Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor was in the Institute of Technology Sligo today to officially launch the fourth year of the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship Programme. This honours degree programme is aimed at preparing insurance professionals for the world of work, delivered by IT Sligo in partnership with the Insurance Institute and the Life Insurance Association. This year will see the first set of apprentices graduate from the programme.

Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs has congratulated Commissioner Phil Hogan on his appointment as the EU’s Trade Commissioner for the next five years. 

FIANNA Fáil leader Micheál Martin needs to clarify if he backs the European Union and Government’s position on the backstop, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Fianna Fáil have yet again failed to explain how they will pay for their raft of spending calls – proving their ‘Spending for All’ approach is based in fantasy, a Fine Gael TD has said.

The Social Democrats need to get with the programme on all things Brexit after their co-Leader Róisín Shortall called for a major beefing up of border security with the costs to be borne by the EU, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Works have begun today to help ensure the continuance of RTÉ’s longwave radio service for a minimum of two years, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Hozier fans are being taken to the cleaners rather than church by ticket touts, a Fine Gael TD has said. Dublin North West TD, Noel Rock, hit out at re-sale websites, such as Irish-based Viagogo, for facilitating the above-price selling of tickets for Hozier’s upcoming gig before they even go on general sale.

Dublin Airport’s taxi rank needs an innovative overhaul because the current set-up doesn’t appear to work for anyone, a Fine Gael TD has said. 

Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald should confirm that a £1.5 million donation to Sinn Féin will not be spent by the party in the Republic of Ireland, thereby breaking the law, a Fine Gael Senator has said.