A Gurranabraher man who left Cork more than 60 years ago has been elected deputy mayor of an English city at the age of 85, and is in line to become the city's mayor next year.

There is just one meeting left in this current council term, and an analysis of the agendas of the council meetings so far suggests a very different outlook between parties on the tabling of motions, writes Amy Campbell 

In an exclusive interview in the Taoiseach's office, Micheál Martin talks to Donal O'Keeffe about his future plans, his vision for Cork, his priorities for housing, for transport and for disability, and why he's not sure whether his children will ever follow him into politics.

It comes as last weekend Dublin and Kilkenny were forced to change into skorts for the Leinster semi-final after wearing shorts in protest.

The Education (Leave for Personal Injuries) Bill 2025 would establish standards for a scheme of leave for teachers and special needs assistants who are assaulted at work.

In its oversight report on the Electoral , the commission found that Cork County Council was one of eight local authorities with more voters on the than people eligible to vote living in the county according to census data.

Mr O’Connor, who in 2020 became one of the youngest TDs ever elected to the Dáil, when he was 22, is now the Fianna Fáil spokesperson for transport.

The primary goals of the campaign, which sees events being held in Cork on Wednesday, are to ensure everyone eligible to vote is ed, inform under-represented and disadvantaged communities, and make young people aware of their right to vote and how to .

It comes as a survey of teachers finds that the majority of primary school teachers believe faith formation should not take place in the classroom, and CSO marriage data shows less than a third of couples had a religious ceremony last year.

The bill ed second stage earlier this month, and will now go to committee stage, where amendments can be made.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central Séamus McGrath recently raised the question of potential safeguards being put in place to address increasing costs of insurance across a number of different products.

Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Pádraig Rice, who was first elected to council last June and the Dáil in November, was among five Irish representatives to attend the event organised by the IPU, the global organisation of national parliaments.

Mr Coveney, who retired from politics at the end of last year, will the firm’s geopolitical strategy team with immediate effect.

Mr Mullins, who ed away suddenly, was in his mid 50s.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan raised the issue in the Dáil this week, saying that there are “black-spot areas” where the HSE cannot deliver home-help services.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and mental health minister Mary Butler launched ‘Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone Implementation Plan 2025 - 2027’ earlier this week.

Currently the ‘proof of concept’ phase for body-worn cameras is ongoing in selected stations in Dublin, Waterford and Limerick.

The bill would prohibit importuning sex for rent and advertising for it, with penalties including — on summary conviction — a class A fine and, on indictment, a fine up to €50,000.

Following a vote among Fine Gael party , which took place at the Castle Hotel in Macroom, it was Kate Lynch who was chosen to replace her daughter.

Fine Gael TD for Cork East Noel McCarthy asked Simon Harris in the Dáil if he had plans to establish such a service at the Cork port office.

Last week, Labour’s Laura Harmon launched the Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025. The bill proposes a fine of up to €50,000 for those convicted of advertising rental spaces under such .

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice, said the issue “was a mess entirely of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s making”.

According to figures released to Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, 24 people received fines in 2024 under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

In Cork, 102 claims are ed, and just 19 of these have been paid, with €4,259 paid out in total, an average of €224.16 per claim.

The Government and opposition have been arguing over how four coalition-d independent TDs should be given speaking slots in the Dáil.

As he proposed the motion, which was seconded by Independent councillor William O’Leary, Independent councillor Peter O’Donoghue asked if lives had been saved by the imposition of restrictions, which were announced in a speech by then taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in March 2020.

Micheaál Martin’s Government has been accused of attempting to “force through” changes to Dáil standing orders which would give speaking time to independents who ed the formation of the coalition, as well as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

Cork College of FET Macroom Youthreach Centre provides young people who are out of mainstream education an alternative educational path.

Mr McGregor answered questions from reporters as he ed US press secretary Karoline Leavitt in the West Wing briefing room ahead of a meeting with Donald Trump.

Monday’s meeting of Cork City Council saw the topic of motions many consider outside the remit of the council take centre stage again, with over half an hour spent discussing how the meeting was going on for too long.

Council also marks Seachtain na Gaeilge with bilingual meeting.

Mr Gould said in a statement issued via solicitor to The Echo: “I requested to make a personal statement in the Dáil as I believe in ability and honesty. I strongly reject the allegation that has been made against me."

Mr Gould strongly refutes the allegations which have been made.

The Taoiseach said that he had seen “some patterns emerge” from the US’s engagement with Mexico and Canada on tariffs.

Mr Martin and his wife Mary were met by Mr Vance and his wife Usha at the US Naval Observatory ahead of a breakfast meeting which kicks off a series of engagements to mark St Patrick’s Day.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Gould 'emphatically rejects the accusations made against him and believes that he will vindicate himself in full.'

Councillor John Maher told The Echo that families are struggling with one of the most expensive childcare systems in Europe, adding: “Parents in Glanmire, Mayfield, and Ballyvolane are already at breaking point."

“Miscarriage is loss, and too many women are forced to carry on working as if nothing has happened, with no time to grieve or recover.”

All eyes are likely to be on Mr Martin’s visit to the White House on Wednesday evening for the traditional shamrock bowl presentation, which he will make to US president Donald Trump.

The declarations detail interests in land and property, as well as business dealings and directorships.

Mr Martin said Europe was “at a crossroads” in the face of serious security issues raised by increasing Russian militarisation.

Information provided by the department to Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, for the 2023/2024 school year, the latest date data is available for, showed that 219 Cork primary school classes had more than 30 students.

At present, a short prayer is read out before Dáil sessions in both Irish and English by the ceann comhairle. This is then followed by a moment of reflection for 30 seconds.

Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has called on Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to take decisive action to tackle the significant driving test back Cork, as wait times are “simply not good enough”.

“I don’t accept that, that’s nonsense, complete nonsense, we’ve been ing regeneration in Cork now for a long time,” he said.

Thomas Gould and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, along with councillors Michelle Gould and Joe Lynch, met with the NTA to discuss the ongoing crisis in Cork’s bus service.

With the renewed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition greeted by a fiery, unprecedented uniting of the opposition benches, Donal O’Keeffe looks at the history of the Civil War parties and asks whether they might be heading for a permanent union.

In a keynote speech, delivered on Friday at the Engineers Ireland Cork Region Annual Dinner, Mr Martin said despite positive progress, the government is determined to “build significantly” on the advancements made over the last number of years on the national housing crisis.

Mr Gould held his seat in the Cork North Central constituency during the most recent General Election and said that, despite his diagnosis, he never considered not contesting.

Fianna Fáil TDs Séamus McGrath and Pádraig O’Sullivan, speaking this week in the Dáil, both asked the Taoiseach when the Cork city task force will be established.