The nation gives one great big sigh of reliefTHE SUFFOCATING blanket of babble slowly cleared yesterday and a bank holiday front moved in to bring welcome respite to a weary…Sat Jun 02 2012 - 01:00
Claims to history all very well but Enda will not get involved in mere debatesCAMPAIGN SKETCH: THE CONTRAST was interesting.Wed May 30 2012 - 01:00
The only grilling Enda got during his speech was a nation at the barbecuesEnda Kenny performed well in his TV address following Gerry Adams’s appearance, but was anyone watching?Mon May 28 2012 - 01:00
They've started so they'll finish . . .SINN FÉIN opted for a novel ardfheis opening night function with a special Mastermind contest in Killarney.Sat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Thanks to D'arcy the word is out: 'slushfundability'WORD OF the week: “SlushfundabilitySat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Kerrymen bury political differences in GlasnevinWHATEVER THEIR political affiliations, Kerry folk stand by one another.Sat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Past hostilities forgotten as hospitality flows in DublinMUCH GOOD work was done by the politicians from both jurisdictions at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly…Sat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Taoiseach shows he's got the bottleHE MAY be fighting on behalf of the Yes side for the fiscal treaty but Enda showed he had plenty left in him when he sent out…Sat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Fine Gael: family path or psychopaths?THE TAOISEACH is back in Dublin tomorrow for a big referendum rally in the Mansion HouseSat May 26 2012 - 01:00
Enda sends in seasoned professionals to take the hard tackles on field of dreamsPOLITICAL FOOTBALLS and political footballers do not make for a beautiful game.Fri May 25 2012 - 01:00
Barbecue season again as RTÉ arrives for round-two grillingSKETCH: SUMMER ARRIVED in Leinster House yesterday.Wed May 23 2012 - 01:00
Collateral damage no good for business, says 'Simpsons' fanHERE’S WILLIE O’Dea, speaking on the Credit Guarantee Bill on Wednesday evening: “The attitude of the banks to Irish business…Sat May 19 2012 - 01:00
Lifetime in politics: Durkan's 35 yearsCongratulations to Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, who celebrated 35 years in politics on Thursday night.Sat May 19 2012 - 01:00
Enda's flying visit annoys SenatorsOPPOSITION SENATORS took it very badly when the Taoiseach visited their chamber on Monday to address the British-Irish Parliamentary…Sat May 19 2012 - 01:00
Mary and Liz have volumes of work lined up since retiringTHE AUTOBIOGRAPHY of Mary O’Rourke has been given a tentative publication date of October 19thSat May 19 2012 - 01:00
Waterford TD reigns in Spain, thanks to talk radioLIKE MOST TDs, John Halligan, Independent TD for Waterford, is a regular voice on his local radio stationSat May 19 2012 - 01:00
TDs on their own mission to give RTÉ a grillingDÁIL SKETCH: THE long-awaited meeting of the Committee on Getting our Issues with RTÉ off our Chests ended in a most unsatisfactory…Thu May 17 2012 - 01:00
Words don't come easy to stung EndaDÁIL SKETCH: SOME ANGRY people said bold words to the Taoiseach.Wed May 16 2012 - 01:00
Hoop dreams and bad quipsSOME OF the more mature members of Fine Gael like to get in a little golf practice when they get a free minuteSat May 12 2012 - 01:00
'The Scobe' tells the truth when it comes to bull about MalawiBEST CLAIM to Fame award goes to Carlingford-based FG Senator Terry Brennan speaking in Wednesday’s debate on overseas aid.Sat May 12 2012 - 01:00
Bog off, says one TD to anotherBIT OF a spat at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting this week between Eoghan Murphy of Dublin South East and James Bannon…Sat May 12 2012 - 01:00
Touching scenes in Seanad as Paul and Lucinda discuss arrangementsLUCINDA CREIGHTON was in the Upper House on Thursday afternoon for statements and questions on Ireland’s forthcoming EU presidency…Sat May 12 2012 - 01:00
It's nice to swing when you're winningPADDY BURKE, cathaoirleach of the Seanad and captain of the Oireachtas Golf Society, is flushed with success following his captain…Sat May 12 2012 - 01:00
Winston Churchtown goes on attack while staying on the fenceDÁIL SKETCH: AT THE outset, may we just say that the reaction on the doors has been very positive.Thu May 10 2012 - 01:00
The Long-winded Fella delivers a monumental outbreak of smirkingDÁIL SKETCH: ÉAMON Ó CUÍV stood proudly on the plinth, revelling in the elevation of his irrelevance.Wed May 09 2012 - 01:00
Taoiseach tepid as bullies the target of Gerry's verbal dartsSKETCH: NO SIGN of Éamon Ó Cuív on the Fianna Fáil benches yesterday.Thu May 03 2012 - 01:00
Trick or treaty as bogeyman Noonan's scary talk sends shivers up the ShinnersIt was like Halloween as gloomy weather echoed talk of Fine Gael trying to spook the electorateWed May 02 2012 - 01:00
Eyebrows raised as TD tackles burning question of the dayWE RESURRECT our quote of the week from last Friday’s Dáil debate on the second stage of the Burial and Cremation Regulation …Sat Apr 28 2012 - 01:00
Bringbackthebert loses heart in his comeback raceTHIS COULD have been the beginning of the long march backSat Apr 28 2012 - 01:00
Political players trying to hit the greensBIG DAY for the Oireachtas Golf Society next Friday when Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Paddy Burke hosts his captain’s day in Castlebar…Sat Apr 28 2012 - 01:00
Noonan glosses over €50 make-up bill keeping grooming treat well concealedFIANNA FÁIL’S Niall Collins went on a trawling exercise this week when he sought a written reply from each member of the Cabinet…Sat Apr 28 2012 - 01:00
Steaming Murphy calls the kettle blackA CLASSIC case of the pot calling the kettle black by Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy this week.Sat Apr 28 2012 - 01:00
Ministers make music with bailout boys but lull us all into a comaAs the troika decided to give Vincent Browne a miss this time, we made do with a dull duet from Noonan and HowlinFri Apr 27 2012 - 01:00
No politicians hurt in weekly outbreak of shadow boxingDÁIL SKETCH: SHADOW BOXING, as practised in the Dáil, is not a solitary exercise. Taoiseach tucks in glass chinThu Apr 26 2012 - 01:00
After a descent in the polls, Enda ready to gain the high groundDÁIL SKETCH: THE SIGNS were there 61 years ago in CastlebarWed Apr 25 2012 - 01:00
Dev takes sides in Fine Gael's spat with Healy EamesSENATOR FIDELMA Healy Eames continues to ruffle feathers in Fine GaelSat Apr 21 2012 - 01:00
Sargent gives peas a chance as former minister turns garden lore into bookTHE EXCITEMENT never ends in Balbriggan.Sat Apr 21 2012 - 01:00
Fianna Fáil's Calleary ready to form new coalitionCongratulations to Dara Calleary, Fianna Fáil’s lone standard-bearer in Mayo, on his engagement last weekSat Apr 21 2012 - 01:00
Hayes leads the charge in outing FG shortcomingsTHERE’S A feeling of deja vu about the latest rumblings from Fine Gael backbenchers.Sat Apr 21 2012 - 01:00
Fornication and flute talk takes madness up an octaveBETWEEN FORNICATION and flutes and an outbreak of petty name-calling, there was a slight air of madness about the Dáil Chamber…Sat Apr 21 2012 - 01:00
Coalition fails to get ducks in a row before venturing on to waterDÁIL SKETCH: BORD GUSH – the brand new tributary of Bord Gáis – was welcomed with a spirited display of synchronised swimming…Thu Apr 19 2012 - 01:00
No chance of going over edge as all is rosy at Labour lockdownCONFERENCE SKETCH: PINTS AND endurance medals all round! The Righteous Left has clocked up 100 years and the comrades celebrated…Mon Apr 16 2012 - 01:00
You've got to hand it to Enda, the low fives were a nice touchARDFHEIS SKETCH: IT WAS A case of sedation over ovation.Mon Apr 02 2012 - 01:00
'Zhin tien shang woo', as they say in MayoWASN’T IT lovely to see Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton – the man who tried to oust him – getting along so well in China this week…Sat Mar 31 2012 - 01:00
Just a chance encounter between Bertie, Charlie and meLAST SATURDAY, two days after Mahon came out, this reporter and a dog called Charlie set out for a walk in St Anne’s Park.Sat Mar 31 2012 - 01:00
Beano over but Denis the menace lingersHE MAY not wear a stripey jumper and have a dog called Gnasher, but Denis is proving quite the menace for Fine Gael.Sat Mar 31 2012 - 01:00
Technically speaking, a great night was hadTHE INDEPENDENT members of the technical group enjoyed a night away in exotic Mullingar recently, where a good time was had by…Sat Mar 31 2012 - 01:00
All hands to the pumps as Hogan treads rising waterDÁIL SKETCH: NOTHING WRONG with the well-greased hydraulics in Leinster House.Thu Mar 29 2012 - 01:00
Call to airbrush tainted taoisigh from life of Leinster HouseSKETCH: “REMOVE THE portraits!” comes the cry from the Seanad.Wed Mar 28 2012 - 01:00
