The commission set up to examine water charges has confirmed that it will hold all meetings behind closed doors, despite initial signs that there would be public hearings.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney insists that Ireland remains committed to water charges, despite the current suspension.

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Former chairman of the Labour Court Kevin Duffy has been appointed as the new chairman of the expert water charges commission.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney expects to appoint a new water commission chief by this weekend, as he goes to Brussels to stop the EU fining Ireland for suspending water charges.

The Government have been left scrambling to find a new chairperson for the commission on water charges after its chairman was forced to resign over his views and comments.

Joe O’Toole’s decision to step down from the newly formed expert commission on water charges leaves the group rudderless, without direction, and in need of a new chief.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

The Anti-Austerity Alliance have called on the newly appointed head of the expert commission on water charges to resign, complaining that he is a supporter of the levy.

The chairman of the new water charges expert commission has slammed left- wing politicians’ views and also said Revenue could examine taking over collection of the levy.

The new head of an expert commission on water charges says its members will look at an “equitable” model of payment for water and produce a report by the end of the year.

It was a case of no pain, no gain for Daryl Murphy this weekend as the Republic of Ireland striker broke his nose scoring Ipswich’s opening goal in their 2-1 Championship win at Fulham.

The signs summed up the story: “Our Road Is A Mess — We Want Progress.’.

Public sector workers and those in semi-state agencies should be given “reward” payments if they work over and above their required duties, the junior finance minister has suggested.

A campaign group advocating a reform of Seanad Éireann rather than its abolition has said that the removal of the upper house would silence dissenting voices, limit debate, and amount to a “power grab” for the Government.

A campaign to save the Seanad, involving a number of prominent historians, academics and political personalities, will be launched today, promising to strongly oppose the Government’s “populist” proposal to abolish the Upper House.

A Government minister has accused the umbrella body for credit unions of trying to dilute a bill which would improve governance of the troubled sector.

Abolishing the Seanad for a money-saving soundbite is a knee-jerk reaction that will only consolidate more power in the hands of Dáil incumbents, writes Michael Clifford

CONTROVERSIAL Senator Ivor Callely said a member of the committee who investigated his expense claims was a “sham” and part of a “lynch mob”.

SENATOR Joe O’Toole has demanded that the Minister for Foreign Affairs send a cable of protest to Cardinal Brady in Armagh.

I AM disappointed that Senator Joe O’Toole whom I usually have great regard for has adopted such a high-handed approach in relation to the abortion judgment expressed by the European court of human rights. (December 18).

INDEPENDENT Senator Joe O’Toole has launched a blistering attack on Catholic primate Cardinal Sean Brady over his reaction to the abortion judgment by the European Court of Human Rights.

RTÉ executives have dismissed as “unfair” accusations that the broadcaster’s online content represents improper competition to the newspaper industry.

THE future of the Irish newspaper industry is threatened by public service broadcaster RTÉ’s dominance of the advertising market, the Oireachtas communication committee was informed yesterday.

WE NORMALLY don’t feature shows that are only available on satellite/cable, but The Walking Dead (Friday, FX, 10pm) is causing enough of a stir to warrant a mention.

THE Government will be obliged to promote a new EU-wide hotline for missing children from May 2011 – even though the service will be unavailable in Ireland for the foreseeable future.

LAWYERS acting for Senator Ivor Callely have rejected claims by a Seanad Committee that the courts do not have the jurisdiction to hear his action.

A SEANAD committee’s finding that Senator Ivor Callely misrepresented his normal place of residence to claim expenses was “a political judgment” against the senator by his peers, the High Court has heard.

SENATOR Ivor Callely’s legal action aimed at quashing a finding that he misrepresented his normal place of residence in order to claim expenses will commence before the High Court on Tuesday.

IVOR CALLELY has gone to the High Court to challenge his suspension from the Seanad and sue his fellow senators who recommended the sanction.

Senator David Norris writes serious revision is required in the Seanad, otherwise it would be better to shut up shop

IVOR CALLELY tried to claim expenses from his West Cork holiday home in 1994 but was rebuffed, a Seanad probe has heard.

“YESTERDAY’S history and tomorrow’s a mystery.” So declared Ivor Callely at the Seanad probe investigating his travel expenses.

SENATOR Ivor Callely has insisted he did not break any expenses rules — but vowed to cough up the money if he was proved wrong.

SENATORS of all hues have called on their Fianna Fáil colleague Ivor Callely to explain why he was claiming mileage allowances based out of his holiday home near Bantry.

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe was unable to give a timeframe last night for full implementation of a law passed in 2004 to give educational rights to people with special needs.

FINE GAEL senators have been likened to “turkeys voting for Christmas” after accepting party leader Enda Kenny’s decision to call for the abolition of the Seanad.

IRELAND is being prosecuted through the European Court of Justice for its failure to adopt international auditing standards.

THE Vatican should break its silence and come clean on what it knew about systemic clerical child abuse in Ireland, Labour foreign affairs spokesman Micheal D Higgins has demanded.