# Government

All time

# Local councils

Local authorities agree deferral of rates payments for businesses impacted by coronavirus outbreak

Each authority will manage repayment schedules with businesses into the future.

9.0k

Mar 20th 2020, 1:43 PM

# mortgage payments

Paschal Donohoe to meet with five main banks about coronavirus plans

AIB, Bank of Ireland, KBC, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank will meet Department of Finance officials at 4pm.

20.1k

Mar 18th 2020, 8:39 AM

# NO MORE

No increase to general election spending limits for candidates over concerns it would cost an extra €190,000

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy decided against the increase.

16.9k

Mar 2nd 2020, 7:56 AM

AS IT HAPPENED

No Taoiseach elected as new lineup of TDs meets for first day of Dáil

Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan have all been rejected by the house.

119k

Updated

Feb 20th 2020, 7:59 PM

# only way

Eoin Ó Broin says Sinn Féin cannot form government without either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael

Ó Broin said that even if all the left-leaning parties came together, they’d fall short of a majority in the Dáil.

57.0k

284

Updated

Feb 14th 2020, 8:39 AM

# ge20

What are the possible coalition options for the next government?

No one party has enough seats to do it alone – so who is prepared to pair up?

48.2k

Feb 11th 2020, 12:05 PM

# United Ireland

The EU should support Irish reunification, Mary Lou McDonald tells BBC

The Sinn Féin leader also said the British government needs to start preparing itself for this constitutional change.

52.7k

217

Feb 11th 2020, 7:30 AM

# seat projection

What are the coalition options for the next government, and what are the leaders' stances?

For the first time ever, combined Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seats may not make up a Dáil majority.

80.7k

114

Feb 10th 2020, 9:31 AM

# Searching

Sinn Féin is the most-Googled political party in Ireland for the past two weeks

Leo Varadkar is currently the most searched of all the party leaders.

12.3k

133

Feb 6th 2020, 3:59 PM

# Saved

FAI say redundancies now unlikely as they receive financial rescue package

Shane Ross insists that the government have not bailed out the FAI.

23.1k

Jan 30th 2020, 5:05 PM

# Claim

Stephen Kenny on soccer: 'We've been treated like a minority sport'

The soon-to-be Ireland senior boss feels not enough funding has been afforded to football in the last 20 years

23.9k

Jan 13th 2020, 12:00 PM

# game workers unite

Game workers in Ireland are concerned about low pay, unpaid overtime and uncertain work

The Irish games industry employs around 2,000 people.

31.6k

Jan 5th 2020, 6:00 AM

# SUPPORTS

Leo Varadkar signed off on former Taoisigh special support plan four months after taking office

New documents obtained under FOI detail what would be involved in the supports.

61.7k

138

Dec 14th 2019, 12:05 AM

# getting it done

Johnson says he has an 'overwhelming mandate' to take Britain out of EU by end of January

Johnson lead the Tories to a massive victory in the general election.

27.3k

Updated

Dec 13th 2019, 10:13 PM

# Procurement

Taoiseach's newspapers and embassy catering: hundreds of State contracts awarded outside official guidelines

Millions has been spent on services procured on almost 350 occasions over a three-year period.

26.9k

Nov 20th 2019, 12:05 AM

# Waste

Single-use plastics ban Bill aims to put biodegradable packaging on supermarket shelves

This Bill would leapfrog over the government’s strategy, which Fianna Fáil has said is slow to materialise.

13.6k

Oct 20th 2019, 7:00 AM

# stretched

Revealed: Data Protection Commission's pleas for more staff and 'fit-for-purpose' office

The watchdog’s pre-budget submission has been released following a Freedom of Information request.

19.1k

Oct 12th 2019, 11:00 PM

# Four more years

Portugal's socialist party prepares for another term in government after general election

The party fell short of a parliamentary majority.

8.4k

Oct 7th 2019, 9:34 AM

# speech

Taoiseach says he'd sooner bring back wolves to Ireland than let Sinn Féin into government

The Taoiseach mentioned Green Party leader Eamon Ryan’s idea of rewilding the countryside with wolves during his speech last night.

40.5k

145

Oct 6th 2019, 7:00 AM

# Dark clouds

'We're preparing for worst-case-scenario': No-deal Brexit planning to be ramped-up by Government

Cabinet met to discuss preparations for a no-deal Brexit last night.

17.5k

Updated

Sep 4th 2019, 1:28 PM

# Drugs

Talks underway between HSE and labs that could carry out drug-testing at festivals

A senior HSE doctor has outlined a number of ways drug-testing could be introduced in Ireland.

11.6k

Aug 13th 2019, 6:15 AM

# LEAGUE PARTY

Italy's Matteo Salvini calls for snap elections amid coalition crisis

Salvini has clashed with his fellow Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

8.7k

Aug 9th 2019, 7:52 AM

# glyphosate

Irish government says it will follow expert guidance after Austria approves ban of controversial weedkiller

Austrian members of parliament earlier this week approved a total ban on glyphosate.

97.8k

Jul 7th 2019, 7:30 AM

# Gardaí

Varadkar says 'better enforcement' is needed to tackle scrambler bikes, but no new law

Varadkar said the use of scrambler bikes in parks and community areas is a ‘very serious and dangerous act’.

11.0k

Jul 3rd 2019, 2:08 PM

# Action Plan

'Action was taken and our fears were conquered': Varadkar inspired by his generation's acid rain and ozone layer threats

New government plans launched today include removing petrol and diesel cars, and doubling the reliance on renewable energy.

20.0k

Jun 17th 2019, 5:48 PM

# Opinion Poll

Varadkar's popularity continues to slide as satisfaction with him and government at lowest level in years

From a high of 60%, Varadkar’s satisfaction rating now stands at 36%.

26.4k

110

May 11th 2019, 9:12 AM

# Cannabis

The Explainer: Can Ireland grow its own medicinal cannabis?

This will make it significantly less of a grey area in Irish law – and it could also herald the start of the Irish cannabis industry.

11.3k

May 7th 2019, 6:10 AM

# former residents

A national memorial and health supports: Zappone offers new measures for survivors of Mother and Baby Homes

But the forum of former residents of these institutions that made recommendations are frustrated the government won’t publish its full report.

6.2k

Apr 16th 2019, 4:21 PM

# short-term let

Airbnb says new laws are 'unenforceable' but minister says locals know the short-term let on their street

The minister said neighbours see the wheelie suitcases going in and out of properties at all hours.

33.0k

Apr 12th 2019, 8:30 PM

# oral health plan

To avoid 'traumatic' extractions, government set to expand dental care for kids under 6

Children receive free dental check ups in 2nd, 4th and 6th class but there has been huge cuts to those services.

15.2k

Apr 3rd 2019, 12:05 AM

# Homelessness

'A national trauma': There are now 9,987 people living in homeless accommodation in Ireland

This is an increase of 169 adults and 65 children on last month.

13.1k

Feb 27th 2019, 5:03 PM

# Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis

Micheál Martin calls out Fine Gael as an 'out-of-touch and arrogant government'

Speaking at the party’s Ard Fheis, he said Fine Gael “simply don’t understand the pressures which people are facing every day.

20.7k

158

Feb 23rd 2019, 8:54 PM

# Strike

The Labour Court is intervening in the nurses' strike

A formal hearing will take place at 3.30pm.

43.5k

113

Updated

Feb 11th 2019, 5:00 PM

# interference

Government fortifying IT systems for 'fear of Russian interference' in European elections

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted at the start of the year that he is concerned about potential interference.

13.0k

Feb 3rd 2019, 7:05 AM

# piggy bank savings

The Rainy Day Fund will not be used for Brexit

The rainy day fund will be supplemented with an annual €500 million from the Exchequer, starting this year.

8.6k

Feb 2nd 2019, 7:30 AM

# Constitution

Divorce referendum: Voters will be asked whether to delete 'living apart period' from Constitution

The government announced the terms of the referendum today.

25.0k

Jan 29th 2019, 2:52 PM

# Industrial Action

Nurses' strike: HSE releases info on which health services will and will not operate on the day

The action will begin at 8am on Wednesday and finish at 8am on Thursday.

28.3k

121

Jan 27th 2019, 11:30 AM

# Tick tock

Varadkar to brief party leaders on possibility of a no-deal Brexit scenario

Leo Varadkar will meet with opposition leaders next Tuesday.

7.4k

Jan 19th 2019, 8:00 AM

# Border Wall

Government shutdown becomes longest in US history

The shutdown has entered its 22nd day – eclipsing a 21-day shutdown under Bill Clinton.

11.5k

Jan 12th 2019, 7:53 AM

# Environment

Government and schools will no longer buy single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws

The Green Party has said the ban only addresses “the lowest of the low-hanging fruit”.

27.9k

Updated

Jan 4th 2019, 2:42 PM