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.

JUST before Christmas cocaine deaths dominated the headlines for a few fleeting weeks.

Irish model Katie French is in a critical condition in a hospital in Navan.

WITH a shamelessness that would make even Katie French blush, the Taoiseach last night dangled the Dáil spoils of committee chairpersonships in front of his dazzled backbenchers.