The Irish Examiner political team cast an eye over the major issues facing Ireland's electorate and how they have been tackled by Fianna Fáil.

Campaigners opposed to Cork’s €140m flood defence plan say a tidal barrier is a viable option after costing a cheaper version at a different location.

TD Ruth Coppinger says criticism is a bit rich coming from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

A bill calling for a referendum on the 8th Amendment is to be debated in the Dáil this coming Tuesday.

The Anti Austerity Alliance, People Before Profit have published what they say is a radical alternative budget.

A battle over the Eighth will make other referendum campaigns look like a Daniel O’Donnell tea party, writes Michael Clifford

Motorists were advised that the Government had “limited” power to influence the cost of motor insurance premiums as they continue to spiral upwards.

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There is nothing populism craves more than elites to rail against, writes Michael Clifford

The Government has performed a last-minute U-turn on its controversial plan to make householders pay for the collection of recycled waste.

Enda Kenny had the pallor of one about to take a bungy jump under duress. He knew no more than the rest of us whether white smoke would spiral from the conclave, says Michael Clifford

If you were to believe the body politic, Irish Water is the most evil thing since Hitler and the SS. All the parties, especially Fianna Fáil, which introduced water charges in 2010, have sold out their principles for populism, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

The head of the largest body representing students in Ireland has described the JobBridge scheme as “one of the worst things to happen to young people in Ireland in decades”.

A water charges protester was yesterday convicted of assaulting a detective garda while he was on duty, providing protection for the Taoiseach and other cabinet ministers at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.

Fianna Fáil’s giveaway manifesto, which was launched yesterday, is aimed at offering an alternative, according to party leader Micheál Martin.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Fianna Fáil has pledged to appoint a minister for community services and rural development, if in government.

Left-wing TDs and election candidates have promised to increase the tax on millionaires and hike the corporation tax rate to 15% if they enter government.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

If there is to be greater equality, the price will have to be paid by ’middle income’ earners, writes Michael Clifford.

A left-wing merger between the Anti Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit has created the newest force in Irish politics.

The Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) has called on the Government to conduct an independent review of the insurance industry amid growing concerns that motor insurers are penalising pensioners and younger drivers who tend to drive older cars.

Socialist TD and Anti Austerity Alliance (AAA) member Paul Murphy has said a Limerick councillor who threatened an AAA activist should not continue as a public representative for the alliance.

The majority of political parties are in favour of holding a referendum to change the Constitution to ensure water services can never be privatised, a survey conducted by the Irish Examiner has revealed.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

It should have been a day of celebration to note the achievements of adult students as Tánaiste Joan Burton attended a higher education graduation ceremony in Dublin last November.

The opposition’s solution to a creaking infrastructure is to get the rich to pay for it, writes Michael Clifford

Irish Water workers will seek wage rises of 2.5%-3.5% when a pay freeze ends in December, despite the utility facing serious financial problems after less than half of householders paid their first bills.

A man is being questioned this morning in connection with a helicopter crash in Longford; Jordan Spieth ready for brutal day at St Andrews; and A gunman has killed at least four US Marines in Tennessee before he was shot dead by police; Briana Jungwirth’s stepmother fears having a baby with Louis Tomlinson will "ruin" her life. Here’s this morning’s irishexaminer.com round-up.

A row has broken out between the Right2Water campaign and supporters of the Non Payment Network over who will lead a new ‘left’ political party.

Trade unions that are currently leading a nationwide campaign against water charges are to drive plans to set up a left-wing political movement.

A protest over the jailing of water protestors is taking place in Dublin city centre this afternoon.

Sinn Féin is claiming that the company currently installing water metres in Dublin has told its contractors that work will stop at the end of this week.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that he has "no comment" to make on accusations of "political policing" from TD Paul Murphy and the Anti Austerity Alliance.

The most disconcerting fact to emerge from yesterday’s dawn raid on the house of a TD is that Paul Murphy wears pyjamas.

The Anti Austerity Alliance say the arrest of TD Paul Murphy is "another cheap attempt to denigrate the movement against the water charges".

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy is among four men who have been arrested in connection with the water protest last November which saw the Tánaiste Joan Burton trapped in her car for more than two hours.

Protestors were removed by Gardaí after they blocked the Minister for Health's car as he arrived at University Hospital Limerick to open a new €40m critical care block today.

The year ahead is going to be an exciting one in politics. There will be upheaval. There will be blood. The old order is rapidly changing, with apologies to Mr Zimmerman.

Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy said the concessions made by the Government are not enough to stop widespread protests against water charges.

Video footage has emerged of the moment Joan Burton was hit by a water balloon at the water-charges protest in Jobstown yesterday.

One of the organisers of yesterday's protest against water charges in south west Dublin said the event passed off peacefully and was in no way anarchic.

The High Court has granted an order setting up a 20 metre exclusion zone around a water meter installation in Dublin's north east.

The young man who called off his anti water charges hunger strike last night has pledged to devote his energy to fighting the tax in an organised manner.