FF spokesman Niall Collins defends party absence, claims row ‘silly buggers debate’

Group of Labour TDs says party needs 'critical mass' after election to re-enter government

New campaign outlines proper clothing and emergency equipment for coming months

Senators call for action to end lengthy and costly litigation in medical claims cases

Mattie McGrath, Averil Power, Ann Phelan and Billy Kelleher discuss eating on the hoof

Volunteers are more important than ever to our communities and to our awareness of our past, says the chairman of the Heritage Council

While the Government was away from Kildare Street, the seagulls attempted a coup

Prof Orla Hardiman calls for new centre for health research and data-driven approach to care

Senator says in many cases the agency had chosen not to believe the concerns of citizens

Martin denies issues with Power overshadowing Carlow-Kilkenny byelection win

Minister ‘determined to see a very significant increase’ in social housing

Some 72% of charities report increased demand despite economic recovery

Macra na Feirme agm urges Government to prioritise the rejuvenation of rural Ireland

Macra na Feirme president calls on Government to invest in rural areas

Election follows former minister Phil Hogan’s appointment to EU Commission

Claim that €16,950 paid to local representatives does not compensate for work they do

John Whelan calls on Minister for Health to intervene and meet parents

Olivia Mitchell says ’no irresistible groundswell of support’ to drop age from 35 to 21

Protest by Forum Connemara over impact on marginalised communities

Minister Alan Kelly says funding must be used to ‘sustain employment’

Independent Tom Fleming warns about the continuing decline of rural Ireland

1st Independent Mayo say they are ‘not quite Ireland’s answer to Syriza’

Working group established to come up with alternatives for Dublin to Cork route

Planned cuts to Expressway routes described as ‘a further attack on rural Ireland’

Minister of State Ann Phelan says changing it would have cost implications

Carlow-Kilkenny Labour TD Ann Phelan appeared before Kilkenny District Court

Reasons for optimism but disappointment at lack of action on rural report

Hillwalkers and farmers urged to co-operate on UN International Mountain Day

Irish Water should offer redundancies for long-term savings, says Fergus O’Dowd

Referendum urged to copperfasten future status as a public utility

Minister says 555 cattle reported stolen out of population of 6.9 million since January 2012

Survey finds more than half of all farmers have been directly affected by suicide

Recession wiped out 15 years of off-farm employment growth, conference told

The Irish Times series on country life continues.

No change of tack over Garda station closures

The appointment of a Minister for Rural Affairs should mark a turning point in Irish country life. But fixing the problems of undrinkable water, inadequate services and low employment – to name just a few – is a tall order for Ann Phelan

Despite a FG push for gender quotas, the absence of women in its line-up is striking

Kenny overlooked his female TDs’ claims for junior ministries

Analysis: junior ranks remain mostly male, writes Mary Minihan