“That looks to me like it's the only real option at the moment. So I think what we're now doing is a kind of a mating dance with a result - which looks like it's going to be a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition," he said.

“The people have spoken, the primary function of forming a government now falls to Sinn Féin.”

“I want to also improve mental health services for Wexford, this county needs a University and we absolutely need to improve the supply of housing through the current planning network”.

Former Fine Gael by-election Verona Murphy is to announce on Tuesday whether she will run as an Independent candidate in Wexford in the upcoming General Election.

Ms Murphy was dropped by the party earlier this week as a general election candidate

Paschal Donohoe said Mr Murphy still has questions to answer after it was revealed that the former Cork North-Central TD claimed full Dáil expenses while also working in Brussels. However, as he is no longer a sitting TD, the Oireachtas Ethics Committee does not have any power to look into the matter.

Where's the leadership? Where’s the political gumption? Why isn’t it possible for our leaders to call things for what they are?

Dara Murphy had come under fire after it was revealed that he has claimed his full Dáil salary and expenses over the past two years, despite being largely absent from Leinster House.

The Taoiseach and Finance Minister have both insisted that Maria Bailey was removed from the Fine Gael election ticket in a correct and democratic manner.

An extension to avoid a crash-out Brexit has been raised by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after British prime minister Boris Johnson’s proposals fell significantly short of a deal.

Minister Richard Bruton has strongly backed fellow Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey to represent the party in the next election following her “swing-gate” controversy.

There seems no end to the trouble being caused to Fine Gael by what we might term, for the purposes of this column, the “little people”.

Norton is an Irishman, but he is also one of the best-known faces in Britain, where he lives. It would be interesting to hear his take on Brexit. He delivered it with his usual frankness and humour, says Alison O'Connor.

A prominent Donegal county councillor has resigned from the Fine Gael party just days after winning them a seat on the local council.

Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey has vigorously defended her decision to sue the Dean Hotel for injuries she received after she fell off a swing.

The owner of an adventure park that is going to close because of spiralling insurance costs has said that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar needs to take control of the issue, “make one phone call and get it sorted.”

Cash incentives for female candidates in the upcoming local elections will benefit established parties more than Independents.

As highlighted by your report (“Up to 80,000 homes exempt from property tax until 2021”, Irish Examiner, April 6), Fine Gael’s attitude to taxation displays utter indifference to fairness, and its failure to address the anomalies that the local property tax (LPT) has thrown up is a disgrace and may even be discriminatory.

Fine Gael have set up a dedicated group to increase the party’s presence in Northern Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the establishment of the Northern Ireland engagement group at a meeting of the Fine Gael party last night.

"Today is Valentine’s Day. This is a special day where you should spend quality time with your loved one"

Promises, promises. It the sense of déjà vu that does it really. 

Exactly what it said on the tin — that’s what Leo Varadkar has done in the year since he was elected as our Taoiseach, give or take a few diversions. He has delivered for parliamentary party colleagues who elected him on the basis that he would increase Fine Gael’s popularity, broaden the party’s appeal, and bring a good dollop of that elusive X factor.

More than two dozen speech, language, and occupational therapists are to go into schools and pre-schools in a pilot project designed to improve and speed up access to services.

European Council president Donald Tusk has warned there can be "no frictionless trade" with the EU if the UK is outside the customs union and single market.

Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly is considering running for president and says he has the support of politicians and sporting communities.

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has signalled that she wants to run to succeed Michael D Higgins as President.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has backed abortion in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormalities but has stopped short of endorsing an Oireachtas committee call for terminations up to 12 weeks.

The way the latest boundary extension story was leaked, compounded by repeated delays of a meeting to discuss its fallout, seriously angered many county councillors, writes Sean O’Riordan.

The old saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

This is a problem far bigger than Barry Walsh, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

Controversial Fine Gael member Barry Walsh has resigned from the party's executive council with immediate effect amid an avalanche of criticism over his Twitter comments about party colleagues.

TD Kate O’Connell has made a formal complaint to party bosses about a non-elected senior figure in Fine Gael engaging in online abuse.

Latest: He was a leader who put the nation first, a statesman who was never too busy to listen to others, a true patriot in a time of violence, and - ultimately - someone of genuine principle who has now been lost from our land

Liam Cosgrave was humble but played a key role in politics and will be remembered as doing the State exemplary service, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

An officer and a gentleman is how Liam Cosgrave should be remembered.

Brexit will more radically change Ireland's relationship with the UK than the 1916 Easter Rising and partition, an MEP said.

The Democratic Unionists have warned the Irish Government to stop engaging in "megaphone diplomacy" as their row over Brexit continued.

The DUP privately acknowledges that Brexit will be an economic disaster for the island of Ireland, a senior Sinn Fein member has claimed.

Regardless of who wins the election today, the real winner in all of this has been the

LATEST: Health Minister Simon Harris says he is not losing sleep over whether he will be dropped from cabinet if Leo Varadkar is elected Taoiseach

Kerry County Council voted by majority to bring in a dress code for local politicians — and to push for this to be extended to the Dáil.

Simon Coveney is viewed by some within the Fine Gael party as being the best candidate to run the country following the end of Enda Kenny’s tenure as Taoiseach, but the dilemma facing the party is that Leo Varadkar is viewed by others as being more likely to attract votes for Fine Gael, writes Daniel McConnell, Political Editor

There have been occasional highs during Enda Kenny’s 2,234 days as Taoiseach, but his numerous lows repeatedly hit new depths, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell