A large number of moderate MPs, especially young women, will not contest next month’s British election. Many say they cannot endure the aggression representatives face.

Publican Rory Clancy, spokesman for a demonstration supported by over 2,000 people at the weekend, said the community was once again asking the department to “come and speak to us here in Oughterard”.

Comments about immigrants by Independent TDs Noel Grealish and Michael Collins have been branded as “very dangerous” by Labour leader Brendan Howlin.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Creed has denied that a roll-out of several million euro for coastal projects has been delayed to tie in with his party’s European election campaign.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has sacked Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív from a senior frontbench post, after it had appeared he had decided to spare him.

The party says it wants to raise public awareness about ways to go green and convince people why we need to tackle climate change.

The Government’s plan for growth over the next two decades will “kill” rural Ireland and walk the country into “economic and social imbalance”, a coalition of TDs has warned.

Simon Coveney’s campaign team have urged grassroots Fine Gael members to “turn” national politicians supporting Leo Varadkar, after two Clare TDs controversially backed his rival just hours after the Housing Minister visited their constituency.

Unions are male dominated but Leinster House sure gives them a run for their money, writes Alison O’Connor

Everything from rail services, to agriculture, turf-cutting, to hospitals and fights over ministerial positions all caused major wobbles among Independents which almost scuppered a government deal.

Enda Kenny has admitted that his party has learnt lessons from the general election as Fine Gael managed to break a deadlock and get their minority government elected yesterday.

Politicians eager to get their teeth stuck into debates about changing society as well as ways to restore cash-starved services have tabled several motions for the new Dáil.

All new Government quangos will be barred from cities and ordered to set up in rural Ireland under Fianna Fáil measures to create 30,000 jobs outside the capital.

The rate of government spend on the State’s witness protection programme last year increased to €1.21m —double the spend of the preceding two years.

At Fianna Fáil’s first ard fheis following its electoral defeat in 2011, a leading British politics academic, Professor Tim Bale, delivered sobering advice to delegates: “You have to realise that your brand is not simply tarnished, it is utterly trashed. It is not just trashed, it is toxic.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has insisted his party is no longer a toxic brand and is “moving on” from its troubled recent history and “into a further phase of recovery and renewal”.

The Dáil is preparing for an all-night sitting before the final vote on legislation allowing for abortion in limited circumstances.

Limerick TD Willie O’Dea had a last-minute change of mind on the bill allowing for abortion in limited circumstances, and joined the majority of Fianna Fáil TDs in voting against it.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he personally supports proposed legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances, which he said is “consistent with the pro-life position”.

Enda Kenny has offered concerned Fine Gael TDs and senators a series of special one-to-one meetings in a bid to stave off rejection of the Government’s proposed abortion legislation.

Women seeking a termination due to suicidal intent are to be assessed by three experts after being referred by a GP, X case legislation looks set to state.

Brian Walsh has called for a referendum after becoming the first Fine Gael TD to state definitively that he will not vote for legislation that includes suicide as grounds for abortion.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has ruled out an exemption for mothers facing the forthcoming maternity tax despite pleas from coalition TDs.

Fears of a backlash fuelled by austerity fatigue gripped Labour as backbenchers signalled they would not vote for across-the-board public sector pay cuts.

On one thing, Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív is certain: That he was right and, as a result, his party leader, Micheál Martin, was wrong on the decision to back the stability treaty referendum earlier this year.

Former Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív said “it’s not a black-and-white certainty” that he made the right decision to stay in the party when he was silenced over the EU treaty referendum earlier this year.

The Government has been accused of scapegoating the Attorney General over biased information given to the public during the latest referendum campaign.

Fianna Fáil veteran Éamon O Cuív has been demoted in a reshuffle on the opposition benches, the party has confirmed.

Voters in just five of the country’s 43 constituencies rejected the referendum, with strong divisions between urban and rural areas.

Éamon Ó Cuív’s decision to stay in Fianna Fáil “for all its faults” was hardly surprising given his family lineage and lifelong involvement with the party founded by his grandfather.

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív will be kicked out of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party if he does not stick to his promise to refrain from campaigning against the fiscal treaty, senior party sources indicated.

The Fianna Fail Chief Whip has welcomed Eamon O Cuiv's decision to remain as a member of the party.

Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said he is to remain a member of the Fianna Fáil party.

Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív has said he will decide in the next 24 hours about whether to leave the party his grandfather, Éamon de Valera, founded.

Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Ó Cuív said many of the party’s members support his opposition on the EU fiscal compact and will vote against it.

Éamon Ó Cuív faces expulsion from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party if he refuses to refrain from advocating a no vote in the EU fiscal treaty referendum.

The ballot on the One Member One Vote motion at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis at the weekend.

THEY stood side by side, Dev and Dev Óg.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has apologised for his party’s role in leading Ireland from boom to bust.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has apologised for the mistakes of the party in past Governments.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has promised "swift and comprehensive" action against anyone named in the Mahon Tribunal report as having abused their position in office.

A Senator has compared Eamon Ó Cuív’s move to break party ranks to the shooting of Michael Collins.

Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny John McGuinness has thrown his hat into the ring to become the party's deputy leader.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has insisted that there is no fault line in the party's ranks.

NEW septic tank rules are not “an attack on rural Ireland”, said Environment Minister Phil Hogan.

WORKING families have warned they risk homelessness because of cuts hidden in the Social Welfare Bill rushed through the Dáil yesterday.