A Fianna Fáil councillor, and close ally of parliamentary party chairman Brendan Smith, has called on Micheál Martin to consider his position as party leader.

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

Everybody knew that the famous sports figure had abused the child. Everybody knew he was the man at the centre of the X case, in which a 14-year-old girl was initially stopped from travelling to the UK for an abortion in 1992.

The Cabinet reshuffle is, for the most part, just that - a reshuffle. But amid the familiar faces moved from one portfolio to another, a handful of politicians have made fresh space at the Cabinet table.

Ex-taoiseach Garret FitzGerald personally pleaded with US president Ronald Reagan to pile pressure on Margaret Thatcher for an urgent compromise over the Maze hunger strikes.

Sinn Fein's Caoimghin O'Caoláin has been elected on the first count in Cavan Monaghan.

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore believes his party is about to “recast the political map of this country”.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan has been urged to appear before an Oireachtas Committee tomorrow to explain the Government’s position on proposals by the state-owned Anglo Irish Bank to take a majority share in Sean Quinn’s business empire.

Bertie Ahern appeared to be on course for a third term as Taoiseach this afternoon.

Ministers Willie O'Dea and Mary Hanafin became the latest high-profile Fianna Fáil candidates to be re-elected to the Dáil this afternoon as they were returned in Limerick East and Meath West respectively.

GARDAÍ have challenged new figures which show Cork city had one of the highest rates of drink driving case dismissals in the country last year.

A third level institution based in the counties along the border could make a significant difference in tackling the negative impact of the partition, it was urged today.

NEXT Saturday, almost a decade since the lifting of Section 31 which banned Sinn Féin deputies from the airwaves, the proceedings of the party's Árd Fheis will be carried live on national television.

Defeated Fine Gael TD Andrew Boylan is challenging his defeat at the hands of his running mate, Seymour Crawford, in Cavan-Monaghan.

The make-up of the next Government lies in the balance as Fianna Fail are just 10 seats short of gaining an overall majority.