Mícheál Lehane

Political Correspondent

Tánaiste Simon Harris updated Cabinet today on the Bill to reform the so-called Triple Lock

Legislation to change Triple lock to be published soon

Legislation that will remove the need for UN approval when deploying more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas will be published before the end of the week.

Politics • 20 May

Teenager Cara Darmody began her 50-hour protest at Leinster House to highlight the issue this morning

Assessment of needs important step in children's lives

Parents who know their child requires a bit more support to navigate everyday life never forget the contrasting emotions when their needs are crystallised, writes Mícheál Lehane.

Analysis and Comment • 20 May

Opposition party leaders pictured with Cara Darmody outside the Dáil

Taoiseach suggests change to assessment of needs law

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested that legislation around assessments of needs must be changed in order that therapists can provide services to children more quickly.

Politics • 20 May

The 1926 Census was the first census of the Irish Free State and contains 700,000 household returns

1926 census to be available online after digitisation

The first census carried out by the State will be available online next year, Minister for Arts, Culture and Communications Patrick O'Donovan is expected to tell the Cabinet.

Politics • 20 May

Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the threat of protests at the event as "a great shame"

Labour moves marriage equality event over protest threat

The Labour Party switched locations for an event marking 10 years of marriage equality, with the party saying it changed from the original venue in Dublin 8 due to a threat of a far-right protest.

Politics • 19 May

The Minister for Children has pledged to reform the assessment of need process and is working on legislation to ensure children receive therapies quicker

Opposition parties unite on assessment of need motion

The combined opposition in the Dáil have joined forces to bring forward a motion demanding that the Government provides children with assessments of need within six months.

Politics • 15 May

An early recommendation from the audit, which has yet to be completed and published, was for letters to be sent to parents offering routine follow up appointments

Parents 'in the dark' on hip surgery audit, Dáil hears

Parents are still being kept in the dark over the clinical audit of hip surgeries for children, the Dáil has heard.

Ireland • 15 May

Tánaiste Simon Harris will hold a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Šefčovič on the margins of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Trade

Harris seeks EU-Israel deal review over Gaza 'war crimes'

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has said he believes the EU-Israel Association Agreement needs to be "reviewed" due to what he described as "war crimes" by Israel in Gaza.

Politics • 15 May

Simon Harris made the remark at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting

Harris: Up to ten people to be seconded to housing office

The Tánaiste said he expects up to ten people, from various State agencies, to be seconded to the new Housing Activation Office.

Politics • 14 May

SIPO intends to hear to hear a preliminary application by Mr O'Flynn's legal team next Monday

SIPO to investigate comments by Independent Ireland TD

The Standards in Public Office Commission is to carry out an investigation into Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn following a complaint about comments he made when he was a Cork City councillor.

Politics • 14 May