Differences betwen unions run deep

Question: What is the difference between marriage and civil partnership?

Behind the News: Fidelma Healy Eames, WB Yeats devotee

A big donation this week means that Thoor Ballylee, the 16th-century tower house once owned by the poet, will reopen this summer, in time for the 150th anniversary of his birth

Dyslexia curbs Galway girl’s Leaving choices

Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames refers to the case of student seeking 600 points

Children and Family Relationships Bill passes in Seanad

Frances Fitzgerald: Rejects criticism saying children’s welfare turns on good parenting

Noel Grealish rules out joining Shane Ross’s alliance

‘I can better serve the people of Galway as a true independent’ says TD

Healy Eames accepts Mother’s Day not banned in any US state

Galway West Senator says she made error in tweet on same-sex marriage referendum

State’s language policy is costing its citizens jobs, Senator says

Fidelma Healy-Eames makes claims during university entrance requirements discussion

WB Yeats’s tower may become cultural centre

Thoor Ballylee group targets €1 million for project

When will Lucinda Creighton actually form her new party?

With ever-shifting allegiances in Leinster House, the much-heralded new political parties and alliances of Independents are still up in the air

Lucinda Creighton’s political rise and fall ... and possible rise again?

Former Fine Gael junior minister set to form new pary

Speculation grows that FG Mayo TD John O’Mahony will move to Galway West

Decision in January as Mayo drops to four seats with no FG hope of retaining all its TDs

Oireachtas members ask President not to sign water Bill

Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames asks Michael D Higgins to refer Bill to Council of State

Connemara road plan could threaten endangered freshwater pearl mussels

National Parks and Wildlife Service correspondence reveals ‘major concerns’ in upgrade of N59 from Maam Cross to Clifden, which has been approved by An Bord Pleanála

Government looks likely to win crucial Seanad vote on Water Services Bill

Government Senators are now in a minority in the 60-seat upper chamber

Cog Notes: Fears for diversity of future staffrooms

Early findings of a national survey on diversity in initial teacher education raise concerns over a possible impact on the socioeconomic make-up of future staffs

Sinn Féin leader’s infallibility questioned in the Dáil

Usual suspects refrain from heckling, aware of sensitivity of the subject

Fine Gael row over McNulty appointment escalates

Seanad candidate met no officials, made no visits to Imma during 13 days on board

McNulty appointment a brazen defiance of democratic accountability

Analysis: The sheer extent to which old politics has been given a new life is remarkable

Humphreys declines to elaborate on Imma choice

Minister fails to explain nomination of FG Seanad election candidate to Imma board

Coalition criticised as FG candidate appointed to Imma

Minister says McNulty has ‘track record’ in promoting culture and arts

Senator Healy-Eames gets apology over ‘Mail’ article

Fine Gael politician took case over claims about her voluntary work in Rwanda

Sweeping changes advocated by Reform Alliance

Group launch policy document but decline to say whether they intend to form new political party

Denis Naughten rules out joining new party

Former FG TD to contest next election as Independent despite reports of new party

Fine Gael readmits TD who opposed Bill on abortion

Galway West TD Brian Walsh has voted with Government on all other issues since

Reform Alliance member Billy Timmins renews Fine Gael membership

Wicklow deputy expected to be followed by Fidelma Healy Eames and Terence Flanagan

Shock at Galway-Mayo IT over deaths of two students in fire in Belgium

Dace Zarina (22) and Sara Gibadlo (19) were ‘very popular’, ‘bright and creative’

When is a party not a party?

The Reform Alliance conference today is not a monster meeting, nor is it a party launch. So what do the seven Oireachtas members hope to achieve?

TD urges inquiry into pro-life group seeking €7,000 donations

Family and Life accused of targeting ‘vulnerable, elderly people’

Fewer horses slaughtered in abattoirs last year

Massive increase in numbers of horses seized in Ireland for welfare reasons recorded

50 horses put down for animal welfare reasons

Call for blood test to allow horses be slaughtered for export

FG rebels register with commission as a ‘third party’

Reform Alliance not registering as political party, says Creighton

Bill to outlaw tobacco lobbying defeated in Seanad

Minister for Health said he could not support legislation because of legal and constitutional considerations

Local authorities spent €5 million dealing with the problem of abandoned horses

Total costs probably higher as no figures were provided for four council areas

Ex-FG member accuses party of spreading ‘false propaganda’ on Seanad

Fidelma Healy-Eames says claim abolition would save €20m ‘completely erroneous’

Expelled Fine Gael members hold meeting

Frances Fitzgerald says people not interested in internal party politics

Reform Alliance in talks over collective approach

Group members insist theirs is a loose grouping and not a new party in the making

Expelled Fine Gael members to form a ‘loose alliance’

Tánaiste rejects suggestion that ‘Reform Alliance’ might destabilise coalition

Fine Gael dissidents meet to plan Dáil and Seanad strategy

A further full-day meeting involving all eight will be held before the Dáil resumes

Two Fine Gael senators face further sanctions after voting with opposition in Seanad debate

Fianna Fáil health spokesman missed special debate due to holiday booking

Attitudes to mental health criticised in Seanad debate on abortion

Labour Senator had hoped attitude ‘gone out of this country 40 years ago’

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