The likelihood of Fine Gael ministers voting against plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks has increased, after the party said ministers can vote with their conscience in the Dáil.

A Seanad report laying bare the underfunded state of children’s mental health services has been welcomed by support groups who said its recommendations must be implemented.

Numbers of red deer in the two main herds in the lowland areas of Killarney National Park are now believed to be higher than ever, writes Donal Hickey. 

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has opened an early lead on his main rival Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar in the race to succeed Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

This week, the Irish Examiner Political Team — Juno McEnroe, Fiachra O Cionnaith, Elaine Loughlin, and Daniel McConnell — have endeavoured to pin down where support within the 73 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party is likely to go once votes are cast.

Kerry’s most senior garda has ordered an internal inquiry into possible corruption in Killarney after “something” was brought to his attention, he told a meeting of the county’s joint policing committee in Tralee.

Kerry senator Paul Coghlan has called for “repulsive sprays” to be used against problem seagulls in Dublin city centre, as they “wreak havoc with their beaks” ripping rubbish bags.

Seanad members have said they are not at fault for the decision to allow the Upper House to break for another week, after meeting for just three hours during its first business since the election.

Four ousted Fine Gael TDs —including ex minister James Reilly — are battling to become the party’s next Seanad leader, despite a number previously calling for the upper house to be scrapped.

Veteran Fine Gael senator Paul Coghlan celebrated his last-gasp late-night re-election to the Upper House with “tea and toast”.

Several of Enda Kenny’s loyal senators lost their seats or were last night fighting for their survival.

Conflicting estimates of damage caused by a spate of gorse fires in Killarney National Park have been given by statutory bodies.

Accusations the authorities are turning a blind eye to cross-border smuggling in an act of “appeasement” have been dismissed by Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan.

A special cross-border force should be set up to tackle the smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, and alcohol, and tougher laws introduced in both jurisdictions, a British-Irish parliamentary report has recommended.

A political row has flared over a long-running programme to stop the spread of the invasive rhododendron plant in one of the country’s prime tourist attractions.

A €7m tourist attraction in Killarney, Co Kerry, will be opened next year, Arts and Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed.

AS the days count down to a historic vote on changing our Constitution, most voters will be unaware that if senators are let go, so to speak, they are entitled to bumper pay offs.

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.

Killer Adrian Ernest Bayley will be 76 before he is eligible for parole for the murder of Irishwoman Jill Meagher.

Dissident Fine Gael senators will attempt to block the passing of the abortion legislation through the Seanad on Monday.

The Taoiseach has been challenged to a live TV debate on the abolition of the Seanad by its most outspoken member, David Norris, who said he would “take him to pieces” on the issue.

Stolen 19th century paintings of members of a leading landlord family, in Kerry, which have been recovered, should be returned to the county, it has been urged.

Senators will wine and dine in private with the papal nuncio in Leinster House tomorrow — a year after blistering criticism of the Vatican in the Dáil.

A man has been sentenced to nearly 18 years in prison for starting one of the deadly wildfires that ravaged southern Australia three years ago.

The Seanad is to hold a 30-second “reflective silence” every morning to represent members who do not want to take part in the daily prayer.

A FORMER leader of the Seanad brought a close to the election count by imploring newly elected members to fight for the continued retention of the Upper House.

A MAN who killed his four-year-old daughter by throwing her off a bridge in Australia’s second-largest city as her horrified brothers watched was sentenced to life in prison.

A man who killed his four-year-old daughter by throwing her off a bridge in Australia’s second-largest city as her horrified brothers watched was sentenced today to life in prison.

PROTESTERS in Dingle, Co Kerry, have demanded a full explanation for the delay in opening a new €16.4 million community hospital in the town.

THE rain came at precisely the right time for Killarney’s July holiday races which got underway at the lakeside track last evening.

THE well-known political and business figure in Killarney, Co Kerry, Christy McSweeney, has died aged 86.

KILLARNEY jarveys are to appeal to the Supreme Court after the High Court ruled they would have to use dung catchers on their horse-drawn carriages.

THE gardaí have signed their first commercial deal in an attempt to counter hard-hitting financial cutbacks in the force.

GARDAÍ in Killarney yesterday said they may take court proceedings arising from alleged complaints about a jarveys’ protest.

GRANNY flats and independent living spaces for elderly people near their families will be subject to a €200 second-home tax which is expected to be imposed as early as next month.

THE watchdog for corporate crime is to get new powers and more staff to bolster his expanded probe of the financial sector.

DISAPPOINTMENT has been voiced in Killarney following the exclusion, yet again, of an historic, old house from Fáilte Ireland funding.

An Australian judge sentenced a gunman to life in prison today for killing a lawyer and wounding a girlfriend and a Dutch tourist during a shooting spree in the country's second largest city.

MOVES are under way to convert a piece of land in Killarney National Park into a town park, which would be only a few minutes’ walk from the town centre.

Since the Grocery Order was axed two years ago food bills have increased every month, writes Consumer Correspondent PAUL KELLY.

AN historic building in Killarney will fall into serious disrepair if the Government doesn’t move quickly to restore it.

Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan has accused the Government of misleading the people over its confusing position on "The Designated Land Bill".