Fianna Fáil is to publish legislation giving greater powers to the Policing Authority.

The long-awaited banking inquiry is at the centre of a political row before it even gets under way, with Fianna Fáil warning that the Government wants to keep its scope as narrow as possible for “political advantage”.

Fianna Fáil emerged as early favourites to regain a political foothold in Dublin in the wake of the shock resignation of Patrick Nulty.

Fianna Fáil is hoping to sweep up anti-pylon and anti-wind turbine rural votes in Cork, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford by putting forward an outspoken anti-pylon campaigner in the European elections.

Mortgage holders tied to loans with Irish Nationwide face being “thrown to the wolves” or unregulated firms and left without financial protection, it has been warned.