Pat Leahy

5 days ago | irishtimes.com | Pat Leahy

Several ministers received substantial pay increases when they were reappointed to the Cabinet when the Government was formed in January. Following a repeated series of queries from The Irish Times over the past month, the Government said it was intended that ministers would apply similar arrangements to gift back a portion of their salaries for the duration of the current administration.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Pat Leahy

Day two of the conclave and non habemus papam yet anyway. Keep an eye on irishtimes.com during the day and we’ll let you know as soon as there is white smoke. It goes without saying that Conor Pope is running the live story for us. Our long-time religious affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry is at the Vatican to make sense of it all for you. (Or you could switch to RTÉ which is somehow managing to cover the conclave with a mere 47 staff on location). Here’s Patsy’s guide to the runners and riders.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Pat Leahy

The Garda authorities have said they will narrow their definition of hate crimes following the passage of legislation that contains a much more restrictive definition than the one used by the gardaí. The hate crime legislation that was passed late last year provides for stiffer sentences if a court finds that hate was a motivating factor in crimes such as assault.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Pat Leahy

During the general election, The Irish Times assembled a panel of readers drawn from across the State and from all age groups, to discuss the progress of the election campaign. This week, a sample of them gathered again to discuss the first 100 days of this Coalition. “A s**t-show,” says Catherine, a mother of one living in Dundalk. “I think it’s just been fairly inept. I think Micheál Martin has really let himself down.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Pat Leahy

A more combative Dáil, a glacial pace of delivery and a more abrasive politics have marked the first 100 days of Micheál Martin‘s second term as Taoiseach. The Dáil has seen some raucous days since it gathered in January to elect Martin with the comfortable majority he put together with the help of Michael Lowry over the Christmas period. The new Taoiseach has not shied away from the fight; in fact, he has often seemed to relish it.