Controversial hate speech provisions removed from criminal justice legislation as Bill passed in SeanadNew laws stalled in Upper House after criticism by backbenchers, Senators, free speech groups and tech billionaire Elon MuskWed Oct 16 2024 - 20:54
Number of TDs could reach 240 over next 30 years if population growth continues, chamber hearsPaschal Donohoe says system of representation ‘broadly works’ and wants ‘national conversation’ on the matterWed Oct 16 2024 - 15:07
Social Welfare Bill to be passed in just two days over three hoursPassage of legislation fuels mounting speculation of pre-Christmas electionWed Oct 16 2024 - 07:50
Mary Lou McDonald defends Sinn Féin processes as Government criticises handling of child abuse case and resignationsSeveral controversies engulf party as opponents accuse it of protecting itself ‘at all costs’ in DáilTue Oct 15 2024 - 20:16
Private college graduates to be excluded from extension of Seanad election voting rightsMinister says legislation is ‘genuine attempt’ to start reform as university Senators claim Bill is ‘disgrace’, and will keep Upper House as ‘rubber stamp’Thu Oct 10 2024 - 20:52
Aircraft carrying weapons possibly violated Irish sovereign airspace while trying ‘to save fuel’, Tánaiste suggestsSinn Féin’s Matt Carthy accuses Government of not regarding overflights by aircraft holding munitions ‘to be a serious matter’Thu Oct 10 2024 - 17:25
Micheál Martin says he was never briefed about alleged Russian spy in the OireachtasPeadar Tóibín says Senators ‘sniggered like giddy children’ as they denied being reported infiltrator during Seanad sittingThu Oct 10 2024 - 16:29
Israeli troops fire on Unifil positions in south Lebanon region where Irish troops basedDefence Forces will issue statement that ‘all Irish troops are accounted for and are well’, Martin tells the DáilThu Oct 10 2024 - 13:02
‘Most significant reform in planning legislation since 2000’ passes in DáilControversial Planning and Development Bill a key part of plans to address housing crisis, but Opposition says it will add to delays and costsWed Oct 09 2024 - 21:01
Ireland set to be one of first countries in world to allow women pause maternity leave if seriously ill, Minister saysRoderic O’Gorman introduces Bill that also entitles Oireachtas members to maternity leave and will regulate non-disclosure agreementsWed Oct 09 2024 - 20:23
No spies coming in from the cold in Seanad as Senators rule themselves out as Russian agentTongue-in-cheek denials follow recent reports that an Oireachtas member had allegedly been recruited by Russian intelligenceWed Oct 09 2024 - 18:28
Mark Ruffalo rows in on Irish politics, saying Green Party ‘about to do something really terrible to the environment’After actor rows in on LNG terminals and Planning Bill, party responds that ‘keeping the lights on in Ireland is not something he needs to worry about’Wed Oct 09 2024 - 15:51
Concerns about Russian ‘asset’ among Oireachtas members raised in DáilNo response officially or politically to report in media on member ‘recruited by Russian intelligence’, says TD Duncan SmithTue Oct 08 2024 - 18:06
McDonald claims ‘very senior members’ of Coalition wrote character references for ‘convicted rapists and child abusers’ Sinn Féin leader was speaking after Government calls for Dáil statements from McDonald about press officer controversyTue Oct 08 2024 - 15:18
Driving test no-shows: Testers paid to ‘twiddle their thumbs’ as numbers riseRoad safety group claims the problem of rising waiting lists difficult to address until no-shows tackledSat Oct 05 2024 - 06:00
‘A remarkable woman’: Tributes paid to former Fianna Fáil minister Mary O’Rourke after her deathMs O’Rourke was deputy leader of party between 1994 and 2002 and became Seanad leader afterwardsThu Oct 03 2024 - 21:53
Minister for Health still ‘fully expects’ State to take ownership of children’s hospital next year Stephen Donnelly says commissioning of facility accelerated and staff could move in ‘maybe before final completion date’Thu Oct 03 2024 - 19:30
School phone pouches: Opposition criticises ‘grotesque’ €9m spendMinister for Finance staunchly defends measure as ‘investment in children’s welfare’ and stresses international research shows it ‘has made a difference’Thu Oct 03 2024 - 14:39
Michelle O’Neill ‘horrified’ Sinn Féin staff gave references to ex-colleague later convicted of child sex offencesFormer press officers Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley quit party at weekend after controversy over Michael McMonagle aroseWed Oct 02 2024 - 19:59
Parents of babies born in December to receive treble child benefit paymentBudget 2025: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald challenges Taoiseach to ‘bring it on’ and name general election dateWed Oct 02 2024 - 18:28
Coalition parties are ‘serial wasters’ of taxpayers’ money, Sinn Féin saysBudget 2025: Labour hit out at ‘lack of imagination’ while Social Democrats call budget ‘a giveaway on steroids’Tue Oct 01 2024 - 20:45
National children’s hospital ‘car crash’ set to be repeated with maternity hospital, Dáil toldAontú leader claims building, fit-out tender as ‘half-baked’ as contract for children’s hospital and that Government is ‘incinerating taxpayers’ money’Thu Sept 26 2024 - 20:25
Tánaiste says problems with land hoarding tax legislation could be resolved in time for budgetDiscussions between Coalition partners follows major political row during summer over measures to exclude active farmers from impact of the taxThu Sept 26 2024 - 19:29
Occupied Territories Bill: Coalition Ministers note ICJ opinion on illegal Israeli settlementsProposed law, advanced in 2018, aims at banning imports from Israeli settlements on Palestinian landThu Sept 26 2024 - 17:03
Thousands of Ukrainians affected if accommodation scheme ended - MinisterLabour leader says Sinn Féin’s call for restrictions on housing scheme amount to ‘new low in political vernacular’Wed Sept 25 2024 - 18:26
Taoiseach accuses McDonald of ‘throwing mud’ after claim he misled Dáil over Israeli weapons transportInquiry found at least nine flights carrying weapons destined for Israel overflew Irish sovereign airspaceTue Sept 24 2024 - 17:43
National children’s hospital: ‘Fiasco’ is rooted in Government incompetence, Sinn Féin leader tells DáilNo rooms finished in line with required standards, TDs to be told at committee on WednesdayTue Sept 24 2024 - 15:46
Fianna Fáil TD takes aim at Sinn Féin over defamation actionsProposed legislation on abolition of juries to cut excessive awards, legal costs and appeals is criticised by some Dáil deputiesThu Sept 19 2024 - 18:47
Government asking ordinary workers to build ‘gold-plated’ pensions of elite, says Pearse DohertyCabinet decision will give wealthiest workers tax-free pension pot of €2.8 million when average pot is only €111,000Thu Sept 19 2024 - 14:40
Hundreds of mice used every day in Botox testing ‘suffer horribly’, TD claimsPaul Murphy alleges ‘massive’ loophole in law gets around ban on animal testing for cosmetic purposesWed Sept 18 2024 - 20:58
Apple taxes: ‘Dublin-Shannon bullet train’ among ideas TDs advance for €14bnClarity on where to invest money will be given on Budget day, says TaoiseachWed Sept 18 2024 - 20:15
Time ‘running out’ for child whose ribs are crushing his lungs Eight-year-old Harvey Sherratt taken off surgery waiting list, unknown to his parents, says Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonaldWed Sept 18 2024 - 19:42
Bike shed a ‘profound embarrassment’, Ceann Comhairle tells DáilSeán Ó Fearghaíl asks how OPW did not query price when cost became apparentWed Sept 18 2024 - 16:13
TDs clamour to contribute to ‘sexy’ subjects in Dáil but fail to attend for ‘workhorse’ legislation, says Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle recalls House as ‘like being on board the Mary Celeste’ because only two parliamentarians attended final debate on important pensions BillMon Aug 12 2024 - 06:00
Road safety: Small ‘correction’ to law could be ‘game changer’ in dealing with disqualified driversAmendment to Road Traffic Act would allow gardaí instant access on whether motorist disqualified, uninsured or carrying penalty pointsFri Aug 09 2024 - 06:00
Olympic homecoming for Team Ireland to take place in O’Connell Street on MondayEvent is free and Dublin City Council inviting public to ‘family-friendly, alcohol-free event’Thu Aug 08 2024 - 13:59
Kellie Harrington confirms boxing retirement: ‘I’ve nothing more to prove, not even to myself’Double Olympic champion will stay involved in the sport, speaks of ‘special’ feeling seeing Irish flag raised at medal podiumThu Aug 08 2024 - 13:46
Irish skies set for ‘celestial fireworks’ as Perseid meteor shower hits peak activity on MondayThere will be 20 times more shooting stars than on a normal night during the annual Perseid meteor shower, says Astronomy IrelandThu Aug 08 2024 - 10:27
Newpark Academy of Music saved from closure through licence reprieveAfter a months-long campaign to prevent its closure school has time to look for other premises in south Co DublinTue Aug 06 2024 - 18:54
Funeral takes place in Dublin of Paddy McDonald, father of Sinn Féin leaderMary Lou McDonald, family, friends and political colleagues attend ceremony at St Paul of the Cross Church Mount Argus before cremation at Mount JeromeTue Aug 06 2024 - 15:16
New process to strip Irish citizenship is passed by OireachtasMinister for Justice says new procedure ‘just and fair’ in process used less than 10 times since 1956Wed Jul 17 2024 - 20:45
Minister for Housing defends controversial planning Bill as ‘in no way … rushed’Proposed legislation consolidates existing law and raises threshold for taking judicial reviews against developmentsWed Jul 17 2024 - 19:26
Chinese ambassador complains to Oireachtas about Taiwan visit by five SenatorsTwo Fianna Fáil, one Fine Gael and two Independent representatives spending five days in countryWed Jul 17 2024 - 16:37
Schools warned it is ‘completely unacceptable’ to ask parents to pay to secure summer programme places Minister confirms case where school asked for contribution for child’s participation in activities’ camp for pupils with special needsTue Jul 16 2024 - 20:21
Planning Bill criticised as being like ‘tablets of 10 commandments descending from Mount Sinai’ Senator describes 747-page Bill as ‘telephone directory’ and a ‘massive supertanker coming to dock in a very small port’Tue Jul 16 2024 - 19:36
Minister for Enterprise ‘alarmed’ at low levels of digitalisation by SMEs, pledges budget supportPeter Burke confirms two thirds of eligible businesses have applied for increased cost of business grantMon Jul 15 2024 - 20:04
Planning regulator will have ‘unchecked power’ under controversial legislation, Seanad hearsLabour Senator warns of ‘fundamental flaw’ as Upper House debates third largest Bill in history of StateMon Jul 15 2024 - 19:25
Opposition TDs say Dáil has passed a ‘liquorice allsorts’ criminal justice Bill that will end up in courtsTDs criticise end-of-term push to pass legislation on knife crime, revoking citizenship and increasing the retirement age for emergency staffFri Jul 12 2024 - 07:58
‘Wrongdoers’ in mica defective block scandal have not been pursued, says DohertySinn Féin’s finance spokesman claims effort ‘at the very heart of Government’ to limit support for homeowners in redress schemeThu Jul 11 2024 - 15:49
‘Over the moon’: Tori Towey hopes to return to Ireland on Thursday after charges dropped in DubaiTaoiseach describes Irishwoman’s case as ‘horrific nightmare scenario that no Irish citizen should have to experience’Wed Jul 10 2024 - 21:23
