Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should steer clear of the firebrand act as he manages growing fallout from lifting of eviction ban

The cringe of speaking about the thrill of being in Downing Street because it was the location for Love Actually was bad enough. The stairway of No 10 contains photographs of all previous British prime ministers, but Leo Varadkar famously referenced a fictitious historical moment acted out by Hugh Grant.

Fianna Fáil granted lottery licence for fundraiser under new law labelled an ‘old style stroke’

FIANNA Fáil has been granted a licence under a new law to run lotteries, with cash prizes of up to €360,000, to fill party coffers for election campaigns.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Ham acting by Green Party fools nobody, as Holly Cairns sells a new shade of green

Spare a thought for Catherine Martin. As she trod the red carpet in Hollywood, meeting A-list movie stars and being served canapés at VIP receptions – all in the service of the State – the Minister for Culture’s only thoughts were no doubt for the families to be made homeless when the eviction ban is lifted.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Only coups, conflicts and clashes will put down Mary Lou McDonald's grand left coalition

The classic ‘Carry On’ movie line springs to mind when Richard Boyd Barrett gets going about “elites”: “Infamy...Infamy.....they’ve all got it in for me!” His latest wheeze is that he didn’t say a left-wing government would be overthrown by a coup, despite saying it. It’s become the narrative the “left” doesn’t want you to read – except it’s on page 20 of their own document.

Premium

Bohemians use anti-Semitism scandal-ridden Jeremy Corbyn to promote jersey sales

League of Ireland club Bohemians is using Jeremy Corbyn to promote its jerseys, despite the MP being embroiled in an anti-Semitism scandal.

Premium

Sinn Féin claims it spent just €21 per candidate in disastrous local elections

Sinn Féin claims it spent less than €5,000 on the calamitous local elections – 61 times less than Fianna Fáil.

Premium

Government adviser's cocaine snorting allegations – so who are the public figures at centre of drug claims?

Public figures are criticising drug gangs but snorting cocaine on nights out, a Government official claimed.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Social Democrats like to take the moral high ground, but gross misconduct allegations cast a shadow over the party

The moral high ground is a precarious position to adopt.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Brexiteers take note – this is what a real hard border with the EU looks like

The Straż Graniczna – Polish Border Guard was a tad confused by the Irish passport being presented to her in the EU citizens’ queue.

Premium

‘Ireland is beautiful, but I’m feeling so homesick’ – Anastasia swaps the safety of Wexford to rejoin her family in war-torn Ukraine

Dusk is falling as the train from Kyiv arrives in Przemysl. The city near the Polish border with Ukraine is similar in size and population to Dundalk.

Low VAT rate for restaurants but not hotels being considered in government’s new cost-of-living package

Keeping a lower VAT rate for restaurants but not hotels is being examined by the Government.

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns questioned by State ethics watchdog over donation

A Social Democrats TD was contacted by the State ethics watchdog about a donation that appeared to be over the legal limit.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Gender politics: Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin have their work cut out to reach 40pc female quota in time for next general election

The abject fascination in Fine Gael with where Michael Lowry gets his whopping vote continues unabated. And it serves as a microcosm of the challenges parties face in the next general election.

Pearse Doherty orders local Sinn Féin branches to pay their bills after party left poster company €5,000 out of pocket

Pearse Doherty has ordered local Sinn Féin branches to pay their bills, after a printing company was forced to chase the party for four years over an unpaid €5,000 for election posters.

Premium

Sinn Féin fail to pay bill for posters featuring Mary Lou McDonald backed candidates

Sinn Féin never paid a bill for election posters, some of which featured leader Mary Lou McDonald endorsing candidates.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Better ‘Bertie for President’ than the usual line-up of deluded reality TV lightweights

Watching President Michael Higgins getting – as ever – a warm reception at the Ireland-France Six Nations game on Saturday, it’s easy to take for granted that he is respected across all corners of society.

Premium

Gay rights politicians Katherine Zappone and Maria Walsh targeted in attack ads paid for by Enoch Burke

Enoch Burke spent thousands of euro on social media ads targeting Irish gay rights candidates with US-style attack campaigns in recent elections.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Sinn Féin is suffering in the polls, so credit to Mary Lou McDonald for her party’s solid support of migrants

Mary Lou McDonald’s poster was defaced, with the word “traitor” scrawled across the top at a protest in East Wall in the heart of her Dublin Central constituency.

Army barracks Covid-19 drinking party broke restrictions, but report came too late to bring charges

A drinking party held at army headquarters during Covid-19 did breach pandemic restrictions, a new independent report has found. But no prosecution will be brought against the Defence Forces due to the passage of time.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Squeeze from Healy-Raes and Sinn Féin meant Fine Gael’s Brendan Griffin faced uphill battle to hang on

The last of the five-a-side club hangs up his boots.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion The most talented, most shrewd and most guileful of them all – but postergate proves Paschal Donohoe is far from Teflon

“Then the door opened quietly and the beaming face of Charlie Haughey appeared. ‘He’s the man. He’s the best, the most skilful, the most devious, and the most cunning of them all,’ pointing at [Bertie] Ahern. When Charlie Haughey left the room, Bertie Ahern looked at the three journalists resignedly and muttered, ‘God, that’s all I need’.”

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Sacrifice the donor to save the career: Paschal Donohoe employs Mary Lou’s tactics on benefactor

Paschal Donohoe says a businessman friend paying for his posters to be put up was a contribution to his party, not to him.

Sinn Féin carries out full review of election expenses and defends its voter database

Sinn Féin is carrying out a full review of its election expenses after a series of flaws emerged in its declarations.

exclusive Sinn Féin admits failing to declare costs for six election events amid fallout over unpaid bill

Sinn Féin has been forced to reveal more than €2,000 in undeclared elections expenses related to the 2016 General Election.

Sinn Féin hasn’t paid 2016 bill for election launch and declared no expenses for string of media events

Sinn Féin has not paid a bill for hiring a prestigious venue to launch its 2016 election campaign or officially declared any costs for holding a series of high-profile hustings events.

Premium

Fionnán Sheahan Opinion Tap up the wife too – always ask for more: Leo Varadkar’s tips on nailing donations

Here’s some “quick tips” from Fine Gael, the party leading the Government, on “how to maximise political donations”:

Premium

Sinn Féin gives its full backing to refugee homes plan – despite member concern over ‘community division’

Sinn Féin says it fully supports modular housing for refugees, despite a party figure comparing the fast-tracking of accommodation to a “dictatorship”.

Paschal Donohoe on the ropes: Minister held 13 meetings with Michael Stone, and used loophole to keep full donation under radar

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe is fighting for his political career, as new revelations about his relationship with businessman Michael Stone pile on further pressure.

What donations rules are at play in the Paschal Donohoe expenses controversy?

The amount of donations and the point when fundraising has to be declared to the state ethics watchdog are key to the Paschal Donohoe posters furore.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gives first clues to next election date – and it won't be winter

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated a general election will be held in autumn 2024.