Instead of finding sustainable solutions to housing and homelessness problems, the focus is on identifying a villain of the piece, now all we’re missing is an inquiry, says Michael Clifford

Two of the country’s leading homeless organisations have revealed it is cheaper for them to borrow from commercial banks than to apply for loans through the Government’s Housing Finance Agency.

Mothers I know who work full-time and whose children are in primary school have full-time childminders, writes Victoria White

Outrage erupted after a leading former IRA figure shared a blog post suggesting rape victim Maíria Cahill enjoyed a "year-long sexual liaison" with her attacker.

The scale at which urban property taxpayers are subsidising rural ones could provoke a renewed backlash against the levy, Government TDs have warned.

Deputy Joanna Tuffy bemoans a lack of in-depth analysis in the arguments to retain or abolish the Seanad (Irish Examiner, 24 June).

A Government TD has accused the Taoiseach of destroying political accountability by being “caught up in a presidential-style of leadership”.

A member of the Government has accused the Taoiseach of being anti-democratic, anti-politics and of populist nonsense over reforming politics, including planning to abolish the Seanad.

The town of Ballina has been rocked by the sudden death of a local priest in what is believed to be the first case in recent years of a Catholic cleric in Ireland taking his own life.

A Labour backbencher has waded into the row over the resignation of Roisin Shortall by saying she was not properly supported by the Tanaiste or Taoiseach.

School bodies are to be told by TDs that more must be done to ease the costs of uniforms for parents.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today insisted that no decisions have yet been made in relation to cuts to welfare in the upcoming Budget.

Reports of a proposal to cut €10 from Child Benefit have caused some concern amongst Labour TDs.

I AGREE with Joanna Tuffy TD when she said she believed in ” the principle that anyone can contest an election irrespective of their gender and that voters can make up their own minds who to vote for irrespective of gender.”

UNLIKE Anna Kingston (Letters, June 25) I fully support Deputy Joanna Tuffy in her opposition to the proposed gender quotas legislation.

I FIND myself reading the views of Deputy Joanna Tuffy with nothing short of amazement (Letters, June 22).

LABOUR TD Joanna Tuffy (Letters, Jun 22) continues to argue against the proposed gender quota legislation without suggesting any realistic alternative to change the 15%-85% female to male ratio that is currently in place in the Dáil.

TENS of thousands of families may be waiting weeks after their children return to school before getting state help with the cost of uniforms.

Loose financial control by top brass and attempts to shoehorn building proposals to comply with planning laws were tonight among a raft of damning findings made against the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA).

THERE is “no end in sight” to the country’s devastating flood problems with high tides expected on top of more rainfall next week, the Government’s emergency response group warned last night.

THE release of protesting Thomas Cook workers from incarceration was greeted with relief last night.

IRELAND risks facing millions of euro in EU fines over poor water quality after a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found more than half of groundwater supplies were contaminated with human or animal waste.

IRELAND will miss key targets in tackling mounting waste, carbon dioxide emissions and water quality, according to the state’s environment watchdog.

MORE than €9 million given to councils for flood defences will remain unspent this year.

QUESTIONS were raised last night about a €600,000 taxpayers bill for a “toothless” government agency set up to protect property buyers and owners.

DRINKING water supplies for 1.25 million people have failed to meet safety standards — prompting calls for greater accountability of local authorities.

A WEBSITE broadcasting yesterday’s winter solstice at Newgrange crashed at one point because of the number of people viewing it.

A garda manhunt continues tonight for an armed gang who held a male bank worker’s family hostage in a field before forcing him to deliver them cash.

The Government came under pressure today to tackle educational disadvantage as figures showed more than half of students in some areas drop out of school before completing their Leaving Certificate.

VACANT third-level places should be filled by factory workers who are being made redundant in Donegal and Louth, it was claimed yesterday.

The vacant third-level course places should be filled by factory workers made redundant in Donegal and Louth, it was claimed today.

IT was standing room only as a select few waited at the heart of Ireland’s most celebrated tomb yesterday.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U-15 manager Vincent Butler has named his squad ahead of next week’s internationals against the Netherlands.