Waste of time trying to talk rubbish with Enda as NY flight awaitsDÁIL SKETCH : In New York, the Taoiseach is a very popular man – and nobody annoys him about septic tanks and waste disposal…Thu Feb 16 2012 - 00:00
Busy Enda should create a job for Taoiseach stunt doubleDÁIL SKETCH: IN SINN Féin, it’s all about killing them with kindness these days.Wed Feb 15 2012 - 00:00
Finance Bill reveals a keen eye for bread in Merrion StreetSKETCH: GREAT NEWS at long last for a much overlooked section of Irish society.Thu Feb 09 2012 - 00:00
Bog-standard debate as TDs get down and dirty over tanksDÁIL SKETCH: AT LEAST the Dáil is agreed on one thing: in this day and age, we must all practice safe sewerage.Wed Feb 08 2012 - 00:00
Day of optimism and celebration for new citizens jolts hearts of native cynics“A RARE day you will remember and you will cherishFri Feb 03 2012 - 00:00
Many hugs emerge to banish awful images of nudey swimming TDsSKETCH: TREADING WATER on a cold afternoon in Leinster House, trying to keep up with the difficult concept of structural deficit…Thu Feb 02 2012 - 00:00
Touchy-thumpy Taoiseach too cosy with Sarkozy for prim AdamsSKETCH: THAT GERRY Adams is easily sickened.Wed Feb 01 2012 - 00:00
Megaphone diplomacy as septic tank protest flushes out divisions“I’M ON the mobile!”Sat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
'Mr Milligram' can turn the scales - just look at IndaPOLITICS IS a hard road.Sat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
Oireachtas alumni enjoy knees-upON TUESDAY night, the Trinity Alumni of the Oireachtas gathered in the finest address in Dublin – No 1, Grafton Street – for …Sat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
'Promiscuous' notes cause anger and envy in Middle IrelandMARY FROM Clontarf is on the Liveline. Mary, you’re very upsetSat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
'Feck off' poster has Green councillor all fuelled upGREEN PARTY councillor for Clare Brian Meaney is a sensitive soulSat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
Bacik stays coolIT’S BAD enough that Alan Shatter is disrespecting the lawyers (they don’t appear to like the Minister for Justice very much, …Sat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
Senator out in cold after speech on rural schools“AS A Fine Gael Senator and former education spokeswoman, I have a request for Minister for Education Ruairí QuinnSat Jan 28 2012 - 00:00
Our own Aurora Boringawlus eclipsed by septic tank flare-upSKETCH: A FEW dancing lights in the night sky and it’s a big deal in Donegal.Fri Jan 27 2012 - 00:00
Promiscuous notes getting to Gerry as Finian revs upDÁIL SKETCH: THE WAGES of sin may be debt but it seems the road to our financial salvation is paved with promiscuous notes.Wed Jan 25 2012 - 00:00
Slash and Tax get their groove on - yes, the boys are back in townThe IMF man was a disappointment. Not particularly for anything he said, but because he wasn’t AJ ChopraFri Jan 20 2012 - 00:00
Opposition fails to get a rise out of the Taoiseach - unlike his special advisersDÁIL SKETCH: IT’S THE latest new dance – and it’s all the rage in Cabinet.Wed Jan 18 2012 - 00:00
2012: What's in storeTHE NEW political season got off to a slow start this weekSat Jan 14 2012 - 00:00
Old look for new year as Enda slips on Bertie's anorakDAIL SKETCH: ENDA BUSTLED up to the Merrion Street gates for the first day back, full of beans meanz business.Thu Jan 12 2012 - 00:00
Awards with trimmings aplenty as parties pay their own festive wayNO TAXPAYERS were harmed in the making of this year’s Christmas parties, we have been assured.Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Some essentials for the SeanadSENATOR JILLIAN van Turnhout served her last day as chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance last TuesdaySat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
We only swing when we're winningTHE CAPTAINCY of the Oireachtas golf society is a much sought-after position among those politicians of the Pringle jumper disposition…Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
No time like the present as 'Wind-Up Mattie' toys with the Ceann Comhairle and brings a little cheer to TDsTHERE’S A must-have new toy on the political market this festive season.Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Minister a sport for letting Dub lead launchTHERE WAS a massive turnout on Tuesday night in the National Museum for the launch of Jimmy Deenihan’s autobiography, My Sporting…Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Suitable response to a job vacancyLABOUR’S PARLIAMENTARY party meeting was drawing to a close last Wednesday evening when Cork South-West TD Michael McCarthy cleared…Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Nought but good cheer from GerryAs they like to say in Leinster House, it’s all about “the optics”Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Joe promises uproar over tax - and he's bin there, done thatDÁIL SKETCH: A VERY unsettling picture appeared a number of years ago in the newspapersThu Dec 15 2011 - 00:00
Noonan gets to be the bride after 30 years a bridesmaidBUDGET SKETCH: NO BIG surprises — except a personal one for the Minister for Finance.Wed Dec 07 2011 - 00:00
Drama fans tune in for Howlin and gnashing of teethThere’s more horror in store today in the shape of ‘The Shining – Heeeere’s Baldy’Tue Dec 06 2011 - 00:00
At least he did us the courtesy of a State address. And his pink tie was lovelyThis was Enda’s big moment, his chance to nail itMon Dec 05 2011 - 00:00
Voices raised at festive ArmageddonCHRISTMAS WAS cancelled in Leinster House last year.Fri Dec 02 2011 - 00:00
Never mind the ECB, sparky Lucinda acts as Enda's firewallSKETCH: ENDA’S BACKSTOP may be to the firewall, but he battles on against the creeping contagion – and by his side is the Admirable…Thu Dec 01 2011 - 00:00
Enda intent on keeping us sweet but Coalition's fudge is hard to swallowSKETCH: A RETURN to plain speaking.Wed Nov 30 2011 - 00:00
'Elf esteem' of Gilmore's little helpers takes a hammeringDÁIL SKETCH: “I BEG your pardon,” sniffs Enda.Thu Nov 24 2011 - 00:00
Ministers ready for life in the fast lane as Enda insists on taking high roadDÁIL SKETCH: What good is dredging up the past, asks the Taoiseach, when We Are Where We AreWed Nov 23 2011 - 00:00
Englebert returns with spring in his goose stepMerkel’s blue-eyed boy teamed up with Gunter Gilmore and Bernhardt HowlinFri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Taking the pledge can lead to a political hangoverDÁIL SKETCH : Fee issue sees Coalition patience tested as they get a harsh lesson on the perils of promisesThu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
Chaos in chamber as everyone wants to know - 'where's Willie?'“WHERE’S Willie?” That’s what everyone wanted to know in Leinster House yesterday.Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
High drama in Dáilton Abbey as respect urged for FG bluebloodsONE SIMPLY can’t get good staff in Leinster House these days.Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
Cross-party singing group bridges troubled waters to help suicide charityFine Gael’s Peter Mathews seemed the best candidate for the mantle of BonoMon Nov 14 2011 - 00:00
Nation held rapt by haunting verse on day of true joy and blessingsPoliticians and diplomats sat transfixed as the tears of friends and colleagues were discreetly wiped awaySat Nov 12 2011 - 00:00
No brass bands as McAleese makes last official engagement at homeless hostelAND NOW, the time had come and so she faced that final velvet curtainFri Nov 11 2011 - 00:00
Cometh hour of doom, cometh Winston Shankill, set for battleDÁIL SKETCH: SHANE ROSS stood on the burning deck, Whence all but he had fled, The flame that lit the Euro’s wreck, Shone round…Wed Nov 09 2011 - 00:00
Walkout shakes Coalition - and they shook until they could laugh no moreDÁIL SKETCH: THEY FLOUNCED from the Dáil in high dudgeon, marching bravely towards a long period in the wilderness.Thu Nov 03 2011 - 00:00
Farewell, old comrade, and yes, we'll try to give up our aul cynicismIT WAS only when his friends began to say goodbye that Michael D really realised his life is changedMon Oct 31 2011 - 00:00
Last stand for candidates with president elect as acrimony and angst melt awayMichael D looked shell-shocked. So did some of the beaten candidates. But they were gracious in defeatSat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
Michael D proves your only manPRESIDENT MICHAEL Daniel Higgins turned off his mobile phone and tried to concentrate on his acceptance address.Sat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
Galway Gaeilgeoir right back in the rás as Slick Seánie slips upMICHAEL D sits on his bus, a salad sandwich in a brown bag on his lap, about to hit the road on the second last day.Wed Oct 26 2011 - 01:00
TV debate pushes the envelope as battle for presidency finds its biteIt’s a pity they didn’t have this debate at the start of the campaignTue Oct 25 2011 - 01:00
