Over 20,000 international protection applicants could apply for asylum in Ireland during 2024Figure for first three months of the year is 75 per cent higher than comparable figure for last yearThu Apr 18 2024 - 20:14
Official records show costs row over care referendum wordingDepartment of Children suggestion that State take ‘reasonable measures’ to uphold rights of carers rejected by other departmentsWed Apr 17 2024 - 20:25
Intensive care hospital beds increased 30% in four years, report finds Relative lack of ICU beds in hospitals became an issue during the height of the Covid pandemicTue Apr 16 2024 - 06:00
Smart cameras at traffic lights and phone use detection technology part of new road safety strategyAdditional €3m to be made available for Road Safety Authority under new initiative as 63 people killed so far in 2024Mon Apr 15 2024 - 22:18
Fianna Fáil ministers cast doubt on Harris promises on housing and taxMinister for Finance Michael McGrath promises ‘substantial income tax package’ in Budget, but questions timeline of Taoiseach pledgesSat Apr 13 2024 - 16:09
Migrants should be deported for serious offences even if granted asylum, says Lisa ChambersDublin MEP Barry Andrews expects legal challenges to migrant pact agreed this week by European ParliamentSat Apr 13 2024 - 13:48
Europe has ‘abandoned Palestine’ across political spectrum, FF MEP saysFew countries have spoken out for Palestinian people, Billy Kelleher said, while action was needed before current tragediesSat Apr 13 2024 - 12:40
Fianna Fáil faithful gather to discuss matters from Palestine to potholes at ardfheisEuropean election candidates - including the ‘Billy Barry kids’ - take coffee with supporters ahead of tough battleSat Apr 13 2024 - 10:27
Formal recognition of Palestine coming closer, Harris and Spanish PM sayTaoiseach says scenes of ‘hunger, thirst, mutilation, death of innocent children, women, men, the destruction of hospitals, schools’ must stopFri Apr 12 2024 - 21:18
Taoiseach ‘proud’ of decision to pass junior Gaeltacht ministry to Fianna Fáil’s Thomas ByrneHarris indicates Chief Whip could have taken responsibility but is set to be busy with new duties in the area of special educationFri Apr 12 2024 - 21:07
Micheál Martin repeats position Fianna Fáil will not go into Government with Sinn FéinTánaiste does not rule out possibility of working with party entirely but potential coalition would not be possible with current SF policiesFri Apr 12 2024 - 20:32
Micheál Martin is now arguably as dominant as Bertie Ahern was at party’s helmDespite internal criticism of Micheál Martin over the years, the Tánaiste now leads a more settled party.Fri Apr 12 2024 - 19:00
Mary Lou beats ‘as láthair’ Tiktok Taoiseach at his own gameYour essential end-of-week politics catch up from Ringer’s ghostly ministry to gaily-painted cupcakesFri Apr 12 2024 - 13:15
Ireland working with Spain and others to build support for recognition of PalestineSimon Harris says it is ‘highly likely’ more countries to follow Ireland and Spain in planning to recognise state of Palestine, with a ‘very clear view emerging’ in Europe of the need for violence in Gaza to endFri Apr 12 2024 - 06:00
‘Highly likely’ more EU countries will recognise Palestine - HarrisTaoiseach says ‘clear view’ emerging on need for end to violence in Gaza following meeting with Ursula von der LeyenThu Apr 11 2024 - 17:41
Planned asylum seeker system overhaul is a ‘gamechanger’ for Ireland, McEntee saysThe Minister for Justice said the new European Parliament approved policy would allow for faster processing of applicantsThu Apr 11 2024 - 15:23
Harris rejects Israeli criticism that he failed to mention hostages in Dáil speechTaoiseach’s spokesman said Ireland has repeatedly condemned Hamas attack on October 7thThu Apr 11 2024 - 12:52
Inside Politics: An ‘as láthair’ Taoiseach, ‘no focal at all’ Fine Gael Ministers, and a ‘ghost’ portfolioA no-show by Harris in the Dáil provided much of the heat in his first full day in the job.Thu Apr 11 2024 - 08:08
Simon Harris to raise Ireland’s intention to recognise Palestine with Von der LeyenOpposition accuse Fine Gael leader of ‘no show’ in Dáil amid preparations for first foreign trip in officeThu Apr 11 2024 - 07:14
Ireland one of six EU countries willing to recognise Palestinian stateIdea has gathered momentum since Tánaiste hosted dinner of like-minded foreign affairs ministers in Brussels last monthThu Apr 11 2024 - 06:00
Gaeltacht portfolio goes back to Fianna Fáil as Fine Gael Ministers unwilling to take on the roleFF’s Thomas Byrne to become Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, with sources claiming many FG Ministers are not sufficiently fluent in Irish, or simply don’t want the jobWed Apr 10 2024 - 19:40
Former Cabinet member Michael Ring says he declined junior ministry offersNeale Richmond, Emer Higgins, Alan Dillon and Kieran O’Donnell all promotedWed Apr 10 2024 - 12:36
The first 100 days… and then the last 100 daysSimon Harris will have a lot to do in his short time as Taoiseach and a lot to prove in terms of showing he can be a leader of substanceWed Apr 10 2024 - 07:25
You can never assess a taoiseach until they become a taoiseachSimon Harris will the the 16th taoiseach. He will be the youngest but could also be the one who served the shortest termTue Apr 09 2024 - 07:41
Varadkar entitled to exit payment of €280,000 when he retires as a TDSimon Coveney, who will step down as Minister for Enterprise on Tuesday, will be entitled to similar severance payments totalling €236,000Tue Apr 09 2024 - 06:00
Varadkar resigns as Taoiseach with ‘no regrets’ as Harris loyalists eye promotionNew Cabinet is expected be announced to the Dáil at about 5pm on TuesdayTue Apr 09 2024 - 06:00
What kind of taoiseach will Simon Harris be? His record gives us some indicationRecord from his 13-year Dáil term discloses a pragmatist with orthodox Fine Gael views on the economySun Mar 31 2024 - 07:00
Jeffrey Donaldson resigns as DUP leader after being charged with sex offencesGavin Robinson appointed interim party leader following emergency meeting of party officersFri Mar 29 2024 - 20:05
Government ready to work with DUP’s interim leader Gavin RobinsonMr Robinson, who took over following shock resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson, has described developments as ‘devastating’Fri Mar 29 2024 - 19:48
Varadkar’s big goodbye: The week that reshaped Irish politicsMinutes after the Taoiseach’s bombshell speech, Senators and TDs were huddled in the Dáil members’ bar plotting their futuresSat Mar 23 2024 - 05:30
Simon Harris set to become new FG leader on Sunday as closing date for nominations brought forwardMinister for Higher Education says timing of a general election not a priorityFri Mar 22 2024 - 16:55
Just another dull week in Irish politics. Nothing doing. Nada. Same old same oldYour essential end-of-week politics catch up including Gary Gannon’s memorable bust-up with anti-immigration campaignerFri Mar 22 2024 - 12:39
Simon Harris rules out coalition with Sinn Féin as he puts his name forward to be next FG leader and taoiseachMinister for Higher Education likely to face no contest after securing overwhelming backing of parliamentary partyThu Mar 21 2024 - 22:23
Simon Harris: leadership frontrunner gathers backing of almost half of Fine Gael parliamentary partyNeale Richmond was first to declare backing for expected next taoiseach on ThursdayThu Mar 21 2024 - 08:41
Simon Harris is early front-runner to become taoiseachCoalition insiders said a contest for the Fine Gael leadership was a strong possibilityThu Mar 21 2024 - 06:00
Leo Varadkar: Clear-thinking, decisive politician without the common touchVaradkar achieved much personally but leaves unfinished business in housing and health with limited electoral success for Fine GaelWed Mar 20 2024 - 16:22
Taoiseach raises need for bombs to stop in Gaza, as central part of shamrock ceremony speech with US president Leo Varadkar moves Joe Biden to tears when he quotes the president’s late son, Beau BidenSun Mar 17 2024 - 20:57
Government under too much pressure to provide migrants with accommodation of choice - MinisterTaoiseach disagrees with suggestion that alternative site on grounds of former nursing home in Crooksling in southwest Dublin was too isolated for migrantsSun Mar 17 2024 - 09:53
Hamas and Israel should have no part in governing Gaza after conflict, Varadkar saysTaoiseach says proposals put forward by Israel for the ‘day after’ the conflict are unacceptableSun Mar 17 2024 - 08:15
The people behind the power: Who are Ireland’s political advisers and backroom experts?A large staff network oversees everything: communication, policy and smooth Coalition relationsSat Mar 16 2024 - 06:00
Biden singles out Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly for praise during Speakers LunchUS president says both leaders have shown they are capable of rising above historic disagreementsFri Mar 15 2024 - 21:48
US working towards Ramadan ceasefire in Gaza, Biden tells Taoiseach Disclosure comes during meeting in Oval Office amid increasing signs that US administration support for Israel’s war in Gaza is waningFri Mar 15 2024 - 21:01
Biden agrees with Varadkar on need for ceasefire in Gaza and two-state solutionUS president and Taoiseach meet in the Oval Office of White House to discuss the wars in Gaza and UkraineFri Mar 15 2024 - 15:43
‘There will be differences of opinions’: Varadkar brings clear message on Gaza to USTaoiseach has spoken about Gaza every day during his weeklong visit to the USFri Mar 15 2024 - 06:00
Taoiseach insists he will not dilute Government’s criticism of Israel during US tripVaradkar pledges to maintain pressure over Gaza when meeting US president and Congressional leadersThu Mar 14 2024 - 15:53
Taoiseach say he does not expect more protests against Ukrainian refugee accommodation centres‘We have not seen a large amount of protests, or difficulties that have arisen’ in terms of demonstrations, says VaradkarThu Mar 14 2024 - 07:12
Taoiseach to ask Biden to become involved in the ‘drive for peace’ in GazaVaradkar backs decision by Catherine Martin to attend the SXSW festival in Austin despite boycott by some artistsTue Mar 12 2024 - 21:57
Catherine Martin to attend SXSW events as Irish artists withdraw in solidarity with GazaA dozen Irish acts, including Kneecap, Soda Blonde and NewDad, will not perform due to festival’s links with US militaryTue Mar 12 2024 - 20:01
‘Cries of the innocent will haunt us forever if we stay silent’: Varadkar condemns Israel’s attack on Gaza during US visit Leo Varadkar makes what is seen as one of his most forceful condemnations of Israel’s continued onslaught on GazaMon Mar 11 2024 - 23:15
St Patrick’s Day: Varadkar to visit Boston, Washington DC during week-long US trip Taoiseach will hold talks with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and visit Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red SoxMon Mar 11 2024 - 13:40
