For the first time in Fine Gael history, Waterford failed to elect a TD in a general election after a surge of left-leaning transfers handed the fourth and final seat to Green Party newcomer Marc Ó Cathasaigh.

The race for seats in Ireland South has heated up as Labour candidate Shelia Nunan and Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle have both been eliminated in the 15th count.

Europe holds the key to solving the housing crisis and action now could help "restore trust" in the EU, Labour's Ireland South MEP candidate Sheila Nunan believes.

There is cause for concern for Labour ahead of this Friday's local and European elections, with the publication of two new opinion polls.

Boris Johnson was re-elected as Mayor of London in a surprisingly narrow victory that saw him beat rival Ken Livingstone.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says lessons learned from their time in government will help return the party to electoral success.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is still refusing to appear in tomorrow night's leaders' debate but the Greens' John Gormley has written to management at TV3 with his offer to step in.

Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin has claimed the Greens' call for a General Election suggested the party did not have the best interests of the country at heart.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said he agrees that some form of political consensus on a path out of the economic crisis is necessary, following the Green Party's call yesterday for an all-party economic forum.

Support for Fine Gael has fallen according to the latest opinion poll published this morning, but Fianna Fáil has gained some ground.

Cabinet minister Eamon O'Cuiv is insisting there is no question mark over Brian Cowen's leadership of Fianna Fáil as the party begins a two-day meeting in Galway.

Ministers are gathering at Government Buildings for the first Cabinet meeting after the summer break.

Concerns have been raised after a report was published in the International Herald Tribune this week debating the possibility that Anglo Irish Bank may sink the country financially.

The Greens will today push for a change in Government policy in what to do with Anglo Irish Bank.

The Government's carbon tax on oil and gas comes into effect today.

The Green Party is to decide this weekend whether Government should cancel the metro project in Dublin, while the party is also to debate a demand for the property loans of all Oireachtas members to be declared.

Speculation about the Taoiseach Brian Cowen's Cabinet reshuffle is continuing after the Greens refused to deny reports John Gormley's Ministerial position could be rotated to Ciaran Cuffe.

Green Party leader John Gormley has hit back at criticism of himself and his party by former Senator Deirdre de Burca, insisting her remarks are "entirely without foundation".

The Government has this afternoon comfortably won the first Dáil vote to implement the social welfare cuts proposed in the Budget.

Talks on a revised programme for Government are to continue in the coming week, ahead of the Green Party convention next weekend.

The leadership of the Green Party is reportedly trying to stall a party vote on the Government's NAMA plans until after the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Environmental groups today welcomed comments by John Gormley in which the Green Party leader said he would demand a climate change law as part of the upcoming review of the Greens' Programme for Government with Fianna Fáil.

Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna has said Ireland needs an independent voice in the European Parliament.

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has faced criticism from opposition TDs at a meeting of the Oireachtas Education Committee this morning.

An outspoken economist in charge of slashing public spending is to speak about the recession at this weekend’s Green Party convention.

Fine Gael tonight called on the Greens and Progressive Democrats to back its Dáil motion supporting the work of the Mahon Tribunal.

The latest RED C Sunday Business Post political opinion poll reveals that support for all the major parties remains generally unchanged.

New Green Party leader John Gormley is insisting that the party is unified following a stronger-than-expected challenge from Patricia McKenna.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley and former MEP Patricia McKenna will fight it out to become the next Greens leader, it emerged today.

The US Ambassador to Ireland has said he is looking forward to working with the new Government.

The Green Party's Dan Boyle has said he is optimistic about the chances of clinching a deal today for going into Government with Fianna Fáil.

The Green Party will be disappointed that their popular Cork South Central candidate Dan Boyle has been eliminated.

Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has said his days as a public representative are over.

Fianna Fáil's Dick Roche looks set to retain his seat in the five-seat constituency of Wicklow as he has topped the poll there.

The Green Party is on course to gain a seat in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency in the forthcoming general election.

The Green Party is expected to unveil radical plans on pension reform when it wraps up its National Conference in Galway today

The Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea today insisted claims by the Green Party that the lives of Irish troops would be put at risk by new rules on battlegroups were outrageous and unfounded.

A melting ice sculpture of the globe was unveiled today to highlight the damage caused to the environment by greenhouse gasses.

THE Government has shelved a bill that would protect children and adolescents from over-exposure to alcohol advertising following discussions with the drinks industry.

THE Green Party will launch an assault on the Government when the Dáil resumes next week by highlighting its "incompetence" in a range of areas.

THE trend of dissatisfaction with the Government parties continues, with Fianna Fáil and the PDs recording their lowest rating since the local and European elections in June 2004, an Irish Examiner/Lansdowne Market Research poll shows.

THE Greens mean business - that was the message party leader Trevor Sargent sent out to potential coalition partners last night in his opening shot to be part of the next government.