It's been a “change” election in so many ways, but one certainty we cling to is that we’re stuck in the same old territory when it comes to the election of women to the Dáil.

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said she hopes the party can win four seats in the general election amid expectation that the group will also form part of any government talks.

Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald has been elected on the first count in Dublin Central.

The Sinn Féin Leader says the election is changing the shape and mould of Irish politics.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he is "nervous" and is revising downwards his forecasts for the party although he is holding out hope for strong transfers from other parties.

Despite dire weather warnings turnout has been strong in many constituencies, with turnout exceeding 40% of the electorate in some areas.

Fine Gael have denied their election campaign is in meltdown and insisted a last-minute swing back in support will help win them over 50 seats.

Last Thursday night, I started getting picture messages from friends which showed a message from Paschal Donohoe, the Dublin Central TD and finance minister.

A small number of bellwether constituencies could be highly significant in the battle for top spot between Fiann Fáil and Fine Gael, says Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe.

Sinn Féin found itself in hot water yesterday, while Fianna Fáil left reporters yawning, writes David Davin-Power.

The decision by Ms O'Sullivan brings to an end her 11-year career as a TD.

Dublin-Central Independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan has announced she will not contest the General Election, thus ending her 11-year career as a TD.

Fine Gael must facilitate a Fianna Fáil led Government from Opposition should Micheál Martin's party win more seats, Dara Calleary has said.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has intervened to prevent the setting up of a service for recovering drug addicts in his constituency.

Ireland’s child protection watchdog can give no “cast iron guarantee” the RTÉ creche scandal is not being repeated in other services after it emerged 37 other creches are on a high-risk safety register.

A family who removed their child from the Hide and Seek creche service at the centre of an RTÉ exposé raised concerns about the facility with politicians and child protection services more than a year ago.

There was a time when securing a former county GAA player or other sports personality was a major coup for any political party.

Mary Lou McDonald has that intangible X-factor that few others in politics have and has used all of her considerable skills — including her attractiveness — to climb the ranks of Sinn Féin in a relatively short time. Like Margaret Thatcher she has exploited her gender positively, making herself the obvious choice to succeed Gerry Adams, writes Daniel McConnell

Cast your mind back to 2009, writes Daniel McConnell.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s newly appointed special adviser has been described as “slime” by a constituency rival in a bitter online spat.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the introduction of voting rights for women and their right to stand in parliamentary elections Culture Minister Josepha Madigan singled out the legacy of Countess Markievicz.

There may be collaboration on the budget, but there is deadly political competition between the two big centre parties, writes Gerard Howlin.

A number of TD's have been venting their anger at the latest constituency changes.

The Dáil is set to gain two more TDs from the next election as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is a major winner in the redraw of constituency boundaries announced tonight, writes Daniel McConnell.

Donohoe has solidified his position as a central player in Fine Gael and is now in pole position to be a contender the next time a leadership contest is held, writes Daniel McConnell

Enda Kenny is expected to outline his plans for stepping down at tonight's parliamentary party meeting.

A national measles outbreak that left 40 people infected, half of whom were hospitalised, has been declared over.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is facing growing pressure to re-admit Bertie Ahern to the party.

Dublin’s Spire acts like a super-sized ‘Google Maps’ pin to locate this compact Dublin city centre hotel on O’Connell Street, one which had housed five homeless families until they were rehomed in late July.

It seems Donohoe is favoured by the Taoiseach and Finance Minister Michael Noonan to take over as leader of Fine Gael, writes Daniel McConnell

At least one extra Dáil seat will be up for grabs in the next general election as the growth in population has pushed the number of people per TD over the 30,000 legal threshold.

What is required from Fine Gael is nerve and imagination to leave its comfort zone, writes Gerard Howlin

The sale of the Dundrum Town Centre to UK property development company Hammerson, and Allianz Real Estate, as part of a portfolio of assets worth €1.85bn has been finalised.

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl has promised to deliver substantial reform of how the Dáil is run now he has been elected ceann comhairle. He is the first to be elected by secret ballot.

Fianna Fáil TD Sean O Fearghail has been elected to become the new Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil.

Political Editor Daniel McConnell goes on the campaign trail in Dublin with Paschal Donohoe

The Irish Postmasters’ Union has decided not to run its planned candidates in the upcoming general election.

A law requiring political parties to field 30% male and female candidates in the next two general elections if they are to continue to receive state funding is “a reasonable course of action to address the historic under-representation of women in Irish politics”, the High Court has been told.