Miriam Lord’s week: Varadkar set for family Christmas in Mumbai

Taoiseach’s father will celebrate 80th birthday in the land of his birth

Miriam Lord: Lofty new chamber fails to inspire waffling Senators

Back in their expensively refurbished Upper House, the talk was still resolutely cheap

NTA says improved bus routes may cost car drivers

Authority says 1,500 property owners could lose lands to accommodate bus corridors

Pat Leahy: Brendan Howlin is desperately seeking a vision

Labour faces a real battle to win back voters, but no one seems to be fighting it

Unborn killed in crash should be seen as individual - FF Senator

Family very anxious unborn baby would be recognised as an individual, says Jim Walsh

FG Senator calls for ‘no fry zone’ near schools to combat obesity

Catherine Noone says one-in-four children are either overweight or obese

Specialist family law courts to be set up through legislation

District Family Court, Circuit Family Court and Family High Court are to be established

Full list of Ministers of State

Noonan challenged to prove cuts of less than €2bn possible

Labour backbencher warns against electioneering and reckless promises

Dublin says No to abolition while highest Yes vote in Taoiseach’s Mayo constituency

People swallow the party line more in rural areas - Fine Gael TD

State needs contrary people to challenge groupthink in reform - Hayes

FOI legislation could be “incredibly damaging” to genealogical research - TD

Tax exile rich ‘can’t be ignored’ in drive to encourage philanthropy

Frank Flannery says tax exile rich should be targeted in project to promote giving

Taoiseach defends property tax regime

Enda Kenny expressed confidence that Revenue would be able to demonstrate compliance with new tax would meet target