Sandra Hurley

Political Reporter

Uisce Éireann warns of overreliance on water from Liffey

Uisce Éireann has warned that if the River Liffey is ever polluted, 85% of the water in the greater Dublin area would be gone.

Politics • 28 May

The ESRI will tell an Oireachtas committee that it does not expect any major increase in housing supply this year and next year (file pic)

Cabinet approves planning extension for developers

The Cabinet has approved a plan from Minister for Housing James Browne to allow developers to apply in certain cases for a three-year planning permission extension.

Politics • 27 May

The new bill will remove the requirement for UN approval when deploying members of the Defence Forces outside the State (Pic: RollingNews.ie)

Committee concerned over timeline on Triple Lock bill

The Oireachtas committee examining the proposed law to remove the Triple Lock has written to Minister for Defence Simon Harris expressing concerns over the timeline for it to complete its scrutiny of the bill.

Politics • 22 May

The Housing Committee was told 28% of local authority land banks could not proceed due to inadequate access to essential services (stock image)

Land banks undeveloped over lack of services, cttee told

The Oireachtas Committee on Housing has heard that nearly one third of local authority land banks cannot proceed to development because they are not serviced sites.

Politics • 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

Independent TD Michael Lowry told the Sunday Times newspaper that senior Cabinet ministers gave his Regional Independent Group weekly briefings (File image)

Opposition TDs say Lowry 'calling shots in Government'

Opposition TDs have rounded on comments made by Independent TD Michael Lowry as evidence that he is "calling the shots in Government".

Politics • 18 May

Plans for an IPAS centre to be built at a site in Coolock have now been scrapped

Coolock IPAS U-turn due to State property focus - Brophy

Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy has said the U-turn by the Department of Justice on housing asylum seekers in Coolock was due to the move towards State-acquired properties and State IPAS centres.

Politics • 18 May

There have been calls for clarity on the number of unnecessary surgeries carreid out

Promise to publish audit on children's hip surgeries

The Minister for Health will publish an audit on unnecessary hip operations for children as soon as she has "digested it" after receiving it, Minister of State Robert Troy has told RTÉ's The Week In Politics.

Politics • 18 May

Citywest is the largest hotel in the country

Govt may expand asylum seeker accommodation at Citywest

The Government is understood to be aiming to purchase the Citywest Hotel in west Dublin in order to significantly expand accommodation for asylum seekers on the site.

Dublin • 17 May

President Michael D Higgins said hunger is being used as an 'instrument of war'

Gazans subjected to 'forced starvation', says President

President Michael D Higgins has accused the United Nations Security Council of failing "again and again" by not dealing with current famines including what he called the "forced starvation" of the people of Gaza.

Ireland • 17 May