Varadkar rules out Irish general election this year

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out an early general election.

Mr Varadkar told a Cabinet meeting earlier that he will not go to the polls before Christmas.

He had been under pressure from some ministers to collapse the Government after British MPs in the UK backed a vote on December 12th.

Irish Water criticised over failings at Leixlip water treatment plant

Irish Water has been criticised for not making changes it was told to at its Leixlip water treatment plant.

The plant was at the centre of the country's largest ever boil water notice last week, which affected some 600,000 people.

People in parts of Dublin, Meath and Kildare were told it was not safe to use their tap water because of a treatment issue.

Dublin to get more rail capacity under new scheme

More people will be able to take trains as part of an expansion of rail carriages for the greater Dublin area.

The Government has approved the purchase of 41 additional rail carriages to increase capacity across the rail network in the capital.

The additional rail cars, which will cost €150m, will enter service by 2021.

Case against Al Porter dismissed over interfering with man's arrest

A judge has decided to give Al Porter a chance following his arrest for trying to stop Gardaí arresting a man in Dublin.

The comedian and actor, who has also presented radio and TV shows, believed he was acting as "peacemaker" when he stepped in.

Mr Porter was prosecuted under his real name, Alan Kavanagh.

Twitter to end all political advertising worldwide

The social media site Twitter is to stop showing all political advertising globally.

The company's CEO Jack Dorsey made the announcement on the platform on Wednesday.

However, there will be some exceptions, such as adverts in support of voter registration.