To his supporters, Taoiseach Enda Kenny is an underrated politician who deserves more credit for saving Ireland from financial ruin. For his detractors a series of public gaffes — the latest of which have occurred this week — mean his political limitations are rarely far from view.

Europe “walked away” from Ireland during the financial crisis the Dáil has heard. Former Fianna Fáil junior finance minister Dara Calleary yesterday questioned whether Irish citizens would choose to remain in the EU if a referendum were to be called here.

Almost half of voters believe that the new Government will survive for less than a year, according to a poll conducted since Enda Kenny was returned as Taoiseach.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has pledged to “intensify” efforts to form a lasting government and said that all options will be examined after calls for his party to open negotiations with Fianna Fáil.

More than 500,000 political leaflets, newsletters and calendars, printed at the state’s expense, have been binned after TDs and senators failed to collect them from the Oireachtas printing facility.

More than 500,000 political leaflets, newsletters and calendars, printed at the state’s expense, have been binned after TDs and senators failed to collect them from the Oireachtas printing facility.

Fianna Fáil yesterday accused the Government of a “miserable failure” to spread the economic recovery to all parts of the country, at the launch of the party’s jobs plan for the next five years.

Simon Coveney says he has ‘no ideological problem’ about going into partnership with Fianna Fáil, but would his party really jump into bed with its nemesis, asks Juno McEnroe

Donations from Fianna Fáil supporters have helped cut the party's debt from more than €2m two years ago to around €1.2m.

A youth website has invited Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin to visit their offices after she criticised their public funding.

Fianna Fáil has admitted there are some members within the parliamentary party who have concerns about proposed changes to its structure to be voted on at this weekend’s ard fheis.

Richard Bruton is among the rebel Fine Gael TDs to survive Enda Kenny's front bench reshuffle today.

Enda Kenny’s supporters today insisted he had the majority of the party on side ahead of the Fine Gael leadership showdown.

Enda Kenny's position as leader of Fine Gael was coming under increasing pressure this evening as yet more parliamentary party members said they will not be supporting him.

The only challenger for the Fine Gael leadership today insisted he has the experience and skill to unite the divided party and ultimately lead the country.

Enda Kenny’s supporters and opponents were beginning an intense 24 hours of lobbying today ahead of a confidence vote in the Fine Gael leader.

Nine rebel Fine Gael frontbench TDs publicly declared no confidence in embattled leader Enda Kenny today.

The Government will table a motion of full confidence in Taoiseach Brian Cowen next week after two highly critical reports gave a damning indictment of his handling of the economy while Finance Minister.

THE Government’s Drugs Minister said the head shop industry had the “best legal representation that money can buy” and will certainly challenge planned laws to put them out of business.

Under-pressure Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny tonight secured the backing of his front bench amid the fall-out from the resignation of one of the party’s highest profile TDs.

The drugs minister today demanded immediate action to ban legal highs being sold in so-called “head shops”.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today led the praise for Irish rugby star Paul O’Connell, the new Lions captain.

THE Government could fund dozens of new schools for less than the annual cost of renting prefab classrooms which cost taxpayers €85 million last year, opposition parties have claimed.

MINISTERS last night ratcheted-up pressure on Fianna Fáil TD Beverly Flynn to surrender a €41,000 allowance intended for independent deputies.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny tonight called for the national pay deal to be scrapped claiming the country cannot afford it.

Fianna Fáil's Beverly Flynn is calling on the Catholic Church to state once and for all that it is fully in favour of EU membership.

The country’s first Ombudsman Michael Mills, who died after a short illness, was praised today for his fairness, integrity and as a defender of rights.

A GRATEFUL Beverly Flynn welcomed her return to her “natural home” in Fianna Fáil yesterday but admitted her political future rested with its new leader.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has defended his decision to support the re-admittance of Beverly Flynn to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

Beverly Flynn was tonight readmitted into Fianna Fáil, four years after her expulsion when she lost a libel action over claims that she helped bank customers to evade tax.

The SDLP were tonight warned any formal relationship with Fianna Fáil would damage relations with other parties in the Republic of Ireland.

NOEL Dempsey couldn’t slump down much further into his chair as the Dáil chamber erupted.

BEVERLEY FLYNN’S settlement of her debt to RTÉ for less than 50% of the sum owed represents a stunning victory for the Mayo TD but, unfortunately, a €1.5 million bloody nose for licence-payers.

RTÉ lawyers have questioned how Independent Mayo TD Beverly Flynn can fund a costly constitutional High Court challenge when she has not paid “a red cent” of a €2.8 million legal bill owed to the national broadcaster.

Independent Mayo TD Beverly Flynn has confirmed that she has not signed a deal with Bertie Ahern ahead of today's vote to select the next Taoiseach.

Voters were tonight steeling themselves for the bitterest general election yet, as party leaders began to trade blows on the first official day of campaigning.

The Fine Gael ard fheis continues in Dublin today and culminates with Enda Kenny’s televised keynote address tonight.

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny has condemned the protestors who engaged in violent clashes with the garda at the site of the proposed Corrib gas terminal last Friday.

AS the beauty contest for the crucial job of next Taoiseach begins in earnest, today’s Irish Examiner poll provides fascinating insights into how the public regard the two contenders for the highest political office in the land.

ON the Corrib gas issue, we have had some interesting developments recently.

Next year’s General Election will be the keenest-fought contest the country has ever seen and will throw out the Government, it was claimed today.

Ireland’s emergency services are primed and ready for a nuclear disaster, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today.