Almost half a million outpatients did not attend their hospital appointment last year, Health Minister Simon Harris has told an Oireachtas committee.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said her country must be given the right to decide its own future if its culture or economy is damaged by Brexit.

Moves to reform the Seanad may finally pick up pace with its members yesterday debating Senator Michael McDowell’s bill that would see half the house directly elected.

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

A new poll shows Fine Gael is on course to retain three of four seats in the Taoiseach's home constituency of Mayo.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told party delegates they must not “hand” the economy to “unknown quantities with unknown intentions” who might “wreck” any recovery after he and two other Fine Gael TDs in his constituency were selected unopposed to run in the upcoming general election.

IN a move that has echoes of the film The Breakfast Club, a significant study on school bullying has identified five groups — some victims, others perpetrators.