The duo have said they were in the Dáil on occasions when their button was pressed but they were not in their seats.

Demands have been made to clarify who knew what, and when, as concerns were raised over a potential unofficial policy to pay off criminals to ensure housing construction sites were not attacked.

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 organiser of the recent 40th anniversary commemoration of the Whiddy island disaster is expecting a response from the Taoiseach after concerns about marine safety were passed directly to Leo Varadkar.

The government may consider holding a referendum if compensation awards are not reined in.

Consumer confidence has slumped to a 21-month low amid rising concerns over Brexit, increased household costs such as rent and heat, and limited expectations of gains in next week’s Budget.

We want a place for our son before we die. That is the plea of Cork couple, Ger and Linda Riordan, whose 25-year-old son, Ian, has Down Syndrome.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted he still believes a no-deal hard Brexit can be avoided.

Junior minister John Halligan has called for the “toxic” HSE to be broken up and for an independent review to recommend a new authority.

It seems the government has scrapped plans for a student loan scheme.

Fine Gael is preparing to run a four- to six-week referendum campaign targeting undecided voters.

A mobile cath-lab at University Hospital Waterford may be kept in place, according to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

A Junior Minister has said he has serious concerns about supporting proposed abortion laws because of his own experience losing a daughter.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Solidarity TDs — not always known for sober assessment — are correct in arguing that there appears to be a co-ordinated by the Government to “spin” the narrative on the housing crisis.

John Halligan will be briefed on international political tensions by the Department of Foreign Affairs today.

The families of the Stardust tragedy victims are to learn tomorrow if the Government will open up a fresh inquiry into what happened.

The Republic of Ireland has 11 seats to fill in the next European Parliament elections in two years' time, and the parties are preparing for the polls.

Juno McEnroe talks to Junior Minister John Halligan about the potential of our space technology sector, the future of the Coalition, and his relationship with Leo Varadkar

Judges’ misgivings about the Government’s Judicial Appointments Bill are “misplaced”, the Dáil heard last night.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition asking Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to block the election of one of his party's members as Limerick mayor over "racist" remarks.

The Housing Minister believes he is the right person to take over from Enda Kenny.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s future is in serious doubt after Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for her to “consider her position” and two other opposition parties began planning no confidence motions in her tenure.

A scheme to relocate flood-hit homeowners may be widened after disagreement at Cabinet over who is eligible to apply for the special fund.

The Cabinet has failed to sign off on a scheme for the voluntary relocation of people living in flood areas.

People living in flood-prone areas could be offered up to €200,000 to move house.

This prolonged game of when he will or won’t stand down is long become a costly joke which is being played on the public, writes Daniel McConnell.

The Junior Minister behind a new Commission into an abusive foster home in Waterford thinks Michael Noonan has no case to answer.

This week, the Irish Examiner Political Team — Juno McEnroe, Fiachra O Cionnaith, Elaine Loughlin, and Daniel McConnell — have endeavoured to pin down where support within the 73 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party is likely to go once votes are cast.

Plans have been outlined for gardaí to get a mobile phone app to let them check a driver's details at the roadside.

Westport House in Co Mayo has been bought by a local family who have pledged to retain all staff and spend €50m on developing the estate over the next five years.

Supposedly, they came to apologise to the unsuspecting people of Mayo, whose ears were accosted by men asking them what they were wearing... and worse.

Junior Minister John Halligan says Donald Trump is an obnoxious man whose views on women are appalling.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

A protest calling for cardiac services in the South-East is to go ahead today despite confirmation of a mobile cath lab for the region.

University Hospital Limerick’s chronic overcrowding and University Hospital Waterford’s lack of cardiac care services will be the focus of major protests this weekend.

Five years after the Government said it was to “immediately” start modernising the country’s 50-year-old gambling laws, legislation has still not been implemented.

Update 11pm: Junior Minister John Halligan has defended President Michael D Higgins over his praise for the regime of Fidel Castro.

Junior Minister John Halligan has railed against “serious departmental interference” in the review which ruled out a second cardiac laboratory for University Hospital Waterford and has demanded a meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris as the issue again threatened the stability of the Government.

An all-inclusive social benefits package is close to being agreed for the budget which will see increased payments shared among pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and impoverished families.

A group of consultants from University Hospital Waterford have rejected the findings of a report at University Hospital Waterford, which did not recommend a second catherisation laboratory at the hospital.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the Government cannot be held to ransom every week by Independent Ministers.