HERE IS THEJOURNAL.IE’s comprehensive guide to what’s happening in the political world this morning.

Everyone’s talking about…

Whether or not Mary Lou McDonald will try to enter the Dáil chamber today.

Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Following her four-hour sit-in with colleagues last Thursday, Sinn Féin’s deputy leader is suspended from the Dáil until tomorrow, but may attempt to enter the chamber today.

We’ll be keeping an eye on this, and whether or not Sinn Féin will act on its expression of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett.

McDonald did not respond to a request for comment on the issue yesterday and the Sinn Féin press office said the matter is likely to be discussed at a meeting of party TDs and senators this morning.

According to the Irish Independent, McDonald’s sit-in cost taxpayers almost €130,000.

The agenda

• The Cabinet is expected to sign off on a revised water charges package: details of which have been widely leaked in recent days. A formal announcement is expected tomorrow afternoon.
• 2pm: Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will be answering questions in the Dáil.
• 2.15pm: Owen Keegan, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, will appear before the Environment Committee in Room 4 to discuss the Poolbeg incinerator.
• 3.15pm: Enda Kenny is taking Leaders’ Questions today.

What the others are saying…

• Gardaí want to question Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy about the anti-water charges protests that saw Tánaiste Joan Burton trapped in her car for over two and a half hours on Saturday, according to the Irish Daily Mail. Murphy will be in our offices for an interview today. Is there anything you’d like to ask him? Let us know in the comments.

• The Irish Examiner is reporting that Cork City Council has been “plunged into crisis” after failing to adopt its 2015 budget.
• Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, has effectively ruled out any ECB officials appearing before the upcoming Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, according to the Irish Independent.

In case you missed it…

• It’s likely the water charges will be put on hold until after Christmas. Meanwhile, hundred of protesters targeted the Taoiseach in Sligo last night.
• The constituency office of Environment Minister Alan Kelly received a bomb threat. 
• The leader of the Green party has called for a referendum to be held on the public ownership of Irish Water.
• Employment Minister Ged Nash announced a study into the number of zero- and low-hours contracts being used in Ireland and the impact they have on workers.

On the Twitter machine…

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