Election fever has gripped political parties ahead of an expected announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the country is to go to the polls.

Ireland is not alone in finding it difficult to settle on a fair, yet moderate, scale of rewards — politely known as compensation — for those who put themselves forward for election as public servants.

System of unvouched expenses to end but certain perks remain

The Government has ruled out setting up a system of community banking for consumers on the basis that post offices and credit unions are already prevalent in areas.

Fine Gael's problems in Waterford have escalated as Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey has announced he will not contest the next General Election in Waterford.

Councillors look set to get a €8,000 pay rise but could be asked to abide by stricter rules for their expenses.

Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey has settled his High Court action over a newspaper article which he said defamed him when he was likened to an 18th-century highway robber in an article about boundary changes in south Kilkenny.

Elections for Limerick’s first directly elected mayor are to be held in 2021.

Voters in Limerick City and County could be casting their ballots for their first directly-elected mayor in 2021, a year ahead of schedule.

The Irish people can no longer be bought with their own money. That’s a “take-away” from last Friday’s poll.

Micheál Martin has lashed out at Fine Gael's John Paul Phelan for interfering with the electoral process over the two 'cold storage' EU seats.

The Green Party has urged the government to go back to the drawing board on proposals for directly-elected mayors in Cork and Waterford and engage people through a Citizens Assembly process.

Political parties agree that, for the first time in years, the local elections this week really are about local issues, on everything from housing to the environment to policing to dog-fouling.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney says he is “frustrated” that much of the discussion about a directly elected Mayor for Cork, Limerick, and Waterford has focussed on the salary that would come with the position, and asked the public to inform themselves on the responsibilities of the role.

If there is a yes vote, legislation will be required before the first directly-elected mayoral elections in 2021.

Cash incentives for female candidates in the upcoming local elections will benefit established parties more than Independents.

The Government is under fire amid confusion over who will bear the additional costs of directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney's first flagship PR event on the imminent directly elected mayors vote was dramatically disrupted tonight by left-wing protesters who accused Fine Gael of destroying the country.

‘Corca Dhuibhne’ is on the map after John Paul Phelan, the junior local government minister signed a statutory instrument to change how the electoral area in west Kerry is referred to in the upcoming local elections.

Directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick and Waterford will act as champions for the city regions as counterbalances to development in the capital.

Too many of the reactions to the latest round of discussions on the idea of directly-elected mayors for some cities were sadly indicative of how the trust, the mutual sense of participation, between citizens and elected representatives has become so very stretched.

Supporters of directly-elected mayors for Cork, Limerick, and Waterford have called on the Government to flesh out its vision for the office.

Plebiscites on the issue will take place in the three cities on May 24, the same day as the local and European elections.

The Tánaiste has defended the €130,000 salary proposed for directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick and Waterford, insisting that’s what’s required to attract the right candidates.

The Cork Mayor Campaign said with just 65 days to a plebiscite on the proposal for the soon-to-be-enlarged city, too many questions still remain unanswered about the nature of the new role and the powers the office holder may wield.

Financial incentives for parties to run more women in the upcoming local elections are set to be agreed by Cabinet this week.