Primary care centres need to become the place of first resort. They need to be open seven days a week, writes Fergus Finlay

Proposals by the energy minister, Dick Spring, to compel the ESB to buy gas from the Kinsale gasfield at uncommercial rates were described as “hopelessly illogical” by the country’s most senior civil servant.

The current political stalemate is not unique, suggests Ryle Dwyer, who argues the past may provide the solution.

Arthur Spring — in his own words — is in a dogfight for North Kerry’s final seat but the nephew of the former Labour leader tells Tony Leen there is still everything to fight for

Make no mistake — despite having 15 candidates to choose from due to the merger of two former Kerry constituencies into one, three of the five seats on offer in this sprawling area are already effectively decided.

The head of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup bid team believes they have already secured over 40% of the votes available in the race to secure the 2023 tournament.

A member of a leading political family, also a prominent golfer and golf-course designer, treated rich and poor just the same, mourners at his funeral were told yesterday.

Spring is another country. So different are these bright days from the dark days of a month ago that one might think one has moved to another land.

It seems there were major disagreements within Garret FitzGerald’s government in the early 1980s when it came to making a decision about what to do with struggling industries in the Cork Harbour area.

On the 70th anniversary of the execution of Charlie Kerins by Tom Pierrepoint, Ryle Dwyer examines some of the sensational aspects of the story

There are currently no plans to reduce Bank of Ireland’s standard variable mortgage rate following AIB’s 0.25% cut, although the situation is under review, according to chief executive Richie Boucher.

ON radio yesterday morning, Olivia O’Leary, who chronicled his era in power as a political reporter, recalled the time she danced with Albert Reynolds. He was, she said, a great dancer.

Albert Reynolds was triumphant when the Beef Tribunal presented its final report in 1994, its 580 pages containing bizarrely benign conclusions about the key players under its scrutiny.

A former Fianna Fáil politician who lost out on a seat by two votes in the recent local elections yesterday began his civil action to have the result in the Listowel area of Co Kerry declared invalid.

Joan Burton remains favourite to lead Labour into the next general election as nominations draw to a close.

In the 1980s when Labour was having another of its bruising internal upheavals, then leader Frank Cluskey noticed Michael D Higgins was absent. On hearing the TD had gone on an emergency mission to Nicaragua, Cluskey is reported to have said Higgins was taking the easy option of "saving the world over saving the Labour party".

The reality of coalition government is well known to Labour. It has bounced back from the brink before, says Gary Murphy.

In the midst of the talk of American bugging, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told reporters he operated on the basis that somebody was listening in on his telephone conversations. Of course, he has been in politics since the mid-1970s, when tapping was rife.

Labour TDs want to see leader Eamon Gilmore give up foreign affairs and “spend more time in Ireland”, a Cabinet colleague has warned as the pre-budget war of words within the Coalition intensified.

A change in leadership would not reverse the unpopularity of the Labour Party, its TDs maintain after the latest opinion poll showed it has just 6% of popular support — its lowest in more than 25 years.

The green light has been given for a combined heat and power plant (CHP) which is expected to create up to 35 full-time jobs in north Kerry when it becomes operational.

The contemptuous attitude of Anglo Irish Bank management towards Ireland’s financial partners abroad could threaten the country’s efforts to secure more favourable borrowing terms, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has warned.

Demands for the Government to clamp down on notorious websites that promote eating disorders have been rejected by ministers.

IT was Nov 16, 1994, and I was so excited that I made an excuse to get off work and cycled home to watch telly. There was a motion of “no confidence” in Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Albert Reynolds amid controversy relating to his appointment of Harry Whelehan as President of the High Court.

A Labour party TD is urging the Finance Minister Michael Noonan to exercise his right to vote on the pay of Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher.

SO, ANOTHER political scandal.

Former Tánaiste Dick Spring defended his €1,000-a-day fee as a public interest director at AIB, claiming it was “reasonable for the effort” he put into it.

Former Tánaiste Dick Spring, who represents the taxpayer on the board of AIB, has defended his salary as "reasonable".

At the last general election I voted Labour — one of the worst decisions of my life.

A public appetite for a warts-and-all banking inquiry is growing.

Fixing an “anomaly” in the universal social charge system could raise more than €70m for the exchequer and shift more of the tax burden to the wealthy, a Labour TD has said.

DEAR Taoiseach and Tánaiste, You probably don’t need me to tell you that this whole Reilly business is a terrible mess.

It was, in the words of a local sage, a day borrowed from the weather gods at the Old Head of Kinsale. The water sparkled, the sky stayed blue and the breeze was testing enough to brook no debate about who was boss.

Labour TD Arthur Spring failed to provide a tax clearance certificate to the State’s ethics watchdog for over a year after being elected in a move which was “intentional” and a serious matter, an investigation has found.

RBS 6 Nations chiefs have lifted the lid on the evidence from the hearing into Stephen Ferris’s controversial yellow card against Wales.

COLM TUCKER played his rugby the way he lived his life. He was earnest, committed, determined and like all successful sportsmen, certainly didn’t like to lose!

A Labour TD has hinted the Government may be considering another Budget u-turn.

A CASE of two points lost by Old Belvedere, two points gained by hosts Shannon in this All-Ireland League clash at chilly Coonagh on Saturday.

MUCH of the public debate in this presidential campaign has focused on the limitations of the office and to how the President is, for all intents and purposes, a political slave of the Government.

DEAR Eamon, I’ve been half-wondering when it would happen.

A FATHER and son yesterday sat side-by-side in a council chamber, ensuring the continuation of the Healy-Rae political dynasty into a third generation.