Garda Commissioner announces 500 new gardaí for next year and says rural crime remains priority

The Garda Commissioner has said at least 500 new Gardai are to be recruited next year. 

The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald made the announcement in Templemore earlier as 94 Gardai graduated.

Noonan confirms to Banking Inquiry Trichet's warning of "bomb" going off if bondholders were burned

Michael Noonan has directly contradicted the Banking Inquiry evidence given by the former European Central Bank president.

The Finance Minister says the ECB did warn Ireland against burning bank bondholders, and that Jean-Claude Trichet did phone him to say "a bomb would go off" in Dublin if bondholders were burned.

Senate blocks Republican vote for disapproval resolution on Iran deal

A Republican effort to sink the Iran nuclear deal in the US Senate has failed.

Senators fell two votes shy of the 60 needed to advance a resolution disapproving of the international accord.

PSNI release Bobby Storey as Peter Robinson stands aside as First Minister

PSNI have confirmed the unconditional release of 59-year-old Sinn Féin politician and former IRA member Bobby Storey has been released unconditionally.

Meanwhile, Peter Robinson has announced he will stand aside as First Minister of the Northern Irish Assembly.

Robinson also confirmed the resignation of all the party's ministers from the Stormont Assembly, with the exception of Arlene Foster, who will remain in her post as Minister for Finance and acting First Minister.

Burton 'confident of positive news' on transport link to Dublin Airport

The Tánaiste Joan Burton says she is confident we will soon have "positive news" on a new transport link to Dublin Airport.

Speaking earlier, Ms Burton said that the airport is an essential part of the infrastructure of the city.