Sinn Féin today revealed proposals to cut the budget deficit by over €4.5bn and invest in a €2bn jobs stimulus in 2011, also urging the imposition of salary caps for public servants including Dáil deputies.

FINE Gael TD Lucinda Creighton is being sued by developer Michael O’Flynn over defamation claims.

Health Minister Mary Harney has described Brian Cowen as "rock solid".

DISABILITY advocacy groups have expressed concern about how much of the money officially being allocated to the sector is actually being spent on disability.

UNDER-FIRE Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue has expressed his “sincere regret” but failed to say sorry for the lavish €550,000 expenses bill he ran up during his five years as arts, sports and tourism minister.

JOHN O’DONOGHUE might wish his political colleagues’ expenses would attract the same scrutiny as his have.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese has urged governments to do more to protect human rights workers under threat in their own countries.

MALLOW celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a colourful parade yesterday — eight days ahead of the national feast.

Dáil Deputies John Ellis and Michael Finneran were chosen tonight as Fianna Fáil candidates to run for seats in the Roscommon South Leitrim constituency in the next election.

AT the FF Árd Fheis in Killarney, Brian Cowen stated the advice of the Attorney General (AG) to successive Irish governments on the issue of granting facilities to US troops and flights at Shannon airport during the war against Iraq (in which an estimated 30,000 people were killed) was that “the provision of such facilities does not, in international law, constitute a participation by Ireland in a military action”.

Political Reporter

The three constituencies that switched to electronic voting saw their new Dail Deputies elected in the early hours of this morning.

The First TDs for the 29th Dail have been elected. The three constituencies that switched to electronic voting had their new Dail Deputies elected in the early hours of this morning.