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Enda Kenny said Fine Gael would not make a deal with TD Michael Lowry in establishing a government

Taoiseach rules out deal with Michael Lowry

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out making any deal with independent Michael Lowry in establishing any future government.

News • 05 Feb 16

As Tánaiste, Joan Burton's personal popularity rating has, at times, surpassed that of all the other party leaders

Burton hoping hard work pays off for Labour

Assuming leadership of Labour two years ago was a high point for Joan Burton. After more than 30 years in the party, it was her time. But with the junior Coalition partner languishing in the polls, General Election 2016 could be make or break.

News • 04 Feb 16

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is following the Clinton campaign book with his focus on the economy

Fine Gael adopts 'It's the Economy, Stupid' mantra

It is all about keeping the recovery going for Fine Gael, according to Enda Kenny, while Labour leader Joan Burton let everyone know who is the boss at the parties' first press conferences of General Election 2016.

Election 2016 • 03 Feb 16

Enda Kenny and Joan Burton on the steps of Government Buildings

Videos: 'This is not goodbye'

Videos of Election 2016 unfolding - from the Dáil to the Áras where he tells Tánaiste Joan Burton "this is not goodbye."

Election 2016 • 07 Feb 16

Tánaiste Joan Burton said the Labour Party had a track record of standing up to corruption

Tánaiste rules out Lowry support after election

Tánaiste Joan Burton has emphatically ruled out forming a coalition government with Fine Gael if that government required the support of the controversial independent TD Michael Lowry.

News • 01 Feb 16

Michael Lowry said the current Government, especially the Labour Party, had reneged on promises

Lowry says he will act in public interest

Independent TD Michael Lowry has said he will sit down after the next general election, see how the numbers have fallen and assess who is in a position to form the next government.

Election 2016 • 25 Jan 16

Tánaiste Joan Burton said it was time to move as a country towards a living wage currently calculated at €11.50 an hour

Tánaiste warns over tax cost of living wage

The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection has warned that State top-ups to ensure workers earn a living wage could be extraordinarily expensive for taxpayers.

News • 10 Dec 15

Joan Burton said Labour would be pushing for up to 70% of available exchequer funds to be invested in public services

Burton accuses FG of trying to shrink public spend

The Tánaiste and Labour Party leader has accused Fine Gael of trying to shrink spending on public services.

News • 07 Dec 15

It appears that lost Fine Gael support has drifted mainly towards their Coalition partners Labour, and to a lesser extent towards Fianna Fáil

Support for Fine Gael falls by 3% points - poll

Support for Enda Kenny's Fine Gael has fallen by 3% points, according to the latest Paddy Power Red C poll.

Ireland • 03 Dec 15

Joan Burton is calling on 'richer' Middle Eastern states to get involved in the peace initiative

‘Richer’ Middle East states should push for peace

Ireland should join a very strong push at UN General Assembly level for a peace initiative in the Middle East to help alleviate the current refugee crisis, Tánaiste Joan Burton has said.

News • 05 Sep 15

Joan Burton said more efficiency is vital for the economy

Additional productivity makes sense - Burton

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said more productivity from civil servants in return for a restoration of pay "makes sense".

News • 19 Apr 15

Focus Ireland says 66 people have been made homeless since February

Govt will not add to rent inflation: Humphreys

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection Kevin Humphreys has said that rent supplement is being increased on a case-by-case basis, but that the Government will not add to rent inflation by increasing rent supplement across the board.

News • 30 Mar 15

Ed Miliband (C) met Peter Robinson (L) and Martin McGuinness in Belfast

Robinson open to deal with Labour

DUP leader Peter Robinson has described British Labour leader Ed Miliband as someone he could do business with.

News • 22 Jan 15

Joan Burton said she was anxious that any future Government plans are sustainable

Burton rules out five-year tax reform plan

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said that a five-year tax reform plan will not feature in the Government's spring economic statement.

News • 16 Jan 15

State pensions will make up 34.4% of all welfare expenditure in 2015, an increase of €168m on this year

No plans to cut state pension - Burton

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said the Government is not considering cutting the State pension.

Business • 29 Dec 14

Joan Burton was responding to comments made at a PAC meeting this week dealing with NAMA

Burton critical of NAMA developer incentive scheme

Tánaiste Joan Burton has described as an appalling idea the suggestion that developers dealing with NAMA would get bonuses.

News • 21 Dec 14

Joan Burton said the Irish people should be repaid before unsecured bondholders

Burton rules out repaying junior bondholders

Tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton has ruled out the possibility of junior bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank getting a payout from the liquidation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation.

News • 08 Dec 14

Joan Burton praised the announcement of €315bn from the EU Commission

Greater flow of money from banks needed - Burton

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said there needs to be a greater flow of money from the banks to small businesses in order to grow the economy.

News • 28 Nov 14

Joan Burton said the Government was working on the detail of the allowances

Taoiseach: Irish Water will never be privatised

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he expects the Government to finalise the matter of Irish Water charges the week after next, adding that Irish Water would never be privatised

News • 07 Nov 14

Joan Burton said utility companies are about dealing with customers in an efficient and timely way

Tenants warned of eviction over water charges

Meath County Council has confirmed that it has written to all Rental Accommodation Scheme tenants advising them that they could face eviction if they do not pay their water charges.

News • 16 Oct 14

Ms Burton said Sinn Féin were showing in Government in Northern Ireland how they would misgovern the Republic

Tánaiste says Sinn Féin seeking 'welfare economy'

Labour leader Joan Burton has launched a strong attack on Sinn Féin at her party's mini-conference in Wexford.

News • 15 Sep 14

Finance Minister Michael Noonan says deficit will fall to 4% by the end of the year

Government to look at tax rates and USC in Budget

The Minister for Finance said that any tax cuts introduced in next month's Budget to give relief to middle and lower income earners may have to be paid for by tax rises elsewhere in the economy.

Business • 03 Sep 14

Responsibility for redundancy debt transferred to Joan Burton's department in 2011

Burton's dept 'had no strategy' to recover debt

Tánaiste Joan Burton's department has been criticised in an unpublished internal report over claims it had no strategy in place to recover millions of euro in outstanding redundancy debt.

News • 31 Aug 14

Joan Burton announced today that short-form death certificates will be available

Short-form death certificate 'available shortly'

A short version of death certificates will be available shortly, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has confirmed.

News • 06 Aug 14

The Department of Social Protection is to carry out a review

Just 6% of participants in work scheme got jobs

An unpublished review into a €9m Government scheme which aims to help at least 50% of disabled participants find work has found just 6% were exiting the scheme with jobs.

News • 05 Aug 14