The attorney general warned the housing minister that mica-affected homeowners would put “tremendous pressure” on officials to get the best possible deal under the state redress scheme and that the council may not assess claims independently.

The attorney general told government it was “necessary” for homeowners applying to the state mica scheme to “understand” why they weren’t getting the same terms of a similar scheme offered to owners of defective homes in Dublin.

The attorney general in private correspondence on government’s mica scheme suggested measures to reduce the number of applicants, limit the state’s financial exposure and help ensure claims were kept as low

A Dáil committee has ruled that Ireland First election candidate Philip Dwyer wasn’t “adversely affected in reputation” by comments made by TD Paul Murphy about Dwyer’s attendance at properties later set on fire.

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has begun an audit after claims by an internal whistleblower that needless surgeries are being carried out on children with dysplasia “purely for financial gain”.