Journalists

John Downing: 'Micheál Martin has shown some steel – but he still risks missing the big prize' 

To many people away from the Leinster House “political bubble” it looked like a storm in an eggcup. But sometimes the smaller dramas can reveal a lot.

John Downing: 'Martin finally stamps his authority on rebels over foray to the North' 

When the row erupted over the two Fianna Fáil rebels' 'Seán South of Garryowen-style' foray northwards last month, one of the duo, Éamon Ó Cuív, raised a little-known historical fact.

Public need to know there are no more 'dangerous doctors' in health system - FF 

People who are sick badly need to be reassured that there are no more “dangerous doctors” working in the health services.

Varadkar doubles down on demand for hospital staff to work at Christmas 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will not be backing down from calls for the HSE to restrict holiday leave over the Christmas period, saying it "makes sense".

John Downing: 'Park the phoney war - are there really any votes in health woes?' 

That rhetoric machine is doing handstands as the pre-election phoney war ramps up. So what are our politicians saying to one another in essence about the ongoing health service problems?

John Downing: 'Theresa May now faces biggest test yet in getting 'her deal' pushed through' 

It took all of 29 months since the Brexit referendum to get this far. Now things may finally move - but that might not be in the direction Theresa May would like as cabinet and parliament endorsement for "her deal" is uncertain.

Explainer: What next? Mrs May now needs to cajole, bully and bribe her own party 

The next thing Mrs May now needs to do is cajole, bully and bribe her own party. John Downing explains all.

State may sue to recover legal costs from former garda commissioner and garda press officer 

The Taoiseach has asked the Attorney General to study whether the State can take a case to recover legal costs from former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and his former press officer, Superintendent Dave Taylor.

John Downing: 'Numbers simply don't add up to get deal through UK parliament' 

Let's play an old children's game called "supposing - supposing". Let us suppose that British Prime Minister Theresa May gets her Brexit proposals through her Cabinet and she cuts a deal soon in Brussels.

John Downing: 'As the clock ticks down to unpredictable endgame, Brexit bluster looks likely to break rhetoric-o-meter' 

The posh phrase for the machine was the "audience reaction indicator". It dated from an age of single-channel television innocence when a superbly awful man called Hughie Green fronted a talent show called 'Opportunity Knocks'.

Taoiseach's 'Christmas holiday' comments were 'flippant and insensitive' to health service workers - FF 

Fianna Fáil have launched a blistering attack on the Taoiseach over his Christmas health service comments, claiming he was acting like "a radio chat show panellist".

'Absence of compassion' - Micheál Martin calls for medicinal cannabis to be legalised 

People who need the drug cannabis to help cope with illness and pain are suffering needlessly, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, has said.

Taoiseach directly calls on HSE not to sanction additional holidays for health staff over Christmas 

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has directly called on the HSE not to sanction additional holidays for doctors and nurses over Christmas.

Taoiseach under fire for 'green jersey' demands in Brexit talks 

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has come under fire for suggesting the Opposition and media should put on the ‘green jersey’ and unquestioningly support his Brexit strategy.

Profile: Man often tipped as a 'future Taoiseach' will bow out of politics next summer 

Often tipped as a future Taoiseach, Brian Hayes has announced he will quit politics next summer just weeks ahead of his 50th birthday.

Promoter Reynolds was visionary who changed musical culture, funeral told 

Music promoter John Reynolds will be best remembered as the man who helped rekindle the career of superstar Leonard Cohen, and for changing the culture of Irish music festivals, mourners at his funeral were told.

John Reynolds will be remembered for changing the culture of Irish music festivals, funeral hears 

MUSIC promoter John Reynolds will be best remembered as the man who helped rekindle the career of superstar Leonard Cohen, and for changing the culture of Irish music festivals, mourners at his funeral were told.

Bertie Ahern leads tributes at funeral of former political adviser Paddy Duffy 

LED by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the Fianna Fáil old guard turned out in strength to say farewell to the party’s former political adviser, Paddy Duffy, on Wednesday.

Ireland confident Merkel's pledges on Brexit will stick 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to exit politics over two years will weaken her EU power - but Irish officials are confident her Brexit pledges to Ireland still stand.

Trump scheme sparks fear for the illegal Irish 

There are fears tens of thousands of illegal Irish immigrants will be caught by a new crackdown ordered by US President Donald Trump.

John Downing: 'Exit Angela and enter Emmanuel to take the EU's centre stage' 

When Donald Trump was elected US president, liberal commentators hailed Angela Merkel as "leader of the free world". She dismissed the idea as "absurd". Now that she has begun her slow exit from politics, the appraisals of her career have begun with mixed results.

North to benefit as final budget before Brexit unveiled in London 

UK finance Minister Philip Hammond has declared that the "era of austerity is finally coming to an end", as he unveiled his last budget before Brexit.

John Downing: Angela's 'long goodbye' will add to woes facing the EU 

The 64-year-old low-key German woman has been a household name across the world for the past 13 years. Now she wants to begin to exit the political stage, starting with quitting her party's chair.

Sick pay delay 'down to move to new system' 

Thousands of people face delay in sick pay, causing unnecessary suffering, the Government has been warned.

FF leader sends 'finger-wagging' letter to Ó Cuív and Daly - but unlikely to face party sanctions 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has sent a "finger-wagging" letter to Éamon Ó Cuív and Mark Daly, warning them off any repeat of their party endorsement of a council candidate in the North.

Fianna Fáil is urged not to 'close the door' on Peter Casey 

Fianna Fáil's leadership has been accused of "closing the door too early" on the prospect of party membership for presidential runner-up Peter Casey.

John Downing: 'Personal crusade' is at long last a key political issue for the 'big two' 

Broadband technology is complex - but suddenly its politics have become very simple.

John Downing: Casey's voters aren't racist - they're fed up 

I do not believe the bulk of the more than 340,000 voters who opted for Peter Casey are motivated by racism. I find it more likely they are disillusioned with our politics right now and still suffering the after-effects of the appalling economic crash.

'You can't just rock up to political parties' - Fianna Fáil rebuffs advances from Peter Casey despite massive vote 

Fianna Fáil won't be making space on their election card for Peter Casey, despite his massive vote.

John Downing: McDonald fails her first test as SF leader - the Belfast boys won't be impressed 

Has Mary Lou McDonald's Sinn Féin lost its campaigning edge under her leadership?

Six lessons the six presidential candidates can teach us – and themselves 

John Downing offers six lessons the six presidential candidates can teach us – and themselves:

One-in-five vote for Casey must sound alarm bells for those in authority 

A big win by Michael D Higgins - backed by six out of 10 voters - is hardly big news. The vote for maverick Independent Peter Casey really is the story of this presidential election.

John Downing: How Ireland will need to define a new role in Europe after Brexit 

Turning 60 can be tricky. Life reflections can tend to the gloomy side: too young for a pension, too old for big career initiatives, euphemistically-termed "health issues" creep in with intimations of mortality.

John Downing: One-in-five vote for Peter Casey is a major alarm call for all national authorities 

A BIG win by Michael D Higgins – backed by six out of 10 voters - is hardly big news. The vote for maverick Independent, Peter Casey really is the story of this presidential election.

John Downing: Time to see how we can improve the way we pick our president 

Elections were not created to entertain the masses - but on occasion they do just that.

Crawford bore 'strong convictions with a gracious civility', funeral told 

Farm union leaders and politicians were joined by the local Monaghan community in paying tribute to a man described as "a bridge builder committed to justice and peace".

Farm leaders and politicians pay tribute to 'bridge builder' Seymour Crawford 

Farm union leaders and politicians were joined by the local Co Monaghan community in paying tribute to a man described as “a bridge builder committed to justice and peace.”

John Downing: Michael D has been self-serving over jet row...but he'll still walk it 

So President Higgins used the Government jet for a visit to Belfast on the advice of his office - not the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as we had been led to believe. It's a detail that may elude many citizens.

I'm no fan of Michael D - but the other candidates have looked like political pygmies compared to him 

'FIGHTERS," he said with disgust, "sure you'd beat them with your cap."

Masses now ready to hit the streets and demand 'People's Vote' - but it's too little, too late 

A Toyota car made in England has bumpers which come from France and Germany, mufflers and exhaust pipes from the Netherlands, seatbelts from Hungary, and wheels from Spain. It is then sold across the 28 EU states.

Fears of 'temporary solutions' and 'time limits' well founded 

History is littered with "temporary solutions" which long outlived those people who put them in as a stop-gap. Income tax came to these climes as a temporary arrangement to fund the defeat of somebody called Napoleon Bonaparte.

Justice Minister defends his comments about Traveller ethnicity 

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has been forced to defend comments arguing against the designation of Travellers as a distinct ethnic minority.

Businesses must try to plan for next year despite huge uncertainty, says Taoiseach 

Business leaders must start planning for next year with huge uncertainty about Brexit, the Taoiseach has admitted.

Taoiseach urges Irish voters to send 'a very clear message' to Áras hopeful Peter Casey 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has roundly condemned comments by presidential candidate, Peter Casey, about Travellers.

Ex-justice minister O'Donoghue close to return to politics with FF 

Former Fianna Fáil minister John O'Donoghue may be about to re-enter politics.

EU leaders will not waste effort on 'mission impossible' talks 

Last time they tried to make just a little Brexit progress, they wound up going backwards. It was September 19 last when not much was expected of that informal EU leaders' summit in Salzburg.

'Much more time' needed for Brexit deal, says Barnier 

Brexit talks are headed for the 'last-chance saloon' as the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator says "much more time" is needed to reach a divorce agreement.

Taoiseach rejects Martin's call for 'no-election guarantee' over Brexit threat 

The Taoiseach has flatly rejected calls by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for a "no-election guarantee" until any Brexit deal is safely put through the UK parliament.

Taoiseach must guarantee no general election until British parliament make decision on Brexit deal - Micheál Martin 

Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, has said the Taoiseach must guarantee no general election until the British parliament makes a decision on any emerging Brexit deal.

Hard Brexit could ground UK flights for three weeks but Ryanair would survive - Michael O'Leary 

A hard Brexit could ground UK flights for up to three weeks but would be survivable for Ryanair, Michael O'Leary said ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels on Wednesday.

Do they tell you before betraying you? Let's hope it's just rumours 

There are bound to be rumours of "EU treachery against little Ireland" as we snake towards news about news of any end to this never-ending Brexit saga.

Junior minister's role in dinner row must be taken seriously: FF 

Fixing the level of taxpayer-funded subsidy for the rural broadband project remains the crucial issue to be decided, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has told the Dáil.

Fianna Fáil increases pressure on Pat Breen over broadband controversy 

The level of taxpayer-funded subsidy for the rural broadband project remains the crucial issue to be decided, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has told the Dáil.

'No deal on Brexit more likely than ever before' as divisive Irish border talks continue 

British Prime Minister Theresa May is trying to walk away from a deal which would ensure a hard border never again emerges on the island of Ireland.

Battleground: snap election now is unlikely - but expect it in 2019 

You can chalk it down as the week in which the nation was set on a course for the next general election.

Vindicated Fitzgerald gave an 'honest appraisal of situation' 

Former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald - who was forced to quit the Government amid allegations of failing in her duty as justice minister - has welcomed the news that she was completely vindicated by Mr Justice Charleton.

John Downing: Hard-hitting Charleton report lays a challenge to leaders for real reforms 

This large basket of woes created a series of political earthquakes, and the aftershocks will be with us for some time to come.

Government urged to 'engage with DUP' in efforts to save emerging Brexit border deal 

The Government has been urged to talk with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in efforts to have them lift a potential veto on any new Irish border compromise on Brexit.

Get ready for an election when the winners could end up losers 

The 'winner' of the next election could end up watching parties which took fewer seats making up the numbers and sauntering past them into Government Buildings.

Tense exchanges in Dáil as Taoiseach rejects allegations about 'contaminated' €500m broadband provision bid 

The Taoiseach has defended Communications Minister Denis Naughten’s meeting with a US businessman who was bidding to provide rural broadband potentially worth up half a billion euro.

So, who wrote this Budget? Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil? A caring package will leave many voters puzzled 

Budget days past more usually brought a certain 'Grand National buzz' to Leinster House. An edge in the air amid speculation of who might go offside, abstain or even vote with the "other crowd", a certain anything-can-happen vibe.

Presidential hopeful Gavin Duffy concedes he was 'slow to learn lessons' after serious car crash 

Presidential hopeful Gavin Duffy has said he will never forget the lessons learnt from a serious road accident he was involved in when driving without insurance or a licence.

Juncker confident of Brexit deal 'within weeks' 

Hopes of a Brexit deal within weeks have been renewed with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker signalling a new note of confidence in negotiations.

It's all about Arlene's 'blood red lines' in this battle of unions 

Arlene Foster has turned into the de facto but unlikely saviour of the cheap slab of beer down here in the "Free State". It is a very strange turn up for the books - but we do live in strange times.

Fianna Fáil is taking flak - Leo would be wise not to push too hard 

A word of advice about Tuesday's Budget: lower your expectations to avoid disappointment. There will certainly be modest welfare increases and even more modest tax cuts.

Passports applied for online can be delivered in four working days, Minister tells Dáil 

Half of all passports are now being delivered via online applications which can be put in 24 hours a day any day of the week, Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney has said.

Five things we learned from the Tory party conference 

1 The British Conservative Party remains utterly polarised over Brexit. Attempts over four days to introduce other topics failed. That included attacking its old foe, Labour. It ended, as it started, in major name-calling division.

May pulls out all the steps in hunt for Brexit solution 

Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May has called on her warring Conservative Party to back her in trying to broker a reasonable Brexit deal - including compromise on the Irish Border.

Analysis: Dancing Queen must soon spin around Foster's 'blood red lines' 

Hoofing on stage to the strains of an iconic Swedish band, and limp jokes about the set not falling down again. Well, check your prejudices and see: it was either ultra-brave - or beyond parody.

Government is being 'a lackey for landlords' - Angry Dáil exchanges over housing and homelessness crisis 

Government bureaucracy is seriously delaying the delivery of new homes, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said.

DUP steps up pressure on May as Brexit row deepens 

Theresa May's latest plan to resolve the Irish Border crux has been torpedoed by Arlene Foster who described it as a "complete non-starter".

Opinion: Pressure mounts on Fine Gael to put some rural gloss on Budget 

Even city slicker cynics will acknowledge that 2018 has been a pretty vicious year for Irish farming.

Higgins has taken a leaf from Dev's election playbook 

Michael D Higgins looks like he's going one better than Éamon de Valera in this race for the Áras. On the only other occasion an outgoing president decided to seek election to a second term, Dev said he had chosen not to campaign. He relied upon the advice of then-Taoiseach and long-time sidekick Seán Lemass that it would be inappropriate for the office of president to go on the stump.

Smoke-free Ireland still 34 years off as 100 die every week 

Ireland risks missing its tobacco-free target date of 2025 by 27 years, the HSE has warned.

Rogue bosses should face jail for lies over 'self-employed' staff, says O'Dea 

Employers who force their workers to declare themselves self-employed should face fines and jail, the Government has been told.

FF wants answers on how rich pay less tax than average worker 

The Government is to be pressed to explain how some of Ireland's wealthiest people pay less income tax than the average worker.

Victims of pregnancy drug Thalidomide still seeking justice, Dáil hears 

Fifty years after the scandal of the pregnancy drug, Thalidomide, victims are still seeking justice, the Dáil has been told.

Government repeating mistakes of a decade ago and risks creating another economic crash – Dáil told 

The Government has not learned the bitter lessons of the 2008 economic crash - and risks taking the country back into recession, Labour leader Brendan Howlin has warned.

The President is a veteran and he should well have seen this coming 

President Mary Robinson famously put a light in one of the windows at Áras an Uachtaráin to honour Irish migrants scattered across the globe. Now all the talk is of shining the light inwards as we face a presidential campaign from today.

John Downing: Pressing the flesh at the Ploughing once a year just not good enough 

Memo to all our senior politicians: Farmers are not just for the ploughing week.

Deadlock: It's a question of who blinks first - and what it will mean for us 

Embattled UK Prime Minister Theresa May was said to have been "humiliated" by her EU counterparts.

Only one child with scoliosis sent to UK for surgery as 109 still wait 

Only one child in need of surgery for the severe spinal condition scoliosis has been sent abroad to the UK for an operation this year.

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated 

Since the waking nightmare of that early morning of June 24, 2016, when we learned UK voters had opted to quit the EU, we have often been told the Irish Government is "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best" when it comes to Brexit.

Analysis: Ireland will still have allies, but none of the stature of UK 

Ireland has worked in a sea of shifting alliances over its 45 years in the various manifestations of the European Union.

Taoiseach to raise human rights issues and decriminalising homosexuality in Palestine when Palestinian president visits 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he will raise concerns about human rights, including the need to decriminalise homosexuality, in Palestine when President Mahmoud Abbas visits this coming weekend.

Prospects of a deal 'growing' as fears of 'crash-out' diminish 

Prospects of an EU-UK Brexit deal have grown in recent weeks, Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has said.

Independents hit back at Fine Gael in Budget cuts row 

Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has hit back at his Fine Gael Government partners as the row about health overspending escalates.

Farcical events prove we need to raise the bar for our would-be presidents 

'There's nothing in the Constitution to say I can't sing as President," Dana, also known as Rosemary Scallan, famously said during her surprise presidential campaign in autumn 1997.

Shortfall is a recurring farce - depending on where you sit 

It's known among politicians and senior officials as the "annual farce" as a fictional health budget is framed. Everyone knows that the official figures cited are already way off the mark by hundreds of millions of euro.

Comment: Micheál's boxed into a corner - so he'll just have to fight his way out 

The French often say: "There are not 36 solutions to this problem."

Idea that Gallagher is proxy candidate for Fianna Fáil is ridiculous, insists Martin 

Micheál Martin has rejected the suggestion Seán Gallagher is a proxy Fianna Fáil candidate in the presidential election, calling it "ridiculous".

Presidential hopeful Peter Casey justifies helicopter use in campaign 

Presidential hopeful and businessman, Peter Casey, has conceded using a helicopter to attend three crucial local council meetings in quest of a nomination was wrong on environmental grounds.

Analysis: The phoney war draws to an end - but is Michael D unbeatable? 

With apologies to the great Winston Churchill, we are at "the end of the beginning" in this Áras melodrama. There are a few more pucks left in this before we get the final list of candidates.

Presidential nomination race: Gallagher and Freeman secure backing of four councils, Duffy three 

Presidential hopefuls Joan Freeman and Sean Gallagher have secured four council nominations this evening.

New claims of RTÉ bias in 2011 vote 

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will consider fresh allegations of unfair treatment being given to some candidates by RTÉ in the last presidential election.

Murphy plans to curb Airbnb lets 

Embattled Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is to introduce rules aimed at curbing the loss of family rental homes in Dublin to holiday letting via firms like Airbnb.

Crucial week for presidential hopefuls as 'D-day' looms for nominations 

Presidential hopefuls face into a crucial week as many councils across the country prepare to decide which candidate, if any, they will back to allow them to get on the ballot paper.

President is an 'America-first bully', warns Hogan ahead of Irish visit 

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan described US President Donald Trump as an "America-first bully" as controversy over his Irish visit continues to mount.

'She is smart' - Bradley gets backing after North confusion 

The Government has said Karen Bradley is a smart and experienced politician - after she admitted she initially did not understand Northern Ireland politics when she took on her Cabinet brief.

Tech, onboard checks could ease the Border impasse, says Barnier 

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said he is willing to consider new ways to solve the Irish Border issue.

'Donald Trump's visit to Ireland will definitely be controversial' - Simon Coveney 

Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland will definitely be “controversial,” Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said.

EU Brexit negotiator furious after UK's Irish border threat 

The UK's Brexit Secretary has threatened the EU that it will be forced to order the Irish government to reinstate the border with the North in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Tories refusal to allow Theresa May take 'pragmatic' apprach to Brexit risking 'no deal', Phil Hogan warns 

A DEAL resolving the Irish border crux can be achieved if Britain makes the necessary compromises, Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has said.

John Downing: Taoiseach can't avoid Brexit in his 'high-wire act' on election 

Brexit will have a say in the timing of any general election and must influence Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's thinking on the issue.

Leo wants early election - and to be able to blame it on Fianna Fáil 

To parody the best known line from the classic movie 'The Godfather', the Taoiseach appears to be making Micheál Martin "an offer he can't accept".