The new Fianna Fáil frontbench

Senator Larry Butler has resigned the Fianna Fáil whip tonight.

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Marian McGennis yesterday rejected suggestion there was anything improper about her nomination to the Senate in February 1993 by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

FIRST day of the new term and about 40 of the 166 TDs had made it into the chamber to listen to Bertie Ahern read out an unremarkable pro forma speech on the ambitions of Ireland’s EU presidency.