Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has hauled in a sitting party TD subjected to an allegedly bullying campaign earlier this year after it emerged she has held exploratory talks about joining rival group the Independent Alliance.

Sinn Féin has said it will be reorganising structures in the Cork East constituency, after the mass resignation of members in two major cumanns.

Fianna Fáil has avoided a Milliband-type moment after a candidate decided to withdraw from a selection convention contest where he was to be pitted against his brother.