He said a "national response" to the coronavirus is needed - adding that the banks "owed" the Irish taxpayer.

"It's all about housing," says Padraig O' Sullivan, who retained his seat in Cork north central last month.

Cork County Council has elected a new mayor and welcomed four new councillors who were co-opted onto the local authority to replace members who have been elected to the Dáil.

MEPs are debating the proposal which foresees both a future Palestinian state and recognition of Israeli sovereignty over settlements in the West Bank.

The four-seater was already one of the most open in the country before a single vote was cast as three of the four TDs elected in 2016 weren't on the ballot this time out.

We take a sideways look at the election.

Micheál Martin has strongly disagreed with his MEP's call to cut RTÉ's licence fee and instead praised the broadcaster's coverage of Brexit.

The northside of Cork City has been neglected by its recent political representatives with one Government TD not even bothering to show up for work, said Labour’s general election candidate for Cork North Central.

There aren’t many constituencies facing as much of a shake-up as Cork North-Central.

Fine Gael’s focus is on Brexit but health and homelessness cannot be far behind, writes David Davin-Power.

Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould is set to be announced as the party's candidate in Cork North-Central.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has called on Fine Gael to “stop the silly attacks” on Brexit and confirmed that his party colleague, MEP Billy Kelleher, will be voting in favour of the Brexit Withdrawal agreement later this month.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has claimed that Fianna Fail are "not to be trusted" as he criticised their MEP for proposing to vote against the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

"Any legislation going through Parliament deserves scrutiny," Micheál Martin said. "But he will be voting for the Withdrawal Treaty."

It was a good day at the office for Fianna Fáil, according to party leader Micheál Martin, and it was hard to disagree.

The Government suffered a blow after failing to win any seats in four byelections yesterday, while Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party celebrated their victories.

The Government has suffered a blow after failing to win any seats in four byelections which could provide clues before the whole country goes to the polls next year.

Fianna Fail's Padraig O'Sullivan claimed the seat in the Cork North-Central by-election on the tenth count.

Latest: Senator Colm Burke was eliminated in the ninth count of the Cork North-Central by-election.

Pádraig O'Sullivan looks "destined" to win the seat vacated by party colleague Billy Kelleher earlier this year, he added.

Minister Creed conceded that a Fianna Fáil victory is all but a certainty today.

The county councillor has 28.19% of the vote after the tally, giving him a seven-point lead over Fine Gael's Colm Burke.

With business exceedingly slow at polling stations yesterday, it is clear the four by-elections have not captured the public’s imagination.

In the past, Mr Varadkar and his predecessor Enda Kenny have travelled to EPP gatherings using commercial airlines, as the events are deemed to be party-political in nature.

It is all eyes on Fianna Fáil in Cork North-Central where the party is scrambling to continue its presence in the wake of Billy Kelleher’s departure to Europe.

The newest member of the Seanad has promised to represent farmers who want a new vision for agriculture in Ireland that is in tune with the environment and biodiversity.

Fine Gael MEPs have rejected widespread criticism that they are turning their backs on refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean after voting against a European parliament motion to improve supports for migrants making the journey.

They agreed the end of November would be the best time for the elections to replace TDs who had been elected to the European Parliament last May.

Fine Gael is only aiming to win one out of the four upcoming by-election seats.

Addressing his party colleagues in Cork the Taoiseach said May would be the best time for the country to go to the polls.

Four by-elections to fill Dáil seats left empty as a result of the European elections could take place on the same day in a "Super Friday" style election day as soon as the first half of November.

Not since the days of Big Tom and the Mainliners Showband tours has the country been traversed as extensively and in rapid-speed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has signalled to a meeting of his Fine Gael ministers that he would prefer the upcoming by-elections to be held in November, even if his party is unlikely to win any of them.

Councillor Padraig O’Sullivan has emerged as the victor at a Fianna Fáil selection convention to represent the party in the seat left vacant by Billy Kelleher TD in Cork North Central.

Independent midwife Philomena Canning was devastated that she was going to die before getting to tell the full story of her battle with the HSE, writes Michael Clifford.

Rugby players in an Irish Open Pro-Am are not an unusual sight. Along with GAA stars and jockeys, they are a staple of the pre-tournament entertainment at this annual stop on the European Tour.

Election fever is cranking up, with the Government setting in train plans to have ballot papers ready to go in the event of a snap general election.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is preparing to fight an early winter snap general election to win a third term for Fine Gael if a Brexit deal is hammered out by Halloween.

Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher has thanked the people of Cork North Central and said it was nice to leave the Dáil "on your own terms”.

Miracles can happen. A week ago, we were told that it would take 28