The Government has issued a strong denial to Sinn Féin claims that funding increase requests from the State’s corporate enforcer were turned down.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar’s “shock and awe” start to his leadership campaign has given him an early but decisive lead over Housing Minister Simon Coveney in the race to become Taoiseach.

As Enda Kenny announces his retirement he says he is 'honoured and privileged' to have served as leader since 2002. Now, Ministers Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar are set to declare candidacy for the now vacant position of Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

The Department of Education’s €23m purchase of a former greyhound track depends on the site’s planning status being changed by the local council to allow the construction of schools.

People who claimed the conservation grant but did not pay water charges will not “gain financially” over households that paid, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said.

Employers could see the amount they contribute to a national training fund almost double by 2020 in a Government plan to raise an extra €200m a year for third-level education.

The leadership battle and the deal with FF have moved centre stage, writes Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s crumbling coalition survived an opposition attempt to remove it from power last night, despite a tirade of opposition abuse over how the Maurice McCabe scandal has seen it go from “doing nothing” to “doing harm”.

The Government is set to fast-track almost €3bn worth of airport, port, Luas, and road capital projects and seek extra EU funding within months in a bid to entice companies to re-locate to Ireland after Brexit.

Fine Gael will not change its leader in 2017, says Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who feels Enda Kenny is too busy to stand down as Taoiseach.

Fine Gael deputy leader Dr James Reilly has warned colleagues not to replace Taoiseach Enda Kenny with a "flashy" rival in an apparent attack on Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar's leadership ambitions.

Transport Minister Shane Ross has defended his increasingly criticised performance in office since joining Government, insisting there is “not one scintilla” of evidence to suggest he is failing in his role.

The GRA and AGSI both met with the Minister for Justice and the Public Expenditure Minister at Government Buildings this evening as efforts continue to try and avert Friday's threatened Garda strike.

An all-inclusive social benefits package is close to being agreed for the budget which will see increased payments shared among pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and impoverished families.

Low to middle-income earners may benefit by just €5 a week in next month’s budget due to tight restrictions on the amount of tax cuts that can take place and an internal cabinet row over where reforms should be made.

Taxpayers will have to swallow a €280m hike in contribution to the EU, due to a controversial 26% growth figure estimate published last week.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his ministers have heard calls for urgent action in Dublin’s inner city amid claims the area has been left to become a “social apartheid” after decades of neglect.

A senior minister insists the Government is "engaging extensively" with garda officials over salary levels after frontline members of the force threatened to derail reform plans due to the pay dispute.

Labour leadership contenders Alan Kelly and Brendan Howlin will today discuss a way of deciding who takes over from Joan Burton in a bid to avoid the initiation of a drawn-out contest.

The Labour Party last night appeared to have abandoned plans to re-enter government, following a major internal backlash.

The number of ministerial trips abroad for the traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations have been cut by two thirds this year in the wake of the collapse of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.

Labour leader Joan Burton has declined to say whether Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s TV leaders’ debate admission he was responsible for a key “cronyism” appointment in 2014 will damage the coalition’s re-election bid.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has caved to pressure from her own ministers and ruled out a post-election deal with independent TD Michael Lowry, four days after the controversy erupted.

Former Minister and Independent TD Michael Lowry has hit out at comments from Health Minister Leo Varadkar who said he has “issues with the law,” saying Mr Varadkar should desist from such commentary having made “a mess” of the health service.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin risked the economic recovery in order to deliver a “political” budget ahead of the general election, a European Commission report has found.

Homes and businesses affected by the Storm Desmond floods have been promised €15m in humanitarian help from the Government as the most badly hit areas prepare for their worst flooding in two decades over the next 48 hours.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said that there needs to be greater transparency in pay for public servants.

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Senior Coalition figures are confident the budget will pass a crucial EU test despite financial advisory chiefs warning the spending plans are too expansionary, and that the money should not be injected into the economy.