax in this year’s budget for people earning over €65,000.

A Government TD has accused the Taoiseach of destroying political accountability by being “caught up in a presidential-style of leadership”.

A member of the Government has accused the Taoiseach of being anti-democratic, anti-politics and of populist nonsense over reforming politics, including planning to abolish the Seanad.

Coalition leaders have warned defiant Oireachtas members not to campaign against the abolition of the Seanad ahead of a referendum later this year.

Labour is backing plans for a top social charge for high earners as the party fights to reverse sliding support among its voters.

About 15,000 families more than expected may get financial help from the State for back-to-school costs this year as parents continue to struggle with uniform and book costs.

Self employed people will today lobby for greater access to social welfare when they appear before the Oireachtas Social Protection Committee.

A Labour backbencher has waded into the row over the resignation of Roisin Shortall by saying she was not properly supported by the Tanaiste or Taoiseach.

Anti-poverty campaigners have voiced concern about any reduction in child benefit in December’s budget.

An extra 185 public servants are earning in excess of €150,000 per annum since the start of the year, despite the crackdown on public service pay by the Government.

All schools could save on running costs with the help of the purchasing power of the education and training boards (ETBs) being set up next year.

School bodies are to be told by TDs that more must be done to ease the costs of uniforms for parents.

A grassroots Labour movement aimed at taking policy development away from highly-paid “handlers” and giving it back to ordinary members will be launched next month.

The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order will give a historic address to the Seanad next month.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today insisted that no decisions have yet been made in relation to cuts to welfare in the upcoming Budget.

Reports of a proposal to cut €10 from Child Benefit have caused some concern amongst Labour TDs.

I AM afraid Joanna Tuffy TD and Amy Catherine Brennan (Letters, Nov 11) are both missing the point when they think that boycotting the “female-only” TD and senators’ meeting that took place on November 9 is an appropriate thing to do.

I AM in strong agreement with Labour TD Joanna Tuffy in regards to her decision to boycott the female-only TD and senators meeting that took place on November 9.

A female-only meeting of TDs and Senators, scheduled for tonight, is being boycotted by one of the woman due to attend.

TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore last night defended his leadership after Labour support tumbled.