A Cabinet minister has attacked Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, suggesting his actions in having his penalty points quashed have damaged the reputation of politicians in general.

The Supreme Court has refused to let five TDs join businessman David Hall's appeal, as part of his challenge to the Government's payment of promissory notes.

The Supreme Court is to decide today whether five TDs can join businessman David Hall's challenge to the payment of promissory notes.

Four TDs — Clare Daly, Luke Flanagan, Mick Wallace, and Joan Collins — want to be joined to businessman David Hall’s legal challenge to the Government’s payment of promissory notes issued in favour of the former Anglo Irish Bank and other financial institutions.

Four TDs wish to join businessman David Hall's Supreme Court appeal against the issuing and payment of promissory notes.

Independent TD Clare Daly said she took a hot whiskey to beat a cold before being pulled in by a Garda patrol car on Monday night on suspicion of drink-driving.

At least two motorists who had penalty point tickets cancelled by gardaí were directly involved in fatal crashes, according to claims by a Garda whistleblower.

Illegal turfcutters could face prosecution in the coming months after gardaí forwarded a number of files to the DPP.

In relation to the recent issue regarding Dáil attire, if Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Luke Ming Flanagan were somehow projected back in time to appear before the wise King Solomon, whereupon he asked them questions about their clothing — such as comfort, use of each item of clothing, energy used in preparing the clothes for wear, cost of their clothing, durability and so on — I would think that the wise King Solomon would conclude that Luke Flanagan is a more practical and sensible fellow than our Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Normally he would be too readily available everywhere to comment about local government legislation and taxing matters but Deputy Luke Flanagan seems to have gone very quiet on fellow TD Mick Wallace.

Nine of the country’s 53 protected bogs are being illegally cut by turf contractors, according to environmental and heritage groups.

A Dáil debate will take place tonight on implementing the 'X-case' ruling which recommended the provision of limited access to abortion in Ireland.

The number of registrations for the household charge has jumped by 25% in the past week.

The Government has defended the controversial household charge despite the High Court paving the way for a challenge to the tax.

A Fianna Fáil councillor has won the right to legally challenge the €100 household charge because it has not been published in Irish.

Demonstrations outside government departments and the bank formally known as Anglo Irish took place yesterday to mark the controversial handover of €1.25 billion to unsecured bondholders.

INDEPENDENT TD Luke Flanagan of Roscommon-South Leitrim has welcomed an exemption for domestic turf cutting on 75 national heritage area sites, subject to the introduction of an agreed national code of environmental practices.

SEXISM, Ming and a bit of bling all characterised the first day of the new Dáil.

AFTER reading your supplement on Cork 2005 (Irish Examiner, October 8) I was disappointed to find no mention of the fact that Cork is hosting the European Debating Championships in March of next year.

FIANNA FÁIL last night held onto its three seats in the mid-Roscommon electoral area as the final count of the local elections concluded.

A SURVEY conducted at Cork Institute of Technology has revealed that half the staff have smoked cannabis and 70% want it legalised.

A PRO-CANNABIS campaigner who posted the drug to members of the Oireachtas last November is not to be prosecuted.

A man has been arrested in connection with the posting of a substance believed to be cannabis to every TD and Senator at Leinster House.

‘Ming the Merciless’, a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis, has claimed responsibility for sending "joints" to every member of the Oireachtas to mark what he says is National Legalise Cannabis Day.