The Labour Party has selected former Minister Alex White to contest the Dublin constituency in this May's European Parliament elections.

Liz McManus Ward River Press, €16.99; Kindle, €6.72

THE big question facing the Labour Party is when to stop telling lies. When to come out and tell the people that we are a small capitalist economy plugged into the international capitalist economy which gives us a high standard of living but sometimes forces us to keep commitments to international agencies, such as the EU, with whom we sometimes disagree.

If you accept the rationale behind Eamon Gilmore’s honourable resignation then it is irrational and blindly partisan to suggest that Taoiseach Enda Kenny should not face a robust review of his leadership of the Government and of Fine Gael.

Following the near annihilation of the Labour Party and the substantial losses suffered by Fine Gael in the recent elections we have heard commentator after commentator on the national media identify water charges, stealth taxes, medical cards, etc, as the reasons for the collapse.

THE clue is in the name really. Labour. It doesn’t paint word pictures of sunny skies, optimism and basking in the glow of an affectionate electorate.

The re-enactment of the violent clashes during the Dublin Lockout was the centrepiece of the State commemoration to mark its 100th anniversary over the weekend.

Another councillor has left Labour, claiming the party has "lost its way".

As a person who voted, canvassed and supported the Irish Labour Party, I’m writing to say how sad and bewildered Iam on how and why Mr Eamon Gilmore, Pat Rabbitte and the leaders of that party are now telling us to vote yes in the Treaty being held on May 31, which will increase our burdens and hardships many times over.

The Government has been accused of treating unemployed people like they are in Alcoholics Anonymous.

I WATCHED with anticipation this week’s RTÉ programme in the series ‘Ireland’s Greatest’ because it was about James Connolly, the founder of the Labour Party.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen expressed his admiration for Gordon Brown and praised his contribution to the peace process in the North.

DEAR Eamon, I hope you don’t mind my writing you this letter.

Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and SDLP leader Mark Durkan will jointly host a business breakfast today amid ongoing speculation about a possible merger between their two parties.

It may prove to be a good time to be in opposition given the economic uncertainty, broken general election promises on the part of the Government, a growing anger over political mismanagement and a sense that three terms in office has made Fianna Fáil insufferably arrogant.

The new deputy leader of the Irish Labour Party will be announced today.

The youth wing of Fianna Fáil is to have its own society at a Northern Ireland university.

IT IS expected that Eamon Gilmore will be confirmed as the 10th leader of the Irish Labour Party at noon today, continuing the process that began with the appointment of Tom Johnson in 1922.

AS a public relations consultant and a business associate of Alastair Campbell’s, I wish to reply to your columnist Diarmaid Ferriter (July 19).

Tony Blair was today accused of a serious error of judgment by Ireland’s Labour Party over plans for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to address Westminster.

FERGUS FINLAY’S analysis of the recent Northern election results (Irish Examiner, March 13), particularly that achieved by Sinn Féin in the West Belfast constituency, was amusing.

The cross-community Alliance Party will today call for public funds spent on segregating society in the North to be diverted to projects that benefit both communities.

Union leaders today laid a wreath at the Dublin graveside of union crusader Jim Larkin to mark the centenary of a famous Belfast strike that briefly straddled the sectarian divide.

I REMEMBER an old and wise politician telling me once that you could sum up the difference between the three largest political parties in Ireland this way.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain came under fire today from a number of the Assembly parties at Stormont about how he dealt with them.

Ireland’s largest trade union is to help fund a film about one of the rebels executed following the uprising against British rule in 1916, it announced today.

ENDA KENNY TD has described how the Taoiseach used his speech at the opening of the 1916 exhibition at the National Museum to airbrush out Fine Gael’s contribution to Irish history.

ENDA KENNY TD has described how the Taoiseach used his speech at the opening of the 1916 exhibition at the National Museum to airbrush out Fine Gael’s contribution to Irish history.

The nuclear plant at Sellafield is a real and present danger to life in the post 9/11 climate, the Irish Government said tonight.

The Government is to sell a majority stake in national airline Aer Lingus, it was confirmed tonight.

THE centre of London was virtually brought to a standstill yesterday as thousands of Irish people took part in a St Patrick’s Day parade through the city which culminated in Trafalgar Square.

A man is in a serious but stable condition in Dublin’s Mater Hospital today after being wounded in the second shooting to occur in the capital in 24 hours.

The father of a loyalist murder victim is to hold talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, he said tonight.

A former Official IRA leader wanted in the US for forging millions of dollars today criticised a former Irish Government minister at a public meeting in Dublin.

The Government tonight ruled out a public inquiry into the alleged murder of a Belfast man by RUC police informers.

A NEW Labour-led government in Norway could soon intervene in the Rossport Five row over a Shell gas pipeline in Co Mayo.

POLITICAL leaders came together yesterday to pay tribute to former British foreign secretary Robin Cook, who died on Saturday from a heart attack.

Amnesty International tonight called for an independent inquiry into the killing of two armed robbers in a quiet Irish village as Bertie Ahern backed the gardaí involved.