Struggling mortgage holders must be offered debt write-downs instead of so-called foreign vulture funds, Paschal Donohoe has been told.

Homeowners await news of the prospect of keeping their homes, says Special Correspondent Michael Clifford.

Neal Peden’s Antrim almost landed the first major knock-out blow of the season, but the All-Ireland and league champions Galway finally found their form in the closing minutes to take the points at Pearse Stadium.

Levon Dmitriev needs some money to save his home. Mr Dmitriev is of Russian origin, but has been living here for nearly 20 years and is a naturalised Irish citizen.

Up to 240 homeowners and investors in a Co. Clare estate have been told to find €2.25m to pay for fire safety and other defects in their homes or face evacuation.

Fine Gael TDs and senators will be whipped into voting in favour of a significant beefing up of Ireland’s drink-driving laws, despite concerns about the impact it could have on rural communities.

Warrenpoint moved a step closer to a rare AIG Cups and Shields double when they progressed to today’s Jimmy Bruen Shield decider at Carton House.

Michel Déon, novelist and member of the Académie francaise lived in Co Galway for the last 50 years of his life, and died last December, aged 97. 

Fine Gael’s general secretary has warned TDs and senators to “get your act together” and not repeat the “embarrassing” election expenses mistakes which saw deputy leader James Reilly referred to gardaí by the State watchdog.

Fine Gael has been dealt a further blow after high- profile candidates failed to get elected to the Seanad.

A 69th minute Conor McKinley point was crucial as Antrim dug deep to claim their 55th Ulster Senior Hurling title in Owenbeg this afternoon.

Join the Oireachtas and see the world… new figures show that the spend by TDs and senators on overseas travel last year increased from €218,799 to €230,313.

More than a century of service to the seafaring community by the Coast Guard radio station in Valentia, Co Kerry, has been marked by the erection of a plaque to honour all who worked there.

Plans to reform the medical card system have descended into farce just 24 hours after being unveiled after it was claimed that GPs have been able to reinstate the help since 2012, but never used the power.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that acts of self-defence in the Middle East need to be "proportionate" and the death of 1,000 people in Gaza is "not satisfactory."

Private debt collectors are to be employed on an “ongoing basis” to chase up unpaid Dáil bar tabs running into tens of thousands of euro.

The HSE has failed to provide any information on a key part of the discretionary medical card row two months after launching a public awareness campaign on it.

Health bosses are being asked to explain whether there is a deliberate policy to deny people their right to appeal decisions to withdraw or refuse discretionary medical cards.

WHEN a patient asks for a second opinion and is given the exact opposite diagnosis than what was first provided, it’s fair to say they should be concerned.

Doctors have accused the HSE of “lying” over the medical card crisis, insisting service cuts of €113m will unleash a “purge” on vulnerable patients.

Gold-plated severance pay packages amounting to nearly €5m will be dispensed to senators — even before their pensions kick in — if the electorate vote to abolish the Seanad.

Government Oireachtas members have clashed over whether senators should be allowed to claim expenses to run offices in their home areas, even though their place of work is in Leinster House.

The Government has promised to address concerns about organ donation numbers after it escaped political embarrassment and narrowly defeated a motion to annul legislation on transplants.

Fianna Fáil’s forced recall of the Seanad to debate legislation on organ transplantation may well go down in the history books as successful political opportunism.

The Seanad was a bit like one of Mozart’s great operas yesterday, one where pantomime is used to shield us from the darkest inevitabilities facing humanity.

The Seanad has today rejected an attempt by Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly to overturn Ireland's laws on organ donation.

The Seanad is breaking its eight-week summer holiday to sit for a day on Aug 20 to discuss organ donation in a move Government members have dismissed as a waste of money.

A senator demanding the recall of the Seanad so it can debate controversial organ donation legislation has denied doing it to boost the image of the upper house.

Senator David Norris has come under further criticism for failing to apologise for using what was described as “sexist” language when he said a female TD was “talking through her fanny”.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of "clowning around Europe" and "urinating on the Seanad".

Martin McAleese, husband of the former president, quit the Seanad yesterday, just days before he unveils the findings of a major investigation into the Magdalene laundries scandal.

The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order will give a historic address to the Seanad next month.

Ministers have declared properties, shares and holiday homes as part of their annual declaration of interests for 2011.

Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny John McGuinness has thrown his hat into the ring to become the party's deputy leader.

The Minister for Health says he has told the HSE in no uncertain terms that delays in issuing medical cards are not acceptable and must be tackled.

CEANN Comhairle Sean Barrett has admitted to having a “quiet word” with TDs whose rowdy Dáil behaviour is provoking complaints from the public.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny had the minor advantage of familiarity when he lined up alongside golf’s golden boy Rory McIlroy for the glamour Irish Open Pro-Am in Killarney yesterday.

ONE of the mid-west’s largest building firms, Paddy Burke (Builders) Ltd went into receivership last year owing over €5 million to unsecured creditors, new filings show.

TAXPAYERS fork out nearly €50,000 for every hour the Seanad sits.

Fine Gael's Paddy Burke has been elected, unopposed, as Cathoirleach of the 24th Seanad.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the Government intends to hold a referendum on the abolition of the Seanad next year.