Michael Kitt has announced he is to retire from politics.

The Fianna Fáil leader has vowed to fight until the end, but has he got the mettle to to stand up to his detractors and get them in line before the election, asks Juno McEnroe

Fianna Fáil has said that Eamon Ó Cuív’s assertion that the party could be facing demise will be dealt with internally.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is being called on to apologise on behalf of the State to the women and children who resided at mother and baby homes.

The granting of Dáil speaking time to rebel government party TDs has angered other opposition groups who have had their own speaking slots reduced due to the measure agreed by the Ceann Comhairle.

It could be the publishing sensation of the autumn, Fifty Shades of Red — the torrid tale of an often tortuous relationship between two powerful men battling for domination of the Labour Party.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is braced for a bigger-than-expected Labour rebellion over the X case legislation.

Women seeking a termination due to suicidal intent are to be assessed by three experts after being referred by a GP, X case legislation looks set to state.

There is growing unease within the Fine Gael party in the row over abortion legislation.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has intervened in the row over abortion legislation, arguing that suicide should not be a ground for abortion.

Deputy leader of the Labour Party Joan Burton has said that she regrets the decision of former Party Chairman Colm Keaveney to vote against the Budget.

The Social Protection Minister said that although it is very sad that the Labour Party lost one of its members today - the coalition made the right decision to implement cuts to child benefit and the respite grant in the budget.

The Tánaiste and the Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has issued a statement this evening thanking all of the Labour TDs who he says had the "courage" to vote with the Government today and help implement the social welfare bill.

Defiant Labour Party chairman Colm Keaveney has insisted he did nothing wrong by appointing his wife to a taxpayer-funded €52,000-a-year job as his assistant.

The Government has sent a clear message to the drinks industry that their interests are being protected by putting the alcohol action plan on the “back burner”, community and voluntary groups have said.

The Fianna Fáil TD Eamon O'Cuiv could face disciplinary action over his decision to campaign against the EU Fiscal Treaty.

President Michael D Higgins has welcomed the upcoming referendum on children’s rights, claiming it was a chance “to set down a marker once and for all”.

JOBS Minister Richard Bruton was bluntly warned last night to do more to deal with the unemployment crisis than just produce another report on it.

Galway TD Derek Nolan has said that he will be demanding answers from management at Galway's University Hospital after complaints about conditions at the emergency department there.

LABOUR party president Michael D Higgins yesterday received the resounding support of his colleagues as he was chosen as the party’s candidate for the Presidential election.

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.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has seemed to have averted any threat of a direct challenge to his leadership at tonight's meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

The Government has survived the first test of the new Dáil term, winning a vote on the length of time set aside to debate the extension of the bank guarantee scheme.

BRIAN COWEN’S grip on the Dáil weakened further last night after an independent TD withdrew support in protest at health cuts.

The Progressive Democrats are to wind up after 23 years in existence, it was announced today.

Government Minister Eamon O Cuiv will today unveil a plaque in the New York church where his grandfather, Eamon de Valera, was baptised more than a century ago.

GALWAY WEST TD Noel Grealish has sought a meeting with the Progressive Democrats (PDs) leader, Ciarán Cannon, about his future in the party following indications he will join Fianna Fáil before Christmas.

Up to 55 million text messages were reportedly sent from Irish mobile phones over the New Year.

The Govt must work harder to “sell” the troubled EU Constitution to the Irish people during the next year, a minister said today.

Michael D Higgins has described as "arrogant" the Tánaiste's remarks that Mary McAleese should be returned unopposed as president for a second term.