Homes affected by Pyrite are to be exempt from the new property tax.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan made the announcement in the Dail as he introduced legislation to bring in the tax next year.

The majority of pyrite-affected homes have no market value but under the bill even properties worth nothing incurr a charge of €90

However today Michael Noonan said he would ensure that the owners of pyrite affected homes would not have to pay.

Colm Keaveney's position as Labour party chairman is in doubt this evening after calls for him to stand aside.

Yesterday the Galway TD was thrown out of the Labour parliamentary party for voting against the Social Welfare Bill, but he's vowed to remain on as chairman of the party.

The Labour leadership wants him to go and earlier the party's chief whip Emmet Stagg claimed Mr. Keaveney's position as the Labour chairman is untenable. 

But speaking in Brussels, Enda Kenny said he's satisfied that the Labour leadership is on the right track:

A mother who lost her baby because a hospital sent her on a two hour ambulance journey has been awarded damages of €170,000.

36 year old Fiona ni Chonchubhair from Countess Road, Killarney, Co Kerry had her baby delivered still born by Cesarean section on May 16th 2009.

Leaving court Fiona's solicitor Adrian Hegarty spoke of her bravery in taking on the HSE.

Bus Éireann has unveiled sweeping changes to working conditions for its staff.

From January, workers will be offered lower overtime rates, three days less holidays and a drop in pay for shift, premium and rota work.

Bosses admit the move is regrettable, but vital to avoid losses of €16 million.

150 new jobs are on the way to Co Kildare.

MGS is to establish a manufacturing centre at Hewlett Packard in Leixlip.

The company provides engineered manufacturing products to the plastics industry.