538 public servants are on career breaks. One has lasted 12 years At least 50 employees of Government departments and their agencies on career break for five years or moreMon Feb 10 2025 - 06:00
Taoiseach signals possible end to Rent Pressure Zones by end of yearMicheál Martin argues that private investment needs a stable environment to increase housing numbersSun Feb 09 2025 - 17:04
UAE extradition treaty targeting Kinahan cartel should be in force by ‘end of February’Bilateral treaty with UAE signed by Helen McEntee in October, but arrangement not yet in placeFri Feb 07 2025 - 17:40
Coalition confident shock 2020 defeat of its candidate for leas-cheann comhairle will not be repeatedJohn McGuinness expected to be elected, but secret ballot injects uncertaintyFri Feb 07 2025 - 12:39
What kind of president do voters want when Michael D Higgins' term ends and who might run?Mairead McGuinness, Heather Humphreys, Bertie Ahern, Tommy Tiernan and Conor McGregor among names bandied aboutThu Feb 06 2025 - 06:00
‘You left the ESB to do the heavy lifting’: Government criticised over Storm Éowyn responseHousing targets and ministerial appointments among other topics addressed as TDs reconveneWed Feb 05 2025 - 17:45
Ireland to set up new trade advisory bodies amid Trump EU tariff threatsCabinet expected to approve new ‘resilience plan’ for ESB to ensure the State’s energy grid is better equipped to withstand extreme weather events Wed Feb 05 2025 - 06:00
Heather Humphreys: ‘If you’re a rural TD it’s very hard as you can’t be at home at night’The former Fine Gael deputy leader learned a hard political lesson early in her career: ‘Prepare, prepare, prepare’Mon Feb 03 2025 - 06:00
‘Not worth dying in ditch for’: Government losing patience with Michael Lowry over speaking time rowTalks between Government and Opposition parties to defuse row break up amid recriminationsSat Feb 01 2025 - 05:00
Talks on Dáil speaking time row break up without agreementBitter row over speaking rights continues to disrupt Dáil businessFri Jan 31 2025 - 20:42
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael expected to increase number of women in government when junior ministers announced Parties respond to criticism over gender balance after 12 out of 15 Cabinet roles went to menWed Jan 29 2025 - 06:00
Further Dáil clash over Lowry group speaking time loomsThere are disputed accounts also as to whether Independent TD Michael Lowry and Sinn Féin’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn shook hands over a claimed ‘deal’Mon Jan 27 2025 - 06:00
Four new portfolios to feature in record 23 Junior Minister rolesNew briefs will be immigration, marine, older people and energyMon Jan 27 2025 - 06:00
Ireland saw record number of asylum applicants in 2024New fast-tracking measures introduced in mid-year for applicants from Nigeria and Jordan significantly reduced numbers applying from those countriesMon Jan 27 2025 - 06:00
Storm Éowyn: ‘Humanitarian hubs’ established as 100,000 to be without power until FebruaryNew emergency response ‘hubs’ to be set up to assist vulnerable communities and individualsMon Jan 27 2025 - 06:00
Cabinet appointments criticised as only three women become MinistersDáil approves Micheál Martin's new Cabinet by a margin of 97 votes to 72Thu Jan 23 2025 - 21:30
Gender split in new Cabinet draws criticism as Micheál Martin starts second term as TaoiseachSimon Harris becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs as Jim O'Callaghan takes justice portfolioThu Jan 23 2025 - 20:17
Was Dáil chaos a pre-planned sabotage or spontaneous outpouring of frustration? Once more into the breach but is there a resolution in sight?Thu Jan 23 2025 - 07:12
Chaos in the Dáil - as it happened: McDonald accuses Government of ‘incredible arrogance’ as Opposition says it will not back down over speaking demands What was essentially a pro forma day has descended into a fiascoWed Jan 22 2025 - 22:29
And so it begins...New government to be appointed as Murphy’s Law already rankles oppositionIt took two months to hammer together but shape of the coalition has been obvious since weekend of general electionWed Jan 22 2025 - 07:01
Ministers to be unveiled today as almost all departments set to changeFianna Fáil’s Mary Butler and Fine Gael’s Martin Heydon are among TDs tipped for promotionWed Jan 22 2025 - 06:00
No precedent to allow Regional Independent TDs become part of an ‘opposition’ group in DáilGovernment-supporting Independents to speak from Dáil opposition benches during election of taoiseachTue Jan 21 2025 - 21:39
Opposition parties to challenge Ceann Comhairle’s view on technical group membershipControversy continues over bid by Independent TDs to boost Dáil speaking time by joining technical groupMon Jan 20 2025 - 18:33
Irish rowers, racing in memory of teen who died last year, finish third in ‘world’s toughest row’John O’Driscoll put together team of five to raise funds for children’s charities after death of daughter Saoirse (13)Mon Jan 20 2025 - 10:58
Saoirse O’Driscoll: Irish crew nears completion of 5,000km transatlantic row in honour of girl who died of heart conditionFeat of endurance carried out in memory of daughter of crew member with aim of raising €500,000 for children’s heart charitiesSun Jan 19 2025 - 13:54
Intensive government coalition talks to get under way today Regional Independent group and two Healy-Rae brothers set to join new government if negotiations are successfulFri Jan 10 2025 - 20:17
Project to pipe water from river Shannon to Dublin could cost €10bnUisce Éireann using estimate range of €4.5bn-€6bn for 170km pipeline preliminary business caseFri Jan 10 2025 - 06:00
First formal engagement between FF, FG and Regional Independents to take place todayGroup of eight Independent TDs will submit a position paper to the two bigger parties setting out its preconditions for entering governmentFri Jan 10 2025 - 06:00
Michael Lowry ‘fully confident’ he has no case to answer as Moriarty tribunal file goes to DPPTánaiste and Taoiseach both reject suggestion that independent TD will be a ‘kingmaker’ in government formation talksThu Jan 09 2025 - 20:51
Government green-friendly spending estimated to increase to €7bn in 2025Another €2bn of spending during the year will be unfavourable to climate and the environment, leaving a net pro-environment spend of just under €5bnWed Jan 08 2025 - 19:00
Simon Harris and Micheál Martin say they are happy to work with Michael LowryTaoiseach says he accepted findings of Moriarty tribunal but that he knows ‘the practicalities of how the Dáil works’Wed Jan 08 2025 - 06:00
Healy-Rae brothers to seek ministerial role in return for backing next government ‘Major policy differences’ between Social Democrats and larger parties suggest Soc Dems unlikely to have role in next coalitionTue Jan 07 2025 - 19:20
Vacant homes tax raises €2.3m from almost 4,000 properties in its first yearTax is charged at three times the local property tax for dwellings occupied less than 30 days each yearTue Jan 07 2025 - 13:53
2024 in Irish politics: Elections, leadership changes, referendums and restorationAfter a year of two lost referendums, a taoiseach’s resignation and huge losses for government partners the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are returning to powerTue Dec 31 2024 - 06:00
New public pay deal a key financial risk for next governmentAnnual rise in State spending on public pay could rise from €554.7m in 2026 to €1.66bn by 2027, notes Oireachtas analysisMon Dec 30 2024 - 01:00
‘An appalling tragedy’: Tributes paid to Leinster House usher killed while cycling in CastleknockDerek Doyle, who died in a collision last week, was earlier this year attacked by a group of men putting up posters for his wife, the councillor Tania DoyleThu Dec 26 2024 - 18:10
‘Not inevitable’ Independents will be in new government, say Social DemocratsCian O'Callaghan says his party will continue discussions with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil into the New Year with constructive engagement on its key issues.Mon Dec 23 2024 - 06:00
Coalition talks are like Santa’s Grotto as Independents are busy writing their lists Your essential end-of-week politics catch up a Israel enters a war of words with IrelandFri Dec 20 2024 - 14:38
Ceann comhairle vote: Harris urges TDs to support Verona Murphy despite his previous concerns over ‘stoking’ of ‘unfounded racist fears’Micheál Martin also calls on Fianna Fáil TDs to vote for Wexford TD but in 2020 described her remarks on asylum seekers ‘quite dangerous’Wed Dec 18 2024 - 06:00
Harris and Fine Gael join Fianna Fáil in backing Verona Murphy for Ceann ComhairleWexford Independent TD now favourite - but presence of sitting chair Ó Fearghaíl could complicate secret ballotTue Dec 17 2024 - 19:07
Ireland is ‘extreme against Israel’, says ambassadorPresident Michael D Higgins says accusations of anti-Semitism are ‘gross defamation’Tue Dec 17 2024 - 19:00
President Michael D Higgins accuses Israel of ‘deep slander’ over anti-Semitic claimsPresident was responding to comments from Israel’s foreign minister on MondayTue Dec 17 2024 - 16:05
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to discuss how they will approach election of ceann comhairle Talks continue between potential parties to coalition governmentTue Dec 17 2024 - 06:00
Israeli foreign minister calls Taoiseach Simon Harris ‘antisemitic’Taoiseach said he would not comment on ‘personalised and false attacks and remains focused on the horrific war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza’Mon Dec 16 2024 - 18:05
Does Varadkar’s assessment add up? Just how good – or bad – are Irish politicians with numbers?Leo Varadkar recently said politicians generally aren’t good at maths. We asked some of his former Dáil colleagues and a government economic adviser if they agreedSat Dec 14 2024 - 06:00
Soc Dems have ‘taken a knock’ in Hayes controversy, admits deputy leaderCian O’Callaghan could not say if suspended TD has a route back into the party in the futureWed Dec 11 2024 - 20:53
Eoin Hayes returns part of €2,500 donation received as part of general election GoFundMe campaignDetails of donations were included on suspended TD’s page until Tuesday but it was taken down by him that nightWed Dec 11 2024 - 17:06
Social Democrats’ Gary Gannon apologises for ‘poor comment’ on journalists examining Eoin Hayes’s shares Gannon had claimed some journalists were only asking questions because they were interested in government special adviser jobsWed Dec 11 2024 - 13:18
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to begin formal government coalition talks on WednesdayLabour and Regional Independent group to decide on pursuing negotiations with two outgoing ruling partiesTue Dec 10 2024 - 21:34
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael open to Labour coalition with opinions split on IndependentsJim O’Callaghan talks up Independents option while Bacik expected to speak separately with Martin and Harris this weekMon Dec 09 2024 - 06:00
