| FOCACCIA | Most of the word from the Irish to the cold agents is for the Italians on the breadline (8) |
| SLOB | Word, from the Irish for clabber, mire, mud, ooze or sludge, for an unrefined boor of slovenly lazy habits (4) |
| SCRAMBLE | Jumble, or what one can do to the words from the circled letters in 5-, 13-, and 15-Across, when rearranged |
| DANIBEHR | English singer and actress who was a presenter on The Word from 1992 to 1995 (4,4) |
| TIARA | Crown worn by first of the Irish to enter Erin's ancient capital (5) |
| MOLESTED | Edward, following the secret agents, is attacked (8) |
| CREPUSCULAR | Dark, cold agent, powerfully built, needing no introduction |
| BULLDOGCLIPS | The word from Rome is this is a party with good links to those keeping a handle on The Papers (7,5) |
| DROPAHINT | To give you a clue - most of the word coming back is to decorate around hotel (4,1,4) |
| HIBERNIA | It was all Irish to the Romans (8) |
| VOWELS | Most of the word "sequoia" |
| RAFFLE | General staff releasing agents is a gamble that inevitably throws up winners and losers (6) |
| RIS | Irish to the core |
| ENLGISHLANGUAGE | What most of the words in this puzzle are part of |
| READTHROUGH | Occasion where actors speak the words from a script (4-7) |
| ORAL | Ahead of 3 down, this could put Irish to the test in a manner of speaking (4) |
| INDIGENT | Independent fellow giving accommodation to one on the breadline (8) |
| NEWSITEM | Novel might need to be developed by Frenchman from The Irish Times, for example (4,4) |
| SYNDROME | Council dismisses order for the Italian's number of signs (8) |
| NOTATION | Mark absent Italians on noticeboard initially (8) |
