Joe Little

Religious & Social Affairs Correspondent

The payments were stopped when the nuns returned to live in Ireland

Ombudsman's European link resolves nuns' pension issue

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has liaised with his Portuguese opposite number to restore pension payments to three Irish nuns that were stopped when the sisters returned from Portugal to live in Ireland.

Ireland • 10 Oct 19

Dr Susan Finnerty says the inaccessibility of rehabilitation services deprives people with enduring mental illness of any prospect of reaching their full potential

Mental health rehab services 'inadequate' - report

The Inspector of Mental Health Services has said it is "quite astounding" that the State has failed to provide adequate rehabilitation services in the sector.

Health • 10 Oct 19

Regina Doherty said spending on new initiatives last year amounted to €360m but that it had fallen this year to €170m

Welfare budget increase 50% less than previous 2 years

The increase in spending in this year's social welfare budget is less than 50% of the annual rise in spending in each of the last two budgets, according to the Minster for Employment and Social Protection Regina Doherty.

Budget 2020 • 08 Oct 19

The synod at the Vatican will run until 27 October

Vatican gathering to debate permitting married priests

Over two hundred bishops, mostly from the Amazon, are in Rome to debate the future of the Catholic Church in the vast region. They will discuss a contentious proposal to ordain married men in an attempt to bridge the shortage of priests.

World • 06 Oct 19

Martin Reilly was at the first public meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues Affecting Travellers

Oireachtas committee hears of effect of suicide

An Oireachtas committee has been told that a family was left without any support from the State and other services following the death of a member by suicide three years ago.

Politics • 24 Sep 19

Séamus Hegarty's legacy as bishop of Raphoe was damaged by failures to adequately confront a pattern of clerical child abuse

Bishop criticised over clerical abuse failures dies

The Catholic Diocese of Derry has announced the death of its retired bishop, Dr Séamus Hegarty.

Ulster • 20 Sep 19

Katherine Zappone's appointment runs until June 2020

Govt appoints Special Envoy for UN Security Council bid

The Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, has been appointed as the Government's Special Envoy for Ireland's candidature for election to the UN Security Council.

Politics • 19 Sep 19

Paul Graham pictured with his adoptive sisters

Bethany Home survivor calls on State to pay redress

A survivor of Dublin's Bethany Home has challenged the State to explain why it has refused to pay redress to former residents of the Protestant-run institution for decades

Ireland • 17 Sep 19

Site of former Tuam mother-and-baby home

Possible to collect Tuam DNA samples before legislation

The Cabinet has been told that it should be possible to develop a voluntary scheme to allow for the collection of biological samples from survivors and others connected to Tuam's mother-and-baby home.

Ireland • 11 Sep 19

(L-R) Nuala Doherty, Louise Loughlin, Kavita Sharma, Liz Halton, Angela Black and Sarah O'Callaghan

People with disabilities face housing issues - NAS

The NAS says it has worked with over 100 people with disabilities under 65 who are living in elder care nursing homes because of a lack of State supports to help them to live at home or in other more appropriate settings.

Ireland • 11 Sep 19