The Government has been accused by teachers’ leaders of ‘fake news’ over suggestions that unions did not prioritise pay equality for newer entrants to the profession in last year’s pay talks.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is facing into a “perfect storm” of pay demands from teachers, doctors and nurses, which is threatening to derail his €3.2bn giveaway budget in October.

A Fianna Fáil TD claims an increasing number of foetuses are being aborted because of clefts.

THE concern that Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has about Israel and the plight of Palestinians is shared by many in Ireland.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to meet in private today to receive a confidential legal briefing on the ‘Grace’ foster abuse scandal.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has revealed he personally signed off on Nóirín O’Sullivan’s pension package, but denied it amounted to a “sweetener” to facilitate her exit.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has revealed he personally signed off on Nóirín O’Sullivan’s pension package, but denied it amounted to a “sweetener” to facilitate her exit.

After reeling from recent comments by Disability Minister Finian McGrath suggesting parents were ’dumping’ their children in institutions, Ina O’Dwyer says his crusade to close residential centres caring for people with profound disability is not in their interests.

Advocacy groups have criticised a new multibillion euro Government plan to help people with disabilities by labelling it a “missed opportunity” that is “short on vision” and fails to address chronic poverty among those affected.

Taking over Justice in 2014, Frances Fitzgerald was seen as a safe pair of hands. A series of scandals has since tarnished her reputation, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

Placed in a HSE-approved foster home so she could attend a special needs school (her home was hours away), Sarah suffered the most horrific sexual abuse, says political editor Daniel McConnell.

Plans to force HSE director general Tony O’Brien to address concerns that he and others misled a Dáil committee over the Grace scandal last year could be blocked because the inquiry into the case is now in place.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed that two reports into the ‘Grace’ foster home sex abuse scandal will be published this month.

The families of the 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust tragedy have welcomed a decision by the Government to appoint a judge to assess whether a new inquiry into the blaze is needed.

The Department of Justice has insisted it did not block a fresh inquiry into the Stardust tragedy as far back as 2009.

The Cabinet will finally approve terms of reference this week for a State inquiry into the ‘Grace’ foster home sex-abuse scandal.

Another member of Cabinet has declared that Irish Water customers should have their money refunded.

The HSE will today tell the Government if it will publish two detailed reports into serious foster home abuse which is set to be examined by a state inquiry amid repeated cover-up claims.

HSE boss says it ‘wouldn’t be fair’ to force staff to step aside amid inquiry into foster home abuse claims

The HSE is missing vital files explaining why a decision to remove ‘Grace’ from an abusive foster home in 1996 was ignored after one of the alleged abusers contacted the Department of Health.

Pension rises top the list of differences before budget, writes Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Independent ministers have told Government colleagues to review all Irish-based multinational company’s tax bills and ban any future Apple-type deals in return for supporting plans to reject the €13bn EU ruling against the technology giant.

Former health minister Leo Varadkar knew of widescale foster care abuses in the south east more than a year and a half ago, but did not make the issue public because of strict whistle-blower laws.

Stephanie Browne, who received one of her mother’s kidneys six months ago, was the first patient treated at the newly refurbished national kidney transplant unit.