Across:
8 Lush (LAVISH) birch (birth/cane = LA-SH) hanging over sign, for one (Victory/V sign) (LAVISH),
9 Supporters meeting (caucus = CAUC-US) about a (-A-) head of state (head of ‘State’ = -S-) (CAUCASUS) in Russia (CAUCASUS),
10 Characters in upcoming (= reversal indicator) business obsessed (characters in ‘busineSS OBsessed’ = ssob = BOSS) with big cheese (BOSS),
11 Close scrutiny (INSPECTION) of nine topics (nine topics) in dispute (= anagram indicator) (nine topics = INSPECTION),
12 Network (WEB-) mostly (p) for soldiers (‘camp’ without ‘p’ = -CAM) (WEBCAM) bringing others to view the site (WEBCAM),
14 Recalls (= reverse indicator) Knock (rap = PAR-) workers (men = -ME-N) consuming starters of soft Anthotyros (starters of ‘Soft Anthotyros’ = -SA-) (PARMESAN) cheese (PARMESAN),
15 Quote (TAKE) from teacher’s (teachers = Irish National Teachers Organisation = INTO) side of the story (ACCOUNT) (TAKE INTO ACCOUNT) and bear this in mind when you’re working this out (TAKE INTO ACCOUNT),
18 Cross Swords (cross swords/fence = F-ENCE) accommodating head lad (head ‘Lad’ = -L-) or (-OR-) (FLORENCE) girl? (FLORENCE),
20 The whys and wherefores (MOTIVE) of new (= anagram indicator) movie (movie = MO-IVE) about time (-T-) (MOTIVE),
22 Tom (CAT-) let (let) off (= anagram indicator) (let = -TLE) for taking payment (FEE-) for primarily drugs (primarily ‘Drugs’ = -D) (CATTLE FEED) and grass (CATTLE FEED),
24 Some bankroll a commitment, in a roundabout way (= reverse indicator) (some ‘bankroLL A Commitment’ = llac = CALL), to give someone a buzz (CALL),
25 Plan of action (SCHEME-) writing (from the 3Rs = -R-) introduction to screenplay (introduction to ‘Screenplay’ = -S) (SCHEMERS) with those crafty types in the plot (SCHEMERS),
26 Employee (EARNER) removes dogs from rose garden (removes ‘dogs’ from ‘rose garden’ = rearen = EARNER).
Down:
1 Early release (PAROLE) of light (= anagram indicator) opera (opera = PARO-E) about first love (first 'Love' = -L-) (PAROLE),
2 Gives a helping hand (AIDS) to first class (AI-) detective (Detective Superintendent = -DS) (AIDS),
3 Two types of drugs (cocaine + heroine = C+H = CH-) for high-flyer (-AIRMAN) (CHAIRMAN) on the board (CHAIRMAN),
4 A (A-) court (-CT-) summons – the first (‘Summons’ the first = -S) (ACTS) of a number dividing those in The Abbey (ACTS),
5 Stylish director (AUTEUR) loses head (h) with overbearing arrogance (‘hauteur’ without ‘h’ = AUTEUR),
6 Place to holiday before Day of Judgement (LAST RESORT) – only to be used if all else fails (LAST RESORT),
7 Novel (= anagram indicator) about (about = AUTOB-) a household name opens (‘A Household Name’ opens = -AHN) (AUTOBAHN) The Road – the German translation (AUTOBAHN),
13 That’s bound to bear fruit (CHERRY TREE) for Bing? (bing CHERRY TREE),
14 Similar to those characters in 24 across (PHONE is similar to ‘call) and Ring (PHONE),
16 Russell (George William Russell = AE = A-E) conceals life’s little ironies primarily (‘Lifes Little Ironies’ primarily’ = -LLI-) from party (African National Congress = -ANC-) (ALLIANCE) in coalition (ALLIANCE),
17 Funny films (COMEDIES) produced by Terence, the old Roman playwright (COMEDIES written by Roman dramatist Publius Terentius Afer/Terence),
19 Did a job for those making bread (kneaded), it was said (= homophone indicator) (‘kneaded’ = ‘NEEDED’), when it was required (NEEDED),
21 Appreciated (VALUED) in retrospect (= reverse indicator) old leader (Dev = V-ED) taking in university (University of Limerick = UL = -LU-) and academy (-A-) (VALUED),
23 Kid’s stuff (EASY) in the borders of Easter Daisy (borders of ‘EAster DaiSY’ = EASY),
24 Back order doesn’t include bread (‘back order’ doesn’t include ‘bread’ = ckor = CORK) or port (CORK).