Last Thursday theMinister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney announced on Twitter that he is “looking forward to finalising” a proposal “allowing Irish citizens all over the world have the option to vote in presidential elections — it will change and broaden the nature of the presidency for the better...”

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

A former president of NUI Galway has been accused of “inappropriately” supporting Aer Arann boss Pádraig Ó Céidigh in the Seanad elections by a leading member of the college’s governing authority.

Fine Gael and Labour have held tentative talks on a voting pact for the Seanad elections.

ALMOST three years ago the Government asked a simple enough question: Do you want to abolish the Seanad or leave it as it is?

The Taoiseach has ruled out giving Irish citizens out of the country a vote in Seanad elections.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the huge sacrifices made by the Irish people are paying off and confirmed that Ireland will exit the EU-IMF bailout on Sunday, Dec 15.

Senators who demanded voters sweep away the “dysfunctional” upper house insist they still have a mandate to serve in the chamber they discredited.

Legislation is almost ready that would allow every Irish citizen the right to vote in Seanad elections, Fianna Fáil Senator Averil Power has claimed.

Counting begins this morning in two referenda that together look like they will only marginally avoid setting a new record for the worst voter turnout in the country’s history.

Independent TD Shane Ross claims Enda Kenny is "admitting defeat" in the Seanad referendum campaign refusing to take part in a televised debate.

The proposed ‘public execution’ of Seanad Éireann sums all that is wrong with this Government.

Call for citizens based abroad to vote

The Government has decided to hold three referendums before Christmas.

IRELAND has yet to create a “real republic” where every citizen is adequately provided for, Labour’s Michael D Higgins has said.

Fianna Fáil have rallied in the Seanad elections, winning two seats in the last hour.

Counting in the Seanad elections gets underway today.

THE Government parties “knew well” the economic situation awaiting them when they made “false commitments” during the election campaign, according to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

Seanad candidates have until midday to decide if they will contest the election.

Sinn Féin will bring its strengthened team of representatives to Stormont tomorrow for the first time since the party’s General Election gains in the Republic.

ON behalf of the Irish Greyhound Owners & Breeders Federation (IGOBF), I wish to take issue with a number of points raised in the letter from Des Groome (‘Greyhound industry best able to pay and most in need of regulation’, July 6).

Senators today made history as they sat for almost 22 hours in order to pass emergency legislation to stabilise the banking sector.

SINN FÉIN’S drive into the political mainstream was boosted last night as Labour joined forces with the party for the second time since the general election.

Had Irish emigrants been entitled to vote, and if even a small fraction of them had exercised that right, undoubtedly they could have been the deciding factor in general elections here given the size of the country and the closeness of election results.

ALL college graduates will be entitled to vote in Seanad elections within 12 months under an extensive process of reform, Fianna Fáil’s new leader of the Seanad pledged yesterday.

THE timing of Aer Lingus’s Shannon-Heathrow announcement, following the Dáil and Seanad elections and during the long summer recess of both Houses, was both politically and public relations-influenced.

The Labour Party has hinted at the possibility of more electoral pacts with Sinn Féin following its strongest-ever performance in the Seanad elections.

Fianna Fáil has picked up three more seats in the agriculture panel of the Seanad elections today.

Counting in the Seanad elections continues today in Leinster House.

The counting of votes in the Seanad election has begun this afternoon, with 149 candidates vying for 49 seats in the upper house of parliament.

EVERY self-respecting democracy in the world operates under the rule of law.

Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are reportedly considering a transfer pact for the upcoming Seanad elections.

THE coalition deal worked out between Fianna Fáil and the Greens may extend to the Seanad elections, with both parties seriously considering an electoral pact.

THE possibility of Fianna Fáil losing control of the Seanad and struggling to pass crucial government legislation was yesterday deemed feasible but unlikely by Fine Gael.

The Union of Students in Ireland is protesting outside the Oireachtas today over the way Seanad members are elected.

COUNTY councillors are threatening court action to win pension rights for local authority representatives.

A report on Seanad reform due to be published today is expected to recommend a widening of the electoral base to allow more people to vote in Seanad elections.

The Seanad’s committee on procedure and privileges is reportedly set to recommend that the public be given the right to vote in Seanad elections.

ENTRUSTING Seanad Éireann with much greater responsibility to deal with European and international issues would reduce the democratic deficit between Ireland and the EU, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

Sinn Féin has called for people in the North and emigrants registered with Irish Embassies abroad to be given the right to vote in Seanad elections in Ireland.

The Fianna Fail Parliamentary party will meet in Killarney over the next two days for its first formal gathering since the Seanad elections.

The three NUI Senators, Quinn, Ryan and O'Toole, are to be congratulated for retaining their seats in the recent Seanad Elections.

THE main political parties are celebrating strong performances in the Seanad elections, which were completed yesterday.