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Campaign to save the Seanad launched
Democracy Matters! is calling for reform of the Seanad, not abolition.
Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you
Democracy Matters! is calling for reform of the Seanad, not abolition.
TV shows like ‘The Tudors’ and ‘Rome’ show that history is more popular than ever – yet, under proposed changes to the Junior Certificate, history could become an optional subject or short course. It makes no sense, writes teacher Christian O’Connor.
Proposals approved by ministers will enforce a legal “cooling-off” period for former office holders going into lobbying.
Tensions are high this week between the judicial and executive branches of government, writes Roderic O’Gorman, who says if we want a truly independent judiciary, we must be prepared to undertake radical reform.
Goverment TDs should be allowed to vote against their party on certain matters under proposals by backbench TD Eoghan Murphy in an internal document circulated among Fine Gael members this week.
A High Court judge had said the government was attacking the independence of the judiciary – but Shatter has hit back.
Susan Denham said failure to address the problems posed by Ireland’s appeal court system may be “damaging to Irish society and the economy”.
The working conditions of 292,000 public workers could changed by the new proposals. So what happens now?
There is growing opposition to the proposed deal on cuts and reforms to public sector pay and conditions but the support of Impact and Siptu will be crucial for the government.
The Tánaiste said the Government plans to use St Patrick’s Day to push for a deal on undocumented Irish workers in the US.
Legislation is not being properly vetted because the Government can simply force it through, writes Senator Katherine Zappone.
The Minister said that he became concerned about the number of attacks on elderly people over the Christmas period.
Meanwhile, just under one third want it to be reformed.
This will be the the politician’s sixth bid to become prime minister, a post he has held three times already.
A Fine Gael TD, Derek Keating, made the suggestion today. But what do Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil think?
There was broad consensus that our political system needed major change, writes David McCann – but that now seems largely forgotten.
The Public Accounts Committee published a report this week on reviewing public allowances. Here’s some of its figures.
The Committee of Public Accounts said the system “brings discredit to the legitimate expectations of public servants for proper pay and recognition”.
The New Zealander was only given a one-week ban for stamping.
The first meeting of the Constitutional Convention was delayed as the Government searched for a chairperson – but it’s now set to meet at the start of December
The Minister said he was anxious to give authority back to the Oireachtas itself as opposed to the Government.
Though 47 measures will go ahead by the end of this year, almost half of mergers or abolitions have been deferred or postponed.
The changes to councils will reinforce the dominance of the three major parties, says Fine Gael councillor Mick Glynn.
The government has billed the legislation as the “most significant expansion” of the Ombudsman’s powers in 30 years.
Here are the things we learned, loved and shared today.
Political parties criticise plans to do away with town councils, but the response of others is a little more enthusiastic.
Under the plans to reform local government unveiled today, different councils will be able to set different rates.
There are reports that the overhaul will include abolishing the power of councillors to overturn the decisions of planning officials.
Homily at Mass in St Peter’s Square recalls the changes in Church in 1962 – and Benedict urges the faithful to return to the “letter”.
The former minister of state said her resignation was coming for some time.
Brendan Howlin says the results of the review on public sector allowances will lead to substantial savings over time.
Brendan Howlin has said the size of the review undertaken by his department means savings will not be realised this year.
Independent TD Catherine Murphy gives her take on the challenge faced by the Government.
Under the new rules, journalists will no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication.
Ireland has reached a point where the current political establishment is not serving the interests of the people, argues Martin Critten who intends to form a new party with a Citizens’ Charter.
We may have a different government. But without serious political reform we’re headed for another crisis, writes Oliver Moran.
Meanwhile, the EU has announced lifting sanctions against Burma after year of political reform.
The Justice Minister also compared some of the legal rites of passage to those of Harry Potter’s school, Hogwarts.
The decision to end the long-standing practice of housing juvenile offenders in an adult prison has been welcomed.