FG seeks cut of just eight TDs despite election pledge of 20FINE GAEL’S official submission to the body redrawing constituency boundaries recommends a modest reduction in Dáil seats despite…Thu Jan 12 2012 - 00:00
Legislation programme revealedA major Bill to abolish the board of the Health Service Executive forms the centrepiece of the Government’s legislation programme…Wed Jan 11 2012 - 00:00
Technical group makes voice heard and gives bigger parties run for their moneyOPPOSITION IN FOCUS: INDEPENDENTS: AS A rule of thumb, the number of Independent TDs in the Dáil increases at times of political…Wed Jan 11 2012 - 00:00
Minister in Vietnam adoption talksMINISTER FOR Children Frances Fitzgerald will visit Vietnam this week to meet senior government officials and work on establishing…Wed Jan 11 2012 - 00:00
Kenny says State will meet troika's targetsTAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has said he is confident that the latest assessment of the Government’s implementation of the bailout package…Tue Jan 10 2012 - 00:00
Just over half of 30 promised Bills publishedTHE GOVERNMENT has published a little over half the 30 Bills it has promised to bring to the Oireachtas since last September.Tue Jan 10 2012 - 00:00
UK role at core of EU fundamental for Ireland, says KennyTAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has said it is “absolutely fundamental” for Ireland that Britain stays an active and core member of the …Tue Jan 10 2012 - 00:00
Surprise at Ganley's pro-Europe standTHE GOVERNMENT and main Opposition parties have reacted with surprise and scepticism to Libertas founder Declan Ganley’s call…Mon Jan 09 2012 - 00:00
Burton to tackle jobless crisis with radical approachITS TITLE, Pathways to Work, sounds relatively modest but the scheme launched by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton this…Mon Jan 09 2012 - 00:00
Deeply wounded Fianna Fáil struggles to field a team untainted by recent disastersAT THE end of January last year, Brian Cowen made one of his worst and – because of it – one of his last decisions as taoiseach…Mon Jan 09 2012 - 00:00
Martin plans tough action to save FF if Mahon finds against AhernFIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin and party officials are working on a strategy to respond to the Mahon tribunal report, especially…Sat Jan 07 2012 - 00:00
Gilmore defends economic council as 'joined-up' policiesTÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore has strongly defended the Coalition’s economic management council against claims that it is a “star chamber…Fri Jan 06 2012 - 00:00
Bailout means budgets no longer a secretA MASSIVE political furore erupted in November when it emerged measures from the budget had been discussed in the Bundestag, …Tue Jan 03 2012 - 00:00
Troika warns of future welfare cutsThe Coalition will have difficulty in keeping to its promise not to adjust tax bands and credits in Government and will also …Tue Jan 03 2012 - 00:00
Troika warns welfare cuts and income tax rises look unavoidableTHE COALITION will have difficulty in keeping to its promise not to adjust tax bands and credits in Government and will also …Tue Jan 03 2012 - 00:00
Bill to allow for financial findings to be publishedNEW LEGISLATION being proposed by the Opposition would correct an anomaly which prohibits the Financial Services Ombudsman from…Fri Dec 30 2011 - 00:00
Outspoken Minister with a portfolio for growthINTERVIEW : Simon Coveney has found himself overseeing one of the few departments where optimism is justifiedThu Dec 29 2011 - 00:00
Fine Gael and Labour at odds over policy, says CoveneyDIFFERENCES OVER policy have led to tensions within the Coalition in recent weeks, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine…Thu Dec 29 2011 - 00:00
FF Bill seeks more 'transparency'New legislation being proposed by the Opposition would correct an anomaly which prohibits the Financial Services Ombudsman from…Thu Dec 29 2011 - 00:00
Coveney says 'friction' in CoalitionDifferences over policy have led to tensions within the Coalition in recent weeks, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine…Thu Dec 29 2011 - 00:00
Not quite a walk in the ParkA bitter process of elimination made Michael D Higgins the only choice for Ireland’s patron saint of politicsTue Dec 27 2011 - 00:00
Green economy and sustainability at heart of Government's recovery planA PAPER to be published today by the Department of the Environment states that the “green economy” must be put at the heart of…Fri Dec 23 2011 - 00:00
Minister warns 11 TDs over tax rebellionMINISTER FOR the Environment Phil Hogan has warned 11 TDs that their threat to boycott the €100 household charge would bring …Fri Dec 16 2011 - 00:00
Tánaiste says State is open to visit by PopeTHE GOVERNMENT is willing to invite Pope Benedict to Ireland despite the closure of the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, Tánaiste…Thu Dec 15 2011 - 00:00
Rift with Britain could seriously threaten survival of EU, says MartinFIANNA FÁIL Leader Micheál Martin said the rift opened with Britain at the European summit last week could seriously threaten…Mon Dec 12 2011 - 00:00
Greens set sights on 5 Dáil seatsTHE GREEN PARTY will have recovered enough to win five Dáil seats in the next general election, according to a strategy outlined…Mon Dec 12 2011 - 00:00
Schäuble confident after EU dealGerman finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble has said he is confident that agreements reached at an EU summit this week will solve…Sat Dec 10 2011 - 00:00
Concern mounts that euro zone 'firewall' plan may not end turmoilA DRASTIC new plan to settle the debt crisis triggered anxiety in Brussels as diplomats questioned the feasibility of the initiative…Sat Dec 10 2011 - 00:00
Taoiseach cagey on referendum issueTAOISEACH ENDA Kenny arrived at the summit with two priorities preying on his mindSat Dec 10 2011 - 00:00
Team of 12 advisers to advise Taoiseach during crucial summitBEHIND THE SCENES: A TEAM of about 12 senior Government officials are travelling to Brussels to advise Taoiseach Enda Kenny …Thu Dec 08 2011 - 00:00
Kenny announces review of payments to young disabledTHE GOVERNMENT will formally acknowledge its climbdown on disability allowances today when the Minister for Social Protection…Thu Dec 08 2011 - 00:00
Labour TD expelled for opposing budgetNEWLY ELECTED TD for Dublin West Patrick Nulty was last night expelled from the Labour parliamentary party after voting against…Wed Dec 07 2011 - 00:00
A vast spinning exercise meant few surprises on the day Political CorrespondentA large number of well-flagged cutbacks will make for uneasy backbenchersTue Dec 06 2011 - 00:00
Blanket cut in child benefit and €50 fee for medical card scrapped for BudgetANALYSIS: Late changes to the Budget as Government changes tack to arrive at €3.8 billion savingsMon Dec 05 2011 - 00:00
First budget not 'most difficult', claims FFTHE COALITION’S first budget next week could be its least difficult during its term of office despite imposing almost €4 billion…Thu Dec 01 2011 - 00:00
Minister sees Ireland returning to 1950s standards if euro failsCOMMITTEE: A MINISTER yesterday painted a dramatic picture of living standards in Ireland regressing to the 1950s in the doomsday…Wed Nov 30 2011 - 00:00
Fianna Fáil condemns 2% VAT riseFianna Fáil in government would not include the 2 per cent increase in VAT in its budget, its finance spokesman has said.Wed Nov 30 2011 - 00:00
Coillte head to take 15% voluntary pay cutCHIEF EXECUTIVE of Coillte David Gunning, has announced he will take a voluntary pay cut of 15 per cent, two days after being…Tue Nov 29 2011 - 00:00
Increase in carbon tax planned for budgetCARBON TAX which applies to domestic heating and motor fuels will be increased by a minimum of €5 per tonne in the budget despite…Tue Nov 29 2011 - 00:00
Opposition claims of conflict over contents of budget dismissedTHE GOVERNMENT has dismissed claims by Opposition parties there are tensions or conflicts between both Coalition parties over…Thu Nov 24 2011 - 00:00
Coalition considers cut in social chargeTHE GOVERNMENT is considering reducing the rate of the universal social charge for lower paid workers as part of an effort to…Wed Nov 23 2011 - 00:00
Labour's promises refuse to go awayBACKGROUND: WHEN TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore was reminded recently of his oft-quoted “it’s Frankfurt’s way or Labour’s way” warning…Tue Nov 22 2011 - 00:00
Cut to child benefit still 'live' option for budgetTHE CONTROVERSIAL proposal to cut child benefit by €10 a month remains a “live option” for Government ahead of three successive…Tue Nov 22 2011 - 00:00
Document detailed plans for taxes, jobs initiatives and credit union sectorBERLIN LEAK: THE GOVERNMENT document made public by a German parliamentary committee contained new information on taxes, job…Sat Nov 19 2011 - 00:00
Real decisions about Ireland's future being made in Berlin and elsewhereLEAKED DOCUMENTS: When you are a programme country you no longer have full control of your destinyFri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Budget 'leak' in Berlin sparks complaint by GovernmentTHE GOVERNMENT has complained to the European Commission over the release in Germany of a document disclosing confidential details…Fri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Howlin rejects criticism of extent of quango cullALMOST 50 State quangos will be abolished or amalgamated by the end of 2012 under the programme for public service reformFri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Awaiting the 'unknown unknowns' in budgetDirt tax, old reliables and VAT set to be hiked but Michael Noonan will have to do more than that to find €3.8bnThu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
Rabbitte warns of potential benefits for debtTREATY CHANGE: A SENIOR Minister has said that while the Government does not want to hold a referendum on further change to …Thu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
A wobble within Labour but full-scale mutiny not on cardsBACKGROUND: A GOVERNMENT with a huge majority can sometimes find itself in a more perilous place than one defending a wafer-…Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
