France has effectively stepped up the pressure on Ireland and other EU countries in the fight to lure London banking jobs after Brexit by making it less expensive to sack financial traders.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has launched the second stage of his pledged labour market overhaul, focusing on unemployment benefits and job training.

The prevalence of prescription drug-dealing and the severe lack of drug-free recovery centres in Dublin’s north inner city are some of the challenges facing the area, according to its community leaders.

We don’t own our natural resources under Article 10 of the Constitution. It needs to be repealed, but is there anyone with the bottle to take it on, asks Eddie Hobbs

The Labour Party appears ready to consider going back into government with Fine Gael, despite suffering a near wipeout in February's General Election, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

Caretaker Labour minister Alan Kelly has claimed the Constitution “repeatedly blocked” him from implementing solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis.

The Labour Party will not support Enda Kenny’s nomination for taoiseach a second time, if he fails to be elected this Thursday.

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was detained for questioning in a federal investigation of a bribery and money laundering scheme that police said had financed campaigns and expenses of the ruling Workers Party.

Labour has been a party of democratic values, where debate and dissent has been valued, writes Fergus Finlay  

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has warned there is a real prospect of a hung Dáil, risking a second economic crash.

The only combination that has nowhere near a majority is the outgoing Government, writes Fergus Finlay

The Irish Postmasters’ Union has decided not to run its planned candidates in the upcoming general election.

Fine Gael delayed the introduction of free GP care to the under-6s and over-70s by three years, a Labour minister has claimed.

Junior Labour Minister Kathleen Lynch said the controversial “attack advert” depicting Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin Gerry Adams as the newlyweds in a same-sex marriage will not be officially published.

The Dunnes Stores strike began on July 19, 1984.

A Labour minister has said the issue of a referendum on retaining Irish Water in public ownership should be assessed during the lifetime of the next government.

Energy Minister Alex White has signalled that long- awaited guidelines on windfarms in communities may not be changed or even decided before the general election.

Drugs Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Health Minister Leo Varadkar will bring plans for supervised drug injection centres to the Government before Christmas in a bid to tackle the addiction crisis.

Outrage over a couple in their 90s who were left lying on hospital trolleys for hours has prompted calls for a dedicated official to be present in all emergency departments to oversee the care of elderly patients.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly is looking increasingly isolated over his plan for rent certainty, after a senior official in his own party declined to say the issue remains a “red line” matter.

Mooted Government plans for a national audit of all buildings and apartments constructed during the boom are likely to be rejected over concerns it will be too expensive and cause too much disruption for people living in or using the sites.

Pressure is on to return to the Celtic Tiger years with demands for tax cuts as Ireland’s economic growth looks set to outstrip China’s, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has said.

Labour has insisted attorney general Máire Whelan must not be made a “scapegoat” for the Fennelly report crisis.

Employment Minister Ged Nash said he wants state agencies, departments, and local authorities to pay a “living wage” as he announced a forum on special pay rates with employers in the autumn.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled himself out leading Fine Gael into the next decade and rejected comments by chief whip Paul Kehoe that he would seek a third term as Taoiseach.

A rebel Labour TD has been re-admitted to the party in a move seen as an attempt to “circle the wagons” against expected heavy general election losses.

Dissident republicans have targeted Environment Minister Alan Kelly and his family for attack, the Labour TD has been warned by gardaí.

Ireland could end up paying as much as €1bn towards a new bailout for Greece under its international obligations.

Plans to cut unemployed people’s welfare payments for not paying their water charge bills have been criticised by free legal aid providers and opposition TDs.

Wide differences over pension and labour reforms continued to dog intensive talks between Greece’s leftist government and its international creditors, despite progress in other areas as the country’s cash position becomes increasingly critical.

AIB has confirmed that over 5,700 owner-occupied homes in mortgage arrears face being taken over by the bank amid suggestions that a “tsunami” of repossessions are on the way.

The final touches are set to be agreed on next week’s spring economic statement, which will include plans for an independent budget evaluation unit.

Grass-roots members have overwhelmingly rejected plans to sell the State’s “jewel in the crown”, Aer Lingus, unless IAG agrees to an independent valuation of the firm alongside further regional connectivity and jobs guarantees.

A senior Labour minister said he believed the public will want to return his party with Fine Gael in the next election.

A Coalition minister has said that any questions over why Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett forbade a Dáil debate on an inquiry into alleged Garda malpractice need to be answered.

Junior health minister Kathleen Lynch has revealed how an accident left her without memory of most of her childhood.

More than 100 scientists will begin cutting-edge research into renewable energy technology at a new €15m research lab which is due to open in Cork harbour within months.

A Labour Minister has said that no decision has been made on whether more referendums could be held this year.