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The junior ministers were approved by Cabinet

Three independents among new junior ministers

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has announced the names of the new junior ministers after their appointments were approved by Cabinet this afternoon.

News • 20 May 16

A briefing document says reduced funding means some schools may not be able to cover costs such as heating or lighting

Govt told schools may close due to lack of funding

Civil servants have warned Minister for Education Richard Bruton that schools could be forced to close because of inadequate funding.

News • 19 May 16

Michael McGrath said he would much rather legislation of this type was not necessary but in his assessment it was

FF mortgage bill proposal not flawed - McGrath

Fianna Fáil Finance spokesman Michael McGrath has said that he does not accept that the mortgage legislation it is proposing is potentially unconstitutional.

Business • 17 May 16

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have criticised the proposals

Linking Child Benefit to school attendance opposed

Opposition TDs and children's charities have called on the Government to give a clear undertaking that child benefit payments will not be linked to school attendance, a proposal put forward in the Programme for Government.

News • 12 May 16

The Govt aims to hit a target of building 25,000 new homes every year by 2020

Govt pledges plan on housing 'within 100 days'

The Programme For Government published today has promised an action plan on housing within 100 days and a reformed way of dealing with the budget.

News • 11 May 16

Michael McGrath said he would like to remain in finance

Fianna Fáil to name new front bench shortly

Fianna Fáil's finance spokesperson Michael McGrath has said the party's new front bench will be announced in the coming days.

News • 09 May 16

John Halligan said the leak of the draft document was 'unprofessional'

€6.75bn public service spending plan in govt draft

Independent TDs were given a draft programme for government this afternoon which commits to spending at least €6.75 billion more on public services by 2021, compared to 2016.

News • 05 May 16

Fine Gael are holding talks with two groupings of Independents - the Independent Alliance and the Rural Alliance

Talks between FG and Independents to continue

Talks between Fine Gael ministers and Independent TDs over forming a minority government are to continue tomorrow.

News • 02 May 16

Fianna Fáil has agreed to support the administration over three budgets and there is broad agreement on a range of fronts, including rent supplement increases and water charges

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil agree deal on government

Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have ended with agreement on the shape of a Fine Gael-led minority government that should last for three years.

News • 30 Apr 16

Alan Kelly said people who paid their bills would have to get their money back

Water charge abolition would be sabotage - Kelly

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has claimed that any proposal to suspend or abolish water charges will mark "political, economic and environmental sabotage".

News • 28 Apr 16

Europe is waiting for Ireland's Stability Programme Update

Blog: The public finances without a Government

By the end of this week, the government is supposed to have sent the European Commission a document called the ‘Stability Programme Update’.

Business • 26 Apr 16

Jim O'Callaghan and Simon Coveney sounded optimistic as talks ended

FG-FF draft agreement has 'three-stage' water deal

A draft agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on a minority government led by Enda Kenny would see a three-stage deal on water charges.

News • 27 Apr 16

The Central Bank is selling down its holdings of bonds linked to the liquidation of the former Anglo Irish Bank, underpinning its profits

Central Bank set to pay Government €1.7bn

The Central Bank has earmarked around €1.7bn for a payment to the government, according to people familiar with the situation.

Business • 22 Apr 16

A document detailing how a minority government might operate is near agreement

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil exchange economic paper

The second session of talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have finished and will resume in the morning.

News • 19 Apr 16

Micheál Martin said Fianna Fáil would not be signing up to a programme for government

Martin: Fianna Fáil will support FG-led government

The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said his party will facilitate a minority, Fine Gael-led government regardless of its make-up.

News • 17 Apr 16

Micheál Martin said his party is committed to taking a role in government formation

Cool heads needed ahead of talks, says Martin

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he welcomes the initiation of a process whereby more substantive talks can take place between his party and Fine Gael.

News • 12 Apr 16

Micheál Martin and Enda Kenny have agreed to discuss a minority government option

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil agree to meet for talks

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have announced that the parties will meet early next week to discuss how a minority government would work.

News • 10 Apr 16

Willie Penrose (right) after his election

Labour rules out joining next government - Penrose

Labour TD Willie Penrose has said that members of the Parliamentary Labour Party today agreed that the party would not be involved in the formation of the next government.

News • 22 Mar 16

Alex White said the party has a track record of prevailing and kept many of their 2011 General Election promises

Alex White defends Labour's record in Government

Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources Alex White has defended Labour's record in Government following a dip in support for the party indicated in this weekend's opinion polls.

News • 21 Feb 16

RTÉ News went to Tipperary today to see the lay of the land

Videos: Poll slips and a trip to Tipp

Today's key campaign clips involved polls, migrant calls for Dáil represenation, and a look at the Tipperary constituency, among others.

Election 2016 • 10 Feb 16

The interest rate on 10-year government bonds was 0.16% above France in recent weeks but that gap has now grown to 0.33%

Rate on govt bonds rises amid election campaign

Investors in Irish government bonds are showing the first signs of reacting to the looming election, according to market observers.

Business • 05 Feb 16

ICTU calculated that the rise in such arrangements in construction had cost the State around €80m a year in lost tax and PRSI since 2007

Investigation into impact of bogus self-employment

The Government has launched a consultation process into the impact of bogus self-employment arrangements, which unions estimate have cost the exchequer almost €650m in the construction sector alone.

Business • 28 Jan 16

Independent TD Michael Lowry has made voting pacts with governments in the past

Burton says deal with Lowry would be inappropriate

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said she would not be in favour of going into a coalition government with Independent TD Michael Lowry.

News • 26 Jan 16

The strategy also hopes to move 50,000 long-term unemployed people into work

Govt aims to have 2.2 million employed by 2020

The Government aims to have 2.2 million people at work by 2020, according to a new Pathways to Work initiative for the period 2016 - 2020.

News • 13 Jan 16

Brendan Howlin said a relocation proposal for those living in flood prone areas is being looked at by the Government

Relocation and levies options to tackle flooding

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said relocation programmes and large levies on insurance policies may both have to be considered to tackle future floods.

News • 10 Jan 16

Government