Dermot Ahern says 2009 law was designed to make prosecutions for the act impossible

A guide to how the State’s ban on blasphemy became a law

Diarmuid Martin: ‘Not informed of any such interventions at that time by either side’

What sort of country will Pope Francis encounter? One where Mass attendance – though falling – is still among the highest in Europe, where scandals have dented people’s faith in the church, but faith itself has not died

Reports indicate little has changed at the Vatican where handling abuse is concerned

Dermot Ahern says Cardinal Sodano ‘was quite blunt’

It had been estimated in 2004 abuse crisis compensation would cost Irish dioceses €50m

Former leaders Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair showed how co-operation should work

McCabe controversy may discourage potential chiefs from applying, Dermot Ahern says

Fitzgerald’s position on Garda strategy on whistleblower ‘not credible’

So deep are the problems that actions for damages may be brought and convictions quashed

Politicians agree the Garda commissioner has a tough role, but sympathy is limited

This Taliban-like law has no place in a democracy

Minister for justice in 2009 said he never had so many outraged emails as on this issue

Minister says ‘this is a democracy, and people have the right to express whatever view they do’

Steve Fitzpatrick, the pragmatic union leader who won’t leave managing to the managers

‘Nationalist to her fingertips’ was proud of legacy of late father, former taoiseach Séan Lemass

Club shows money is not insurmountable obstacle if organisation and spirit is right

Government says taking part in celebrations could provoke strong reaction from China

Sgt Maurice McCabe a ‘dedicated and committed’ member of the force

Minister for Transport fighting to retain seat in Dublin Central, which is now three-seater

Speculation distracting from policy discussions, says Fianna Fáil leader in Waterford

Actions secured important safety improvements to the project and helped create a much needed national debate about the management of our natural resources

Asked if he saw Murphy as ‘good republican’, justice spokesman said he didn’t know him

Campaigners opposed to the Corrib gas project pay tribute to the women deceived into forming relationships with the men, one of whom spent time at a Shell to Sea workshop in Mayo

Wild Geese: Ciarán Ó Cuinn, Middle East Desalination Research Center, Oman

Former minister says Ireland has not learned lessons and risks repeating mistakes

Family of critically ill Siobhán Phillips ‘forever in debt’ of murdered father of three

Court says neither petitioner raised necessary point of general public importance

Drop in special exemption orders allowing alcohol until early hours saw fewer crimes

Consequences of bailing in senior bondholders could have ‘far outweighed the gains’

Micheál Martin absent as Mary Coughlan celebrates 50th with former colleagues

Nobody – aside from criminals – benefits from drug prohibition

‘The part of the country I came from the word gay wasn’t even heard of,’ ex-Minister says

Public tolerance of the many negatives of alcohol has long since evaporated

Enda Kenny said Government felt it was better to put changes recommended by Constitutional Conventiontion to the people on a phased basis

Ministers said they could not know if US planes in Shannon moved prisoners to torture areas

Drug courts see a drop-out rate of two-thirds. In 13 years, just 51 offenders have graduated. It is a world of tragic lives where success is measured in shopping vouchers

Holding a trial without a jury addresses intimidation fears. But should the option now be scrapped?

Review: This poignant book is an important contribution, conveyed by people who were close to the central events