An unsuccessful general election candidate was jailed for five days yesterday for refusing to pay a €300 fine arising out of his conviction for failing to file a list of donations with the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to take part in a series of one-to-one TV debates with all opposition leaders — claiming he will be “running away” unless he takes up the challenge.

European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy has said he did nothing wrong in appointing a failed party election candidate as his ministerial driver — claiming being an ex-politician should not stop someone from gaining work.

One of the newly-established opposition parties has vowed to jail “reckless” bank directors for up to 10 years, pay whistle-blowers a percentage of any money retrieved and create a special corporate criminal court to tackle white-collar crime policies — if elected to government.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has insisted Labour will not suffer the same fate as the Liberal Democrats in Britain at the next general election, despite her party’s support plummeting since entering Government with Fine Gael.

Micheál Martin has moved to downplay talk he faces a leadership crisis if Fianna Fáil loses a crunch upcoming byelection.

The case taken against the Labour Party by an electioneer who fell and injured himself while putting a candidate poster on a pole settled out of court yesterday. The case taken by Tom Stanton, aged 49, of Friary Mews, Friar’s Walk, Cork against the Labour Party was due to go into its second day at the High Court sitting in Cork but was struck out on undisclosed terms, Mr Justice John Hedigan was told yesterday.

The Government’s actions contradict the coalition parties’ pronouncements in the run-up to the 2011 general election. That is why it was possible to get tens of thousands of people out on the streets of Dublin yesterday, a freezing Wednesday afternoon, argues Victoria White.

Anti-establishment are now well placed to translate strong national support into major gains at the next general election, while Government parties face losses, says Adrian Kavanagh

The EU should stop obsessing about who becomes head of the European Commission and focus more on promoting growth and engaging with the electorate, according to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

Will the Labour Party ever learn? This must be the question uppermost in the minds of supporters following the humiliating and devastating losses in the European, and local elections.

AS someone who has admired Eamon Gilmore on a personal basis, and who regards him as a deeply honourable and committed politician, I believe he did the right thing yesterday afternoon.

Based on the complete tally figures, the son of the former Taoiseach Charles Haughey looks certain to take a seat in the Clontarf ward in the Dublin City Council election.

I HAVE a friend who went to a posh Munster boarding school back in the 1970s. When the lights went out every night in the dorm the competition would always begin with the words: "My father has two Zetors."

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore warned the party would have to govern through a “forest of placards”.

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people”, is seen as the hallmark of a representative, democratic society.

Two students have admitted hacking Fine Gael's website – in the weeks leading up to the 2011 general election – as a “stunt” to embarrass the party.

The Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis has overwhelmingly passed a motion to ban former TDs who did not stand in the 2011 General Election from running in future contests.

The issue of abortion will take centre stage on day two of the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in Dublin.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday at the launch of the latest review of the action plan for jobs, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the “legacy of devastation” left by Fianna Fáil policies should never be forgotten.

The Programme for Government should be renegotiated rather than reviewed, Labour Chief Whip Emmet Stagg said today.

It was hardly surprising that Eamon Gilmore was the only party leader who failed to turn up to the count centre in Ashbourne.

The Pro-Life Campaign recently released the results of a Millward Brown Lansdowne conducted poll which was carried out on a quota controlled sample of 979 people aged 18+ between May 2 – 15.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called on the Government to put pressure on Europe to bring in job creation measures now that Ireland has passed the Fiscal Treaty.

Voter turnout in Ireland's referendum on the European fiscal treaty has been reported as low across the country.

About a fifth of people who did not vote in the last general election are either disillusioned with politics or disinterested, a survey on electoral habits has revealed.

ALMOST 1,000 people will this morning have the opportunity to strike the first blows of the 2011 General Election as islanders off the Donegal and Mayo coasts go to the polls.

Leaders of the country’s main political parties were tonight preparing for the first five-way televised debate of the 2011 General Election campaign, with the economy predicted to take centre stage.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is to spend the day and evening on the campaign trail - missing the first TV debate of the 2011 General Election.