The Fianna Fáil TD who criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's handling of the backstop situation has admitted his comment was "ill-timed and a little harsh".

The Arts Council has revealed it has withheld hundreds of thousands of euro in funding for the Abbey Theatre, amid concerns the venue’s direction has resulted in fewer opportunities for Irish artists.

If Jim Power had applied any kind of balance to his column ‘Economy continues to defy the doubters and naysayers’ (Irish Examiner, December 22) detailing the apparent success of the upwardly mobile business sector of our two-tier economy he would have pointed out that his good news applies to the upper tier.

The Finance Minister has said the exchequer is on course to meet the Government's fiscal targets for this year.

A row has been simmering between the executive and judicial branches of government for some time, writes Alison O’Connor.