The cleaned-up penalty points system has passed its first real test by the body set up to keep an eye on it, but there are still areas of concern, writes Michael Clifford

The cost of an inquiry into the fatal shooting of a Real IRA member by gardaí is running at more than double the original estimate.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been urged to open up a fresh investigation into the garda penalty points crisis, after Dáil claims that officers are still having points illegally wiped out 18 months after the scandal emerged.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said it is “extremely disappointed” that just 40% of drink-driving cases listed before the country’s district courts since 2013 resulted in convictions.

The new Garda chief is facing demands to withdraw an “outrageous” advertisement for a qualified human rights assistant on the controversial JobBridge scheme.

The new Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan is facing demands to withdraw an “outrageous” advertisement for a qualified human rights assistant on the controversial JobBridge scheme.

Two brothers from Co Donegal have been told they have 48 hours to leave the county by a group claiming to be dissident republicans.

The Garda ombudsman is still awaiting word from the Government five months after it requested extra resources to conduct the first penalty points investigation.

Sinn Féin has said the new Justice Minister needs to ensure that Garda whistleblowers are protected.

More than 41,000 sick days were taken by prison staff last year, at a cost of €7.5m to the taxpayer.

An Oireachtas committee is to contact the Garda Ombudsman, calling on it to make a formal statement on dramatic reports its offices have been bugged.

The country’s unions are concerned that proposals to give courts the power to deduct money from a person’s wage may be used by bosses to dismiss or discriminate against employees.

Sinn Féin TD Padraig MacLochlainn says he was "stitched up" on a recent appearance on Tonight with Vincent Browne on TV3.

A Dáil committee has come into possession of information that suggests further widespread abuse of the penalty points system which may have cost the State millions of euro.

Tyrone have hit back at allegations that they are a 'fouling team' by issuing a sheet of 'facts' to those attending their press night ahead of next week's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Mayo.

A man who bit a garda in the groin has been fined €1,000.

Sinn Féin is seeking clarification from the Justice Minister Alan Shatter on his sources of information regarding the allegations against Wexford TD Mick Wallace.

An elderly woman was pushed to the ground while her rural home was ransacked for the second time in two months.

An elderly woman was pushed to the ground while her rural home was ransacked for the second time in two months.

A TD has been reported to an ethics watchdog after she named two public figures as allegedly having penalty points struck out by gardaí.

The Sinn Féin TD Padraig MacLochlainn finally agreed to his suspension from the Dáil after delaying business for 45 minutes.

The Dáil has been suspended for a total of 45 minutes because a Sinn Féin TD is refusing to leave after being suspended.

Seanie Johnston is absent from the Kildare team named to face Cavan in Sunday's much-anticipated All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier.

Sinn Féin headquarters has refused to divulge whether or not it monitors the bank accounts of its TDs through local finance officers to ensure they only claim the average industrial wage.

Derry manager John Brennan has handed championship debuts to John McCamley and Eugene Scullion for Saturday’s Ulster quarter-final against Donegal.

Andriú MacLochlainn has been drafted into the Kildare defence as the only change for the Lilywhites' Leinster SFC quarter-final against Offaly on Sunday.

Sinn Féin says "bully boy" tactics are being used to scare the Irish people into passing the forthcoming referendum on the EU fiscal treaty.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was tonight facing demands to intervene over the Israeli interception of an Irish boat trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

Donegal 1-12 Kildare 0-14 (aet)

Bernard Brogan has praised referee Cormac Reilly for awarding the injury-time free which he said sent Dublin through to the Leinster SFC final.

BANK employees in Northern Ireland are being put on alert after several bomb attacks in recent months by dissident Irish nationalists.

WHO better than Andriu MacLochlainn to explain how ludicrous the square ball rule actually is?

There has been an explosion on a shopping street in Derry. No injuries are reported.

Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLochlainn is top after the first count in donegal North East, but nobody has been elected yet.

Government enterprise chiefs were tonight urged to fight for a new investor at a business site which is to close its doors for a second time.

Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney has backed the team that overwhelmed Derry to do the business against Monaghan in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC fourth round qualifier.

FUMING Liam Bradley slammed his Antrim players for bottling it when the going got tough against Kildare on Saturday night.

Antrim 0-9 Kildare 1-15

Kildare 2-12 Wexford 0-11

Kildare 1-16 Offaly 1-10

SINN FÉIN has clearly signalled it will campaign for another No vote in the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Sinn Fein were grasping on to hope late into the night that a gain in Donegal North East might lessen the pain of the collapse of their ambitious plans for a major breakthrough.