On the 40th anniversary, Ryle Dwyer looks at the momentous events of the 1977 general election.

A bank inquiry-style Oireachtas investigation is needed to “get to the bottom” of why 18 religious orders have failed to pay hundreds of millions of euro to abuse victims who were meant to benefit from a multi-billion State redress scheme.

The Government is on a collision course with the Vatican over the funding of redress payments to sex abuse victims, saying it wants to seize lands owned by the Church.

The Catholic church must measure up to its responsibility when it comes to compensating those who suffered abuse in institutions run by religious orders, Enda Kenny has said.

Dr Michael Woods may not be a household name anymore, but his ongoing influence on the clerical abuse redress scheme controversy cannot be understated.

Why were the Irish civil service and the 18 holy orders able to hijack the 2002 Redress Act? The State’s position was set out in the Dáil by the then minister for education, Michael Woods, as to how the homes and institutions would qualify. Over 120 homes and institutions went on the official list and no survivor could receive redress unless their institution was on the official list

Showers are blowing in from the estuary and the wind-chill factor has the brass monkeys scurrying for cover. It’s early afternoon in the village of Baldoyle, north Dublin, and it is to here that Deirdre Heney is coming to tie down a few number ones.

The Catholic Church has been accused of being “in the propaganda business” over its refusal to pay 50% of a redress scheme for victims of abuse.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has insisted Health Minister Leo Varadkar must stop being “some sort of detached analyst” and take responsibility for health service crises if the problems are to be addressed.

Former taoiseach Albert Reynolds was laid to rest after a state funeral with full military honours.

Politicians of all hues paid their respects to Albert the peacemaker as thousands gathered to say their final goodbye to the former taoiseach.

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday afternoon nurses’ union leader Liam Doran said that a universal health system is the mark of a civilised society and, in the most general terms, it is very easy to agree with him and share his noble ambition.

A 33-year-old woman will appear in court tomorrow after being arrested and charged in connection with the death of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular.

Justin Bieber did not take a "cheap shot" at a man in South Korea over the weekend, according to an insider.

Schools and students face disruption from tomorrow as industrial action by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) commences.

Former presidents, ministers, and judicial office holders cost the taxpayer €15.6m in pension and severance payments last year, according to figures released yesterday.

The Government has admitted it has got “nowhere” in convincing religious orders to pay for half of residential abuse claims.

Protestant church leaders have historically looked ‘the other way’, when it came to dealing with the abuse and neglect children were subjected to in their institutions.

Frances Fitzgerald may not have liked being ordered before the Dublin Children’s Court but at least she wasn’t threatened with jail, unlike three of her predecessors.

Call me cynical, but as moving as Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s speech was I seem to recall he’s used the catch in the throat gimmick before.

Reading your special report by Conor Ryan (Oct 1), it is amazing how all of the Irish media and reporters have covered the fact that the Catholic Church and its religious orders have mostly reneged on the deal agreed with Dr Michael Woods, the then Minister of Education, regarding compensation to victims of abuse suffered in Catholic institutions.

YESTERDAY’S Cloyne Report is shocking — yet in many ways not shocking at all.

Fairness and equity is the pathway to closure for abuse survivors and orders involved, writes Education Minister Ruairi Quinn

THE inadequacy of the indemnity deal negotiated between the Government and the religious orders in 2002 is underscored by the fact these congregations made €468m by selling property after signing their agreement with the Department of Education.

Cheryl Cole is to receive a pet Chihuahua as a birthday gift from ex-husband Ashley Cole, it has been reported.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is on the cusp of defeating the Fianna Fáil rebellion after backbenchers lined up to show loyalty to their leader.

WILLIE O’DEA has become the latest senior Fianna Fáil figure to criticise the exodus of ministers from the party, saying the situation resembled “the flight out of Egypt”.

FORMER education minister Michael Woods has refused to accept any blame for the controversial clerical child abuse compensation scheme he helped broker with the Catholic Church.

Retiring Fianna Fáil deputy Michael Woods has said he does not regret his controversial indemnity deal with the Catholic Church over clerical child abuse.

MICHAEL Woods last night joined the exodus of senior Fianna Fáil figures standing down at the looming election as it emerged that Defence Minister Tony Killeen will receive a golden goodbye of some €237,000 when he exits the Dáil.

THE state’s failings in relation to out-of-home and at-risk children were clearly flagged 30 years ago, but then, as now, the official response was less than laudable.

THE last vestige of credibility evaporated from the Progressive Democrats from the moment Michael McDowell hoist the petard that the PDs were exiting government — only to subsequently change their minds.

I USED to be an inveterate funeral goer – several per week. I hadn’t been to one for the past two years until the unexpected death of newspaper man and former schoolmate, Alan Ruddock.

THE Israeli ambassador to Ireland has been heavily criticised after withdrawing from an Oireachtas committee hearing today into the flotilla raid in which nine people were killed.

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dr Zion Evrony today cancelled plans to attend a parliamentary hearing on the deadly commando assault on aid shipments.

ISRAELI ambassador Dr Zion Evrony has agreed to come before the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee this week to face down cross-party condemnation of his country’s army storming of an aid flotilla.

Israeli media has reported that one Irish person had been wounded on the attack on Gaza-bound aid ships by the Iraeli Navy today.

FIANNA FÁIL backbenchers have warned the Government targeting pensioners in the budget could have a disastrous effect on the party.

The Environment Minister is urging the five remaining TDs and MEPs still holding out on returning their pensions to "do the right thing".

Six Fianna Fáil politicians in receipt of an Oireachtas pension on top of their salary are expected to surrender the pension payment today.

BERTIE AHERN has relinquished his €83,000 ministerial pension but a number of Fianna Fáil politicians are holding out as Taoiseach Brian Cowen refuses to place any pressure on them.

IF you are Brian Cowen you have to be grateful for the small victories.