Not yet restored as a leadership contender perhaps, but the Minister for Public Expenditure’s stock is higher than it has been for a long time

First of two scheduled walkouts will bring widespread disruption, with further escalation possible in November

Fraught last-minute haggling in back rooms dominated the final days of negotiations as spending Minister Jack Chambers dug in

Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s offices intervene with Patrick O’Donovan ahead of crunch meeting with broadcaster’s leadership

Minister told Jack Chambers broadcaster’s €260m allocation could not be maintained without more funding for his department

The emergence of Chambers as a hard man fiscal hawk is a significant development in the internal dynamics of the Coalition

A package of tax reductions announced by Minister for Finance Simon Harris will see lower and middle income workers benefit

Tax-free threshold for inheritance tax from parents to children is expected to increase by €20,000 to €420,000

Continued acrimony in some quarters on Friday evening as many departments moved towards settling their budget

For those in south, the events highlight the continuing divisions in Northern Ireland

Jack Chambers fights to meet 6 per cent limit on increases, with Ministers complaining bitterly

Ten years ago our total spending was half what it is now. And still we proceed with increase after increase

Irish Times poll results suggest Irish public strongly backs ‘current model of neutrality’ but hasn’t definitely made its mind up

More than two-thirds of respondents say they support Ireland’s ‘current model of neutrality’

Poll findings also show public overwhelmingly believes Government should ‘begin preparations for possible Irish unity’