Farming News

Minister's home county awarded largest share of funding 

After being appointed Minister for Rural Affairs, Michael Ring promised he would do the best that he could for his own county.

Varadkar's Border proposal dismissed as 'incoherent' by leading economist 

An economist who advised former Northern Ireland first minister David Trimble has lambasted the Taoiseach's proposals for the Border after Brexit as "incoherent".

Varadkar lifts cup - but Ireland have a battle to do the same 

If Leo Varadkar has a prediction for who will triumph in the Women's Rugby World Cup, he was keeping it to himself.

Failure to inform Garda auditors about breath test issues 'incredible' 

Senior Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Alan Kelly has said it is "unbelievable" that Garda management did not tell internal auditors about issues with breath tests and 14,500 traffic...

Minister in threat to overrule councils that ignore wind-farm policy 

Environment Minister Eoghan Murphy has written to all local councils telling them if they disregard national guidelines on wind farms in planning, he will consider using his powers to overrule them.

'We should look at gender quotas for local elections,' says minister 

When Helen McEntee stood beside the Taoiseach on the Leinster House plinth the day she was appointed to the European Affairs brief, she was one of just two women in the ranks of junior ministers.

Martin refused three opportunities to call for €5 weekly pension hike 

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was asked three times by the Sunday Independent if he would force Fine Gael to increase the old-age pension by €5 a week in the Budget.

Taoiseach plans to double Ireland's embassy presence 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar plans to dramatically double Ireland's overseas diplomatic presence as part of his bid to limit the economic damage posed by Britain's decision to leave the EU.

FG and FF prepare for snap election 

Fine Gael is preparing for a general election as early as next spring, the Sunday Independent can reveal. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has put his party on full election footing with Fine Gael officials told to advance preparations for the possibility of a snap poll early next year.

Government to appoint 'Health Tsar' to overhaul HSE 

The Government is planning to hire a new 'Health Tsar' to oversee major reforms of the health system and the HSE. The new senior executive will be based in the Department of Health and will...

Martin looks at Bernie Sanders for the answers 

Could Micheal Martin be Ireland's answer to Bernie Sanders? The Fianna Fail leader is almost 20 years younger than the 77-year-old senator who captured the imagination of younger voters during last...

Varadkar pulls no punches - but outlines options for a softer Brexit 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has laid out his "practical solutions" aimed at ensuring that there is no hard border on the island. Options include the formation of a customs union between the UK and the EU...

Adams insists he will lead Sinn Féin into election 

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has insisted that he intends to lead the party into the next general election.

Mother of Hollywood star finds herself at centre of Sinn Féin plot twist 

IN a small meeting room in a hotel close to the Dublin-Meath border, three senior Sinn Féin figures sat and waited. They had earlier been briefed...

Varadkar rules out controversial proposal to tax sale of family homes after backlash 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has firmly ruled out any move to tax the sale of family homes. The proposals from Department of Finance officials...

Varadkar's first budget 'menu' includes tax cuts, hikes in child benefit and pensions 

Cuts to income tax for middle-income earners, an increase in the State pension and hikes to child benefit are all on the table ahead of the Budget.

Taoiseach pleads for end to political stalemate in North 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will today move to end the hostility between the Government and the DUP as he appeals to all parties in the North to bring the long-running political stalemate to an end.

Calls to extend breaks for mothers to breastfeed 

Mothers should be allowed to take breastfeeding or pumping breaks for up to one year post birth, instead of the six month period currently in place.

Varadkar's Brexit remarks are 'unhelpful', says Foster 

DUP leader Arlene Foster has hit out at what she described as "unhelpful" remarks by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on the issue of Brexit.

Councillors reject claims by Sinn Féin TD they set out to block gay marriage 

The TD at the centre of a bitter Sinn Féin row has accused his former colleagues of campaigning against marriage equality.

Fianna Fáil gets tough amid fears it will be outflanked on Budget 

Fianna Fáil has issued a series of fresh demands ahead of October's Budget as fears grow internally that the party is set to be outflanked by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the upcoming negotiations.

Government will spend €3.4bn on water infrastructure... but it's not enough, Ó Broin 

A member of the Oireachtas Water Charges Committee has said the government will spend €3.4bn on our water infrastructure in the next...

Varadkar claims he has 'nobody to call in the North' ahead of meeting 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shot down accusations by the DUP that he is engaging in "megaphone" politics over the issue of Brexit as the diplomatic row between Dublin and Belfast intensified.

Mark Daly: Challenges ahead for those who seek a united Ireland free from any borders 

TK Whitaker was voted 'Irish Man of the 20th Century'. He wrote the policy that was followed by successive governments that laid the economic...

TDs' bar bills 'should be deducted from pay', says Leo 

TDs who failed to settle their Dáil bar bills should have the money deducted from their salaries or pensions, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Taoiseach: TDs who fail to pay Dail bar tab should have bill deducted from salary 

POLITICIANS who have failed to settle their Dáil bar bills should have the money deducted from their salaries or pensions, according to Taoiseach Leo...

I have to keep the door open for UK reversal on Brexit - Leo 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar still hopes that the UK will pull back from the Brexit precipice, saying that part of his remit is to "keep the door open" for our neighbours.

Three SF councillors at centre of bitter internal row break silence 

The three Sinn Féin councillors at the centre of a bitter internal row have all broken their silence over the controversy.

'It is totally outrageous' - Anger as Sinn Féin claims more than £1m from Westminster 

British Prime Minister Theresa May has been urged to cut Sinn Féin MPs' money after it emerged they claimed more than £1m (€1.1m) from...

Help for parents as Government announces more childcare places 

Senior Government figures will today move to assure families of their commitment to reduce childcare costs through the announcement of 5,000 extra places for children.

Political parties are scared witless of upsetting the so-called grey army 

Budget Day is supposed to be one of big ideas, strategic thinking and forward planning - but really it's about counting pennies.

Political staff enjoy 'generous' payout for losing jobs 

Political staff employed by TDs and senators who retired or lost their seats at the last election received generous redundancy packages that cost the taxpayer about €4.4m, it has emerged.

Despite public anger, it's too late to tidy up our dishevelled TDs - Ceann Comhairle 

The clothing of our politicians is the number one complaint among members of the public to Leinster House - but the Ceann Comhairle says it's too...

September target for new tax on vacant properties 

A new tax on vacant properties is to be announced in September, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has signalled.

Wallace gets a dressing down over his attire 

The most common written complaint received by the Ceann Comhairle's office in the past year related to dress code, with Mick Wallace receiving much of the criticism.

Thousands are trapped in 'no man's land' over their pensions 

The number of people forced to retire at 65 years of age - but not entitled to a pension until 66 - is soaring.

Men only: County council has no women after lone female member steps down 

Offaly County Council has become a 'men only' zone after the local authority's lone female member stepped down.

Reilly defends his objection to plan for 151 new homes 

Former Fine Gael deputy leader James Reilly has defended his decision to object to the construction of 151 new homes in his Dublin constituency.

Mayors at odds as attendance at event sparks protocol row 

A misunderstanding about Dublin City's Sinn Fein Lord Mayor attending a commemorative event in Howth yesterday sparked a conflict between two local authorities when the event was advertised...

Budget war as Varadkar vows to hike pension 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin are on a collision course for another Budget war over the old age pension, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

UK government 'not in the right mental space' over border 

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has ramped up the war of words with Britain by branding its Brexit plans for the Northern Ireland border as "neither imaginative nor flexible".

Former Taoiseach was 'weary - not drunk' during 2010 interview, Mac Coille insists 

RTÉ's 'Morning Ireland' presenter Cathal Mac Coille has broken a seven-year silence to insist that Brian Cowen was "not drunk" during an early morning...

Varadkar hints at second term for President 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has strongly hinted he would back Michael D Higgins for a second term as President.

Hollywood actor Jack Reynor's mother thrown out of Sinn Féin 

The mother of Irish Hollywood actor Jack Reynor has been thrown out of the Sinn Féin party over a bizarre internal feud.

Comment: Why timing has left Cowen far behind Ahern in the tough task of winning public rehabilitation 

The 'Garglegate' fallout was not quite finished for Brian Cowen when Bertie Ahern appeared on television, depicted sitting in a cupboard amid...

'Love Actually' turns sour as Leo opts for an 'Ireland first' Brexit strategy 

It appears Leo Varadkar has been bingeing on his 'Love Actually' DVD again. Towards the end of the 14-year-old movie there's a scene where the British prime minister (Hugh Grant) and the US...

'We won't help Brexiteers design border we don't want in the first place' - Varadkar 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has launched an unprecedented attack on "Brexiteers", warning that Ireland will not help create a border we...

Policing Authority's 'intense frustration' at delays into garda probe over bogus breath tests 

THE Policing Authority has expressed its "intense frustration" that the Garda probe into how almost a million bogus breath tests were recorded has...

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney should 'go away' and 'calm down' over border solution - David Trimble 

Former Ulster Unionist Party first minister David Trimble said Mr Varadkar and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney should "go away" and...

Brian Cowen was 'not drunk' on radio interview, retiring Morning Ireland presenter insists 

RTÉ's outgoing Morning Ireland presenter, Cathal MacCoille, has broken a seven-year silence to insist that Brian Cowen was "not drunk" during an...

Cowen is accused of rewriting history 

Fine Gael and the Labour Party have rounded on former Taoiseach Brian Cowen's attempts to "rewrite" the history of the economic crash and subsequent recovery.