A loosening of the party whip system and allowing individual TDs to vote with their conscience on laws would be bad for stability and therefore bad for investment, the Taoiseach told the Dáil.

The country said no — but Munster said yes, with the province narrowly voting in favour of scrapping the Seanad.

The final Dáil vote saw 31 TDs oppose the X case legislation as numbers were swelled by left-wing deputies protesting that the new law was not liberal enough.

The country’s gone to the dogs, and a group of Fine Gael TDs are planning to follow the pack.

The talent coming through from Cork and Kerry’s underage teams rolls on.

Kerry South delivered a top drawer performance to stave off a late rally from Kerry North in the Plate final.

Tipperary’s greater scoring power was the key factor as they overcame Cork Rebel Óg to capture the Humphrey Kelleher Memorial Cup at Millstreet on Saturday.

Is this a GAA first?

There have been mixed reaction today to the news of changes to Dáil seats and constituencies.

A KERRY TD has said the county should retain its two constituencies.

PRESSURE mounted on independent TD Michael Healy-Rae to pay back the costs of thousands of phone calls made from inside Dáil Éireann that helped him win a TV reality show.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has insisted his conscience is clear amid claims he won a reality TV show thanks to 3,636 votes from a Dáil telephone.

A NEW group of independent TDs said they are willing to hand over their individual €40,000 allowances if the mainstream parties also sacrifice some state funding.

SHORTLY after dawn last Saturday, the fate of fistfuls of flutters and fancies dangled as if the gates were just snapping open at the Curragh.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

INDEPENDENT TD Jackie Healy-Rae is demanding a commitment to provide funding for the proposed €160 million Tralee bypass in return for his continuing support for Government.

THE Government made no effort to seek a pairing arrangement with the opposition before deciding to use the jet to allow a junior minister attend a Dáil vote, Fine Gael said last night.

UPWARDS of 1,000 sympathisers filed past the remains of two brothers killed in the horrific Co Kerry crash on Wednesday.

FORMER junior minister Frank Fahey has been accused of assaulting a member of the Oireachtas agriculture committee to protect his reputation.

THE retirement of an unprecedented number of psychiatric nurses in Kerry will have serous implications for mental health services in the county, a nurses’ union leader warned.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was this morning preparing to deliver his third budget in 14 months and one that is being widely regarded as the most important of a generation.

CEANN Comhairle John O’Donoghue has said he was embarrassed by the cost of his travels during his tenure as minister sport and tourism.

Jackie Healy-Rae has been returned as an Independent TD in Kerry South tonight.

THREE unsuccessful general election candidates are being investigated by gardaí for failing to return a list of campaign donations they received to the State’s political watchdog.

Jackie Healy-Rae has been confirmed elected in Kerry South.