Simon Harris also said the state is too reliant on private nursing home care.

Micheál Martin said there was no government across the EU which had provided as much in cost of living supports as Ireland.

There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as tension over the speaking rights row boiled over.

A vast range of issues were raised as politicians returned to Leinster House on Wednesday.

Social Demcorats leader Holly Cairns told the Oireachtas that costs of running primary schools have soared.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said: ‘If you wanted to design a worse way to provide social housing, you couldn’t.’

The Sinn Féin leader made her comments during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil

Here, we have a look at the topics that will dominate political discourse in the week to come

Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughten detailed Simon Harris' commitments for his first full day in office by way of explanation for his absence

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the State’s ‘neglect’ towards disability was ‘ruining lives’.

The Minister for Housing was taking Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil