politics

Teacher Helping Students Training To Be Electricians
'Sloppiness' in electrical apprenticeship exams makes reform 'essential' – minister
Higher education minister says wider reform of further education and training agency Solas is needed

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Mid adult professor teaching a lecture from desktop PC at computer lab.
Crackdown planned on 'bogus' schools acting as back door for immigration
English language schools and other institutions will have to meet new quality mark criteria laid down by TrustEd Ireland

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin urged to back Bertie Ahern in wake of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from presidential election
Micheál Martin urged to back Bertie Ahern in wake of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from presidential election
Another person suggested Mr Gavin could reconsider his decision to step away

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

'Sensible' Simon Harris will say no to Fine Gael ministers’ budget requests
'Sensible' Simon Harris will say no to Fine Gael ministers’ budget requests
He also said 'barring an unforeseen shock', there will be a tax package in Budget 2027

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fail president
Cork MEP Billy Kelleher says he would have won presidency as Fianna Fáil candidate
Cork MEP reflects on Fianna Fáil’s presidential election collapse, leadership fallout and growing fears for politicians’ personal safety

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025

Billy Kelleher: I would have won the presidency and Ireland missed a real choice
Billy Kelleher: I would have won the presidency and Ireland missed a real choice
The Cork MEP reflects on his failed presidential bid, Fianna Fáil’s future, rising extremism and growing strains in transatlantic politics

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025

John Swinney visit to Dublin
Diaspora referendum to extend voting rights for presidential elections is being considered
A plan for a referendum in place in 2019 was ditched amid the Brexit emergency — and covid pushed it further down the agenda

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Mary Lou McDonald interview
Voters thought Sinn Féin was ‘pulling punches’ on immigration, McDonald says
In the wake of last year’s local and European elections, Mary Lou McDonald revealed that senior figures in Sinn Féin were “disappointed” with her engagement with the party’s base and that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Footage of drones off the Irish coast during Zelenskyy visit may be kept from the public
Footage of drones off the Irish coast during Zelenskyy visit may be kept from the public
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believed the Defence Forces had taken the correct decision in not shooting down the drones

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

More than €210,000 claimed back by TDs and senators to upgrade personal security
More than €210,000 claimed back by TDs and senators to upgrade personal security
The Oireachtas members claimed back €210,000 in the last year for items such as intruder alarms, CCTV, panic buttons, and personal monitoring devices

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport
TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport
Cork South-Central TD Jerry Buttimer said tap and pay is about making public transport easier for people

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

Sinn Féin leader will consider rejection of 'super-juniors' case over Christmas 
Sinn Féin leader will consider rejection of 'super-juniors' case over Christmas 
Mary Lou McDonald was reacting to the High Court's decision on challenges brought by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Tánaiste admits it was 'hard to turn up to work' amid sustained threats against his family
Tánaiste admits it was 'hard to turn up to work' amid sustained threats against his family
'I think most people in this country are just great....It's when people cross that line and start to threaten your young children and your family, that's just not acceptable'

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Belgium Europe Summit
Taoiseach: EU loan to Ukraine sends strong signal of solidarity
Micheál Martin adds that it was 'disappointing' that EU leaders did not opt to secure the loan against Russia's frozen assets

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Jack Chambers never considered resignation in wake of 'devastating' presidential election
Jack Chambers never considered resignation in wake of 'devastating' presidential election
Jack Chambers was questioned about whether or not he believed it was a mistake to be appointed as the director of elections for Fianna Fáil, while he was preparing Budget 2026

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

The death of Cork's Máirín Quill: 'She was a true patriot'
The death of Cork's Máirín Quill: 'She was a true patriot'
Ms Quill passed away peacefully, in the presence of her loving family after a long illness

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Bill to ban fox hunting defeated in the Dáil by 124 votes to 24
Bill to ban fox hunting defeated in the Dáil by 124 votes to 24
The Bill would not have outlawed the shooting of foxes on one’s land to protect livestock

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Cabinet meeting - Dublin
Micheál Martin's leadership 'safe as houses' for the time being, say Fianna Fáil TDs
Several TDs did say they believed Mr Martin could be challenged for his leadership at the end of Ireland’s EU presidency next year

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

What is long Covid and how do you know if you have it?
Committee urges minister to extend payment scheme for healthcare workers with long covid
Many of the 159 workers became sick during the so-called ‘meaningful Christmas’ in December 2020, when many pandemic-era social restrictions were briefly relaxed, leading to a massive spike in infections

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

'Reprehensible' to suggest Fianna Fáil withheld information about Jim Gavin, says Micheál Martin
'Reprehensible' to suggest Fianna Fáil withheld information about Jim Gavin, says Micheál Martin
In his first interview since the publication of a report into the party’s calamitous election, the Fianna Fáil leader said Jim Gavin was insistent he never had a journalist as a tenant

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

What does the Fianna Fáil presidential election review reveal?
What does the Fianna Fáil presidential election review reveal?
After weeks of queries and delays, the party has finally published its presidential election review

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin wounded, but his leadership of Fianna Fáil is intact after stormy meeting
Micheál Martin wounded, but his leadership of Fianna Fáil is intact after stormy meeting
Internal party review into its disastrous presidential campaign largely puts the blame at the feet of its candidate, Jim Gavin

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fáil TDs and senators chide HQ for not dealing with queries about Jim Gavin
Fianna Fáil TDs and senators chide HQ for not dealing with queries about Jim Gavin
Two MEPs who failed to secure party's nomination for the presidential election were among those to address 'tense' party meeting

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin told Jim Gavin he could not recommend Fianna Fáil support after tenant row revelations
Micheál Martin told Jim Gavin he could not recommend Fianna Fáil support after tenant row revelations
The review into the presidential election campaign, which saw Jim Gavin drop out of the race over a dispute with a tenant, was completed on Monday evening

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Cabinet meeting - Dublin
Taoiseach denies leadership in trouble as Fianna Fáil presidential election review to be shared 
Ahead of the long-awaited review being shared, when asked if his leadership was in trouble, Mr Martin said: “No, not at all”.

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

'Micheál knew about the Jim Gavin rumours': Fianna Fáil row over presidential election review deepens
'Micheál knew about the Jim Gavin rumours': Fianna Fáil row over presidential election review deepens
In a scathing statement, Micheál Martin disputed “commentary of the past week”, which he described as “extremely disappointing, selective and inaccurate”.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Government wants to fund Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets, Helen McEntee says
Government wants to fund Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets, Helen McEntee says
The foreign affairs minister said the Government believed using frozen assets to fund Ukraine through a 'reparations loan' was the best way forward despite opposition from other EU countries

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Vacant property grants: Aid will be extended to 2030 despite Coalition row about caps
Vacant property grants: Aid will be extended to 2030 despite Coalition row about caps
Cabinet to consider new plan after Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil resolve dispute about limits on the value of eligible properties 

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Almost €85m in social welfare overpayments have not been recouped
Almost €85m in social welfare overpayments have not been recouped
Nearly €56.5m was lost last year, with another €28.4m not recouped the previous year, bringing the total amount of money not recovered to €84.9m

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Revealed: 27% more drug-driving offences in first nine months of 2025 than all of last year
Revealed: 27% more drug-driving offences in first nine months of 2025 than all of last year
New data reveals that 28,206 people have appeared in courts on drink- or drug-driving charges in five years

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fáil presidential election review could be ‘resignation territory’ for Micheál Martin
Fianna Fáil presidential election review could be ‘resignation territory’ for Micheál Martin
Taoiseach’s leadership comes under further pressure as Fianna Fáil TDs and senators demand to know when the party first heard about Jim Gavin's issue with a former tenant

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fail president
Taoiseach won't say if he was aware of Jim Gavin's issue with tenant before nomination vote
It comes after Thursday's revelation that Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers was told of Jim Gavin's issue with a former tenant — hours before the the party's presidential nomination vote

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

'Serious breach of trust' if senior Fianna Fáil members knew about Jim Gavin's tenant
'Serious breach of trust' if senior Fianna Fáil members knew about Jim Gavin's tenant
Billy Kelleher said it would be 'deeply worrying' if senior party figures did not disclose they were aware of Jim Gavin’s issue with a tenant in advance of the vote on their presidential candidate

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Ireland to spend €1.7bn on defence equipment in four years
Ireland to spend €1.7bn on defence equipment in four years
Increased budget to buy a range of items from radar and sonar systems to aircraft and combat vehicles

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Ireland will beef up drone defences ahead of assuming EU presidency
Ireland will beef up drone defences ahead of assuming EU presidency
Move comes in the wake of reports of objects in the skies near the flight path of the plane carrying Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his recent Dublin visit

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Colorful medicines closeup on white background
Government accused of being 'Scrooge-like' over plans for blister pack pharmacy charges
People may be charged up to €50 a month from January for blister-pack medication

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Draft review reveals Fianna Fáil was alerted to Jim Gavin rental issue ahead of nomination
Draft review reveals Fianna Fáil was alerted to Jim Gavin rental issue ahead of nomination
A draft Fianna Fáil review says Chambers was directly informed of a potential tenant dispute involving Jim Gavin before his selection

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Unrecognizable couple arriving at the accommodation with their suitcases
Just 1.3% of short-term lettings compliant with planning laws
Register for all short-term lets to be introduced from May

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Pearse Doherty tells Taoiseach: 'You can't stop yourself from making life harder for people'
Pearse Doherty tells Taoiseach: 'You can't stop yourself from making life harder for people'
Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson made the claim over changes made earlier this year to blister packs — the types of pre-formed plastic packaging used for some pharmaceuticals

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

'Marty Morrissey says I'm not allowed': RTÉ's Kevin Bakhurst has not applied for BBC job
'Marty Morrissey says I'm not allowed': RTÉ's Kevin Bakhurst has not applied for BBC job
The position of director-general at the BBC is currently vacant, after Tim Davie resigned in November

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

RTÉ headcount down by about 95 while lottery programming could be outsourced
RTÉ headcount down by about 95 while lottery programming could be outsourced
RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst told the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday that there had been 308 applications for voluntary redundancy and 107 offers had been made

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fáil faces fine for failing to remove Jim Gavin poster seven weeks after presidential election
Fianna Fáil faces fine for failing to remove Jim Gavin poster seven weeks after presidential election
Candidates in the presidential election are required to have removed all of their posters by midnight on October 31

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty doorstep
Government accused of ‘two-fingered salute’ over youth housing video
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the video, created by the SpunOut youth organisation and shared by the Department of Housing, was 'patronising'

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Reducing assessment of need waiting lists 'will not happen overnight', warns minister
Reducing assessment of need waiting lists 'will not happen overnight', warns minister
Cabinet today sanctioned the formation of 11 new expert teams, and a new HSE autism pathway is due to enter operation in February.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Ireland’s six-month presidency of EU to cost €10m in hospitality and catering services
Ireland’s six-month presidency of EU to cost €10m in hospitality and catering services
The OPW is seeking tenders to provide silver-service catering for visiting delegations during the six-month presidency

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visit to Ireland
Government pledges €300m for defence and anti-drone technology after Zelenskyy visit
Government ramps up defence spending, including €15m for anti-drone systems, after drones were detected near Zelenskyy’s flight

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

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