Simon Harris described his former colleague in Government Michael Healy-Rae as a ‘very good’ minister.

The UUP leader said ‘did not recognise his (Beattie’s) characterisation of me’.

Michael Healy-Rae has blamed his brother for events which led to his resignation as a minister of state in the wake of the fuel protests.

The TD and solicitor will now take up a role in the Department of Justice.

Here, we take a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Mary Lou McDonald hit out at Micheál Martin, claiming he has told disabled people ‘to wait’

Social Democrats’ representative for Dublin Central Daniel Ennis and Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne were welcomed to the Dáil by their party leaders.

Robert Kenyon, who is standing against Labour’s Andy Burnham, used a now-deleted X account to support an offensive post about the TV star.

A recent escalation of settler violence in the West Bank shows the Israeli government has ‘no desire’ for a peaceful solution, Helen McEntee said.

Kyne narrowed the gap over subsequent counts to clinch the seat.

Fine Gael minister Peter Burke said it had been a ‘very strong election for Fine Gael’.

The Social Democrats leader said she believes voters are looking for a ‘straight-talking type of politics’.

Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins said it is ‘down to transfers now’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said fans ‘should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription’ to watch Arsenal play Paris St Germain.

The Taoiseach thanked his counterpart for her ‘warm’ welcome.

Two new members of the Dáil will be selected in the byelections on Friday.

The respective by-elections are being held in Galway West and Dublin Central.

Micheál Martin’s visit is part of preparations for Ireland taking up the presidency of the EU Council in July.

The Galway politician addressed Leeds Irish Centre on the second day of her three-day official trip to England.

The wife of former prime minister Boris Johnson said she had been contacted by more women who believe they were assaulted by him.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan said he did not “accept that at all” that RTÉ were paying for being transparent.

The meeting comes amid fresh scrutiny of its financial management.

The Irish president said the centre had played ‘an exceptionally important role in supporting the Irish community’.

The Cabinet is considering legislation that would move RTÉ under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The King’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, paid a state visit to Ireland in 2011.

Dr Margaret Connolly is among at least six Irish citizens from an aid flotilla mission detained by Israel.

Micheál Martin called for the ‘immediate release’ of citizens taking part in the aid flotilla.

Afterwards, she told reporters she had invited the King for an official visit, which would be the second such visit by a British monarch to Ireland since independence.

Britain's King Charles met Catherine Connolly on the first day of her three-day official visit to England.

The Southbank Centre has said all of its board members have the ‘right to exercise their freedom of expression within the law’.

Catherine Connolly is making her first official visit to England since her inauguration in November.

Paul Sweeney has called for a dedicated fan zone to avoid future trouble from fans of the city’s football teams.

The Irish president is making her first visit to England since her inauguration in November.

Micheál Martin is the longest serving leader of Fianna Fáil since Eamon De Valera

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin delivered the keynote speech at his party’s Ard Fheis in Dublin.

Simon Harris said the decision to invest more in education ‘is a really good one’.

Mary Lou McDonald criticised Micheál Martin’s response to the 24-hour ambulance strike which ended at 8am on Wednesday.

The proposed legislation will also see a reformed Legacy Commission as well a limited number of legacy inquests restored.

Micheál Martin said his party had historically made ‘very significant achievements’ in housing.

Declan Morgan, chief commissioner of the ICRIR, said he is ‘deeply sorry that this has happened on my watch’.

Emma Little-Pengelly was speaking after Michelle O’Neill hailed the triumph of nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales as a seismic political shift.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was hurting from ‘tough’ results in local elections in England.

The Nordic island is expected to hold a referendum on whether or not to restart talks to join the EU in the summer.