The countdown to a General Election and four byelections top the agenda for the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Derry this weekend.

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin hit out at “juvenile” comments from Fine Gael ministers who he accused of angling for an early General Election.

Leo Varadkar has kickstarted Fine Gael's election campaign by pledging to cut income tax more if returned as Taoiseach, as he attacked the opposition for boom and bust economics of the past.

Health Minister Simon Harris has joined the chorus of Fine Gael ministers who have threatened a general election unless Fianna Fáil sign up to a deal to extend the life of the minority government.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said Ireland is planning for challenges in the event of a hard Brexit and faces a “higher risk” if the Brexit deal is not accepted by Britain.

Speaking at the opening of the Fine Gael conference in City West, Dublin, the Foreign Affairs Minister praised European negotiators and also sought to deny accusations about Ireland’s agenda.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has told rebellious British MPs to choose between the Brexit deal or chaos "which potentially triggers a series of events that unravels the whole Brexit project itself".

The Fine Gael Ard Fheis is underway this evening in Dublin, with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar opening the conference with a welcoming address.

Sinn Féin has voted to fully support unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy after a landslide vote to change its abortion policy.

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis has begun in Belfast.

Sinn Féin have voted not to allow a 'conscience vote' on the issue of abortion

No. Nay. Never. And ‘hmm, well, listen I’ll get back to you on that’ — probably in about a year to 18 months’ time.

You might think Fianna Fáil won last year's general election given it has become the real power in the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael.

Enda Kenny has confirmed that he would remain as Taoiseach for a full term if Fine Gael is returned to government, thereby freezing the leadership hopes of his ministers.

Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter

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 much-hated universal social charge (USC) would be abolished if Fianna Fáil is returned to power, even though the party introduced the tax itself.

Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman has said garda drivers may need to be returned to ministers and former taoisigh in a bid to stamp out recent abuse of senior political figures.

First-time buyer couples would get grants of up to €10,000 to help with deposits for their homes, Fianna Fáil has promised.

Conservative party members have accused the Fianna Fáil “power elite” of turning their backs on “seriously minded Christians” by supporting the referendum on marriage equality in order to secure the general election “pink vote”.

It was the elephant in the ard fheis room and it took less than 10 minutes to come trundling into view. But if grassroots Fianna Fáil voters are to be believed, it is unlikely to stamp the party’s leader into the ground just yet.

“This Government gives with one hand and it takes back twice as much with the other. And families who can least afford the extra bills are getting hammered.

WHEN he was asked about leadership options in Fianna Fáil late last year, the venerable Willie O’Dea declared: “And I say this with the greatest respect to my colleagues — I respect each and every one of them — I look around the [parliamentary party] table in my mind’s eye, and I don’t see the messiah and when I look in the mirror I don’t see him either.”

Micheál Martin has accused the Government parties of being "obsessed with buying re-election" at the Fianna Fáil party's Ard Fheis tonight.

The Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says the party would introduce a wealth tax of 7% on all income over €100,000.

Members of Sinn Féin are travelling to Derry today for the party's Ard Fheis.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has conveyed his sympathy to the parents whose babies died at a maternity unit in the midlands regional hospital in Portlaoise.

Eamon Gilmore says the country has been “to hell and back” — but unfortunately for him and his Government, many people have yet to make the return journey and still feel trapped in Satan’s departure lounge.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has insisted his leadership will not be “on the line” if Labour slumps below 10% in the looming Europe and local elections.

The recent election of the IRA’s former head of intelligence to a prominent position in Sinn Féin north of the border is being viewed by some as an attempt to prepare the ground for the eventual election of a southern politician to take over from Gerry Adams.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said his party is now a major political party in both states on the island of Ireland, where the political landscape has changed forever.

Sinn Féin delegates lined up to attack the Coalition and claimed there had been no political reform as promised and cronyism was alive and kicking.

Councillors and delegates at Sinn Féin’s ard fheis in Wexford were defiant and buoyant, and came out in defence of their leader Gerry Adams, who they claim has faced a campaign of vilification by the media.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness last night apologised to the family of a garda killed by the IRA in 1980 at the opening of the party’s conference.