Supreme Court judge Frank Clarke is to be appointed chief justice after the Cabinet signed off on his nomination in its last meeting before the summer recess.

The chair of the Policing Authority, Josephine Feehily, has said she is “disappointed and alarmed” with the widespread failures in practices within An Garda Siochana.

By failing to sack anyone in his first reshuffle, Leo Varadkar has opened himself up to accusations that he is not willing to make the tough calls and be ruthless when required, writes Daniel McConnell.