It's never a good position to be in when people are laughing at you rather than with you, to be the butt of all jokes. If you’re a political party it’s tragic.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said fellow Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey could have withdrawn her injury claim over falling off a swing before the local and European elections.

The Taoiseach, a qualified doctor, side-stepped an opportunity to give advice yesterday on how best to use a swing while a Fine Gael TD’s personal injuries claim for falling off a hotel swing is before the courts.

Well done to the plain-talking rural representatives who warn that National Planning Framework Ireland 2040 proposals add up to abandoning people in the countryside.

Former deputy Labour leader Barry Desmond has backed Brendan Howlin to take over the leadership and warned that Alan Kelly would face “problems” if he secured the position.

Former tánaiste, foreign affairs minister, and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has confirmed he will not run as a candidate at the next general election, bringing to an end a 26-year-long Dáil career.

Women who are subject to domestic violence have to face being “eyeballed” and intimidated by their abuser because of the poor facilities at the Dolphin House family court, a government TD said.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has suggested that the political upheaval in Greece is "a cause of arousal" for a leading member of the no side in the Fiscal Treaty referendum campaign.

A prominent campaigner for a No vote in the EU Fiscal Treaty said today that he would favour gathering €10bn in extra wealth taxes if Ireland is cut off from EU funding after the referendum.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has confirmed that Brian Lenihan will be the new deputy leader of the party.

The new leader of Fianna Fáil will be voted in today in a secret ballot. Seventy-two TDs will vote after the re-admission of Jimmy Devins last night.

The four contenders for the leadership of Fianna Fáil will put their cases for support today.

IT turns out that Ciarán Cuffe was right all along.

Former Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin insisted tonight that she was genuinely delighted with her shift to a rebranded Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolio as part of the Cabinet rejig.

Oil companies are operating a cartel by hiking the price of diesel, it was claimed in the Dáil today.

Labour today called for a Dáil debate on the number of job losses that have hit the economy in 2008.

Labour has criticised the Government’s appointment of former Fianna Fáil TD Michael Smith to the Dail’s standards watchdog.

INDEPENDENT TD Finian McGrath yesterday threatened to resign in 12 to 18 months unless cancer services are comprehensively reformed.

THE long-awaited announcement of the chairs of Oireachtas committees yesterday produced a surprise elevation for Cork North Central TD Bernard Allen.

Eamon Gilmore will be officially unveiled today as the new Labour leader.

Acting Labour leader Liz McManus has announced she will not contest the party leadership.

There is speculation that Eamonn Gilmore may officially throw his hat into the ring for the leadership of the Labour Party today.

Labour Party TD Eamon Gilmore tonight emerged as the clear favourite to succeed Pat Rabbitte who suddenly resigned as leader.

THERE were no wigs on the screen but skin and hair almost flew when two of the leading political ladies went at it over education spending yesterday.

More incinerators could be built to deal with Ireland’s growing waste mountain, Environment Minister Dick Roche said today.

Shell must free the Rossport Five by immediately lifting its court injunction against them, it was claimed today.

THE Government’s plans for social and affordable housing fall well short of meeting society needs, it was claimed yesterday.

GREEN Party TD Ciarán Cuffe lacked political cop-on by holding onto shares in unethical companies, his party colleague MEP Patricia McKenna said yesterday.

BESIEGED Green party TD Ciarán Cuffe yesterday stepped down from his position as party environment spokesperson and handed over his position on the Oireachtas Environment Committee to party leader Trevor Sargent.

A Green Party politician accused of being a “chemical millionaire” admitted today he was naive to hold shares linked to chemical dumping and arms.

CHANGES to the Freedom of Information Act will limit access to personal information, according to Progressive Democrats TD Fiona O’Malley.

EAMON GILMORE entered the Labour leadership race yesterday by declaring he wants to be the first Labour Taoiseach.