The planned activity was among a number of concerns raised with the Russian authorities by the Department of Foreign Affairs, headed by Cork TD, Minister Simon Coveney.

Ministers met on Friday on foot of advice from public health bosses that the vast majority of pandemic restrictions can be lifted on a phased basis.

The Government has also agreed to designate a once-off public holiday on Friday, March 18 this year.

Former Cork TD Jonathan O’Brien talks to John Bohane about his new role as Sinn Féin’s political director.

“I’m asking Roderic O’Gorman to investigate all of the deaths at Bessborough, and how those babies lived, and how they died, and where they are buried.”

Mr Coveney this week said he had not attended the bash at the Iveagh House in June 2020, where his staff were celebrating after Ireland won a seat on the United Nations security council, while strict lockdown measures were still in place

A barrister for one of the defendants said “everybody jumped on the bandwagon” to suggest the accused ignored Covid rules because they “occupied a particular status in society”.

Cork TD Aindrias Moynihan tells John Bohane why large-scale projects under way will benefit the town and hinterland in the years to come

The Fianna Fáil leader said the decision during the second lockdown was taken because the Government wanted to be "ruthless" in suppressing the Alpha wave of Covid-19.

Mr Martin also revealed that he has received a hand-painted landscape Christmas card from Green party leader Eamon Ryan.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also thanked the public for their resilience in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Seán O’Sullivan’s tribute to his late father Toddy received a standing ovation

CORK City Council has opened a book of condolences for former Lord Mayor of Cork, Toddy O’Sullivan who sadly passed over the weekend. Toddy O’Sullivan, a former Labour TD and minister of state, died at the age of 87.

He has been described as a "giant of Cork politics'

A Cork advocate said the news was a “nice boost” for senior citizens.

“I’m stressed because the Leaving Cert defines your life, and is the main focus of your life for people under the age of 18." 

The Green Party has its roots in 1981, when it started out as the Ecology Party of Ireland. Cork City Green Party councillor DAN BOYLE traces its rise since then

CORK city councillor, Oliver Moran, has been elected to a two-year term on the Executive Committee of the Green Party.

If we are serious about wanting to increase female participation in politics, we need to identify the barriers in place and work to remove them, says Holly Cairns, Social Democrats TD, Cork South West

EMMA CONNOLLY catches up with members of Cork City Council’s Women’s Caucus to see how they are bringing about change for women in politics

Government ministers are to consider the latest advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to tackle the rising number of cases.

SINN FÉIN'S spokesperson on transport, Darren O'Rourke, has said an increase in Garda resources is needed to crack down on antisocial behaviour on trains.

The man, aged 41, was arrested in Douglas before 8am

Councillors in Cork have decribed the proposed changes as 'long overdue'. 

He described the rise in Covid cases as 'very concerning'. 

It aims to “prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to health emergencies”. 

Mr Martin also highlighted the targeting of politicians on social media, saying groups are formed to "create bile" against elected representatives.

LAWS are to be strengthened to deal with the dangerous and antisocial use of scramblers and quad bikes. The laws will be incorporated in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which has been published.

The Echo spoke to primary school students in Cork city. 

The Taoiseach has described Ireland's new national development plan as "unprecedented in scale" and one that will shape Ireland's response to the housing crisis and the challenge of climate change.

The Government remains committed to Sláintecare, a Cabinet minister has insisted.

The Government cannot be "absolutely certain" there will be no power outages this winter, Eamon Ryan has warned.

Micheal Martin has praised Joe Biden's speech to the UN General Assembly and cited him as a key ally on tackling climate change and Covid-19. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in New York, called Mr Biden a "committed multilateralist at heart".

Foreign Affairs Minister and Cork South Central TD Simon Coveney has received the backing of the majority of the Dáil. TDs voted confidence in Mr Coveney by 92 votes to 59.

Simon Coveney was “acting in good faith” when he deleted text messages relating to official business, the Taoiseach has claimed.

Labour leader Alan Kelly has said the vote of confidence in Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney is not a priority for his party.

Micheál Martin said Fianna Fáil faces a challenge in reaching the gender quota for candidates in the Dail elections, which will rise to 40% in 2023. Currently, the gender quota is set at 30%.

There will be no challenge to Micheál Martin's leadership when Fianna Fáil meets in Cavan on Thursday, a junior minister has said.

The leader of Sinn Féin has said the Taoiseach must sack Simon Coveney or else the minister could face a no-confidence motion.

A senior Fianna Fáil TD said the controversy surrounding Katherine Zappone was an "omnishambles of Fine Gael's creation". Jim O'Callaghan said it has inflicted a lot of damage, and that it is a story about Fine Gael's failure.

Simon Coveney said he had deleted text messages he exchanged with the Tánaiste from his phone before Freedom of Information requests were submitted by journalists.

"It’s certainly a shadow, but I don’t think it’s overshadowing what is a really important day for the Government, for the country."

Simon Coveney has defended his decision to delete text messages exchanged with other Government ministers on a regular basis because his phone has “been hacked”. The Foreign Affairs Minister said it was “prudent” to clear his phone over hacking fears.

“HOSPITALITY was the beneficiary of a Government faux pas and it shouldn’t have been that way”, said Mike Ryan, the Cork chair of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, after Fáilte Ireland guidelines for organised outdoor events were updated ...

The Minister for Health has said he is “fully committed” to introducing legislation for safe access zones at healthcare facilities that provide abortion services.

THE process of the appointment of former minister Katherine Zappone to a UN special envoy position has been described as a “shambles” by a Cork TD following reports of a private function that was held just days before the job was announced.

Simon Coveney has said he “blames himself” for any mistakes made in the appointment of former minister Katherine Zappone to a new special envoy role.

THE leader of the Sinn Féin party has criticised what she described as a “chaotic” approach to the reopening of indoor hospitality which has left businesses without clarity with just days to go before they can welcome customers back inside.

LATEST: Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said indoor dining will resume on Monday for people who can show evidence of immunity, despite the fact that the country is 'without doubt' experiencing a fourth wave of Covid-19.

THE late Des O’Malley was an inspirational political leader who transformed Irish politics. That is according to former Progressive Democrats party chairman John Minihan, who paid tribute to Mr O’Malley after his death was announced this morning.