The race for seats in Ireland South has heated up as Labour candidate Shelia Nunan and Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle have both been eliminated in the 15th count.

Fianna Fail TD Billy Kelleher described himself as "elated, honoured and humbled" after being elected to the European Parliament.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is still holding onto the hope of winning two European seats in the Ireland South constituency as the marathon count continues.

Sidelined in the Dáil and itching for a change, Kelleher sees Brussels as a way out from his prison, writes Daniel McConnell.

It is no longer acceptable for women to be treated as “second class citizens” and to be forced to fly abroad for terminations or take abortion pills, said Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher.

The tragic case of a young man who died while being transferred to hospital in Cork because of a lack of cardiac services in the south east has been raised in the Dáil, writes Elaine Loughlin.

There have been some "proper tulips" among the last 17 Transport Ministers but none of them brought Bus Éireann to the brink of insolvency, an Oireachtas Committee has heard.

Anti-water charge TDs intend to utilise the mass support against Irish Water to campaign for fair pay, better housing, and an end to the homelessness crisis.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said any possible coalition with Fianna Fáil has been “absolutely” ruled out, thereby all but ending Micheál Martin’s hopes of being Taoiseach.

European affairs minister Dara Murphy has called on his government colleagues to stand over previous commitments to protect connectivity from Irish airports in light of IAG’s potential takeover of Aer Lingus.

Some 91 children were admitted to adult psychiatric wards last year according to the Opposition, who accused the Government of failing to protect the rights of young people with mental health issues.

The new Junior Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht will take a refresher course in the Irish language after it emerged his proficiency in the language was not enough to conduct an interview on TG4.

THE Government insisted last night the breast cancer screening programme will in place nationally by mid-2007 amid accusations the delays were putting hundreds of women’s lives at risk every year.

DECISIONS on the release of contentious records under the Freedom Of Information Act are being delayed by years due to a lack of staff in the appeals body.

TECHNOLOGY to block mobile phone porn has been developed by a Dublin company and phone operators are obliged to make it available, according to the head of an Oireachtas watchdog committee.

FIANNA FÁIL was accused last night of glossing over internal reservations on electronic voting after a leading TD’s public criticism of the system was dug up.

THE new British ambassador Stewart Eldon has clashed with Fine Gael environment spokesman Bernard Allen over the safety of Sellafield.

NO evidence exists to link the suspension of flights carrying US troops through Shannon with the embarrassing security breaches at the airport, the Taoiseach said yesterday.