Fine Gael-led Government would devastate public services, Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said today.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach was retiring “after leading what many people consider to have been the worst Government in living memory.”

SINN FÉIN will stand at least 40 candidates in 37 consistencies in the upcoming election, the largest number the modern organisation bearing that name has stood for the Dáil.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has depicted his short time in office as a "trial and test" during which he battled to fix past mistakes.

FOUR men protesting over the economic crisis took in the sites of Ireland’s patriot past yesterday as they ended a 160km march at the Dáil.

Four men protesting over the economic crisis took in the sites of Ireland’s patriot past today as they ended a 160km march at the Dáil.

BRIAN Cowen’s administration was brought down by attempting a “shabby political stroke”, according to opposition parties.

Health Minister Mary Harney was facing calls today to explain the lack of regulation of companies caring for older people in their home and the shocking treatment some of their staff engage in.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has unconditionally apologised for the state of the country as he defended the toughest Budget in living memory.

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore has insisted his party will “not be bound” by the strict terms and conditions attached to the EU/IMF bailout.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has sought to make a clear distinction between the language his party and Labour are using about the EU/IMF bailout.

THE EU and IMF €85 billion bailout agreement could be challenged in court by Sinn Féin, who believe it is unconstitutional to agree to the terms of a deal without a Dáil vote.

Negotiations on an €85bn bailout for the economy were being thrashed out tonight as a minister revealed an agreement could be reached before international bond markets reopen on Monday.

A MAJOR clash over how to deal with the financial crisis erupted between Labour and Fine Gael as they demanded a snap general election.

The Labour party today called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to dissolve the Dáil after the Greens called for a General Election.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is to ask the Government to apply for a bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Europe.

The European Commission has offered the Government some flexibility over the €15bn four-year spending cuts target, it was claimed today.

The European Commissioner for Economic Affairs says determined and painful decisions will be needed to solve the economic crisis here but Ireland will prevail if it does what is necessary.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghin O Caolain has today EU Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn to go back and tell Europe that Ireland cannot cut its Budget deficit to 3% of GDP by 2014.

THE Taoiseach has finally said “sorry” for the outcomes of the economic crisis – a word that has escaped him since the banking collapse, financial meltdown and recession hit the country almost two years ago.

Opposition parties tonight rounded on Taoiseach Brian Cowen over the series of "catastrophic" actions that brought the country to its knees.

LOW-income families have been assured that they will be able to apply from next week for help towards the cost of school uniforms despite delays with the scheme last year.

Sinn Féin Caoimhghín Ó'Caoláin has called on John O’Donoghue to resign as Ceann Comhairle, saying that his position has become untenable.

The closure of key services including accident and emergency wards at Monaghan General Hospital will undoubtedly threaten lives, it was warned today.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has today called on the Government to instigate a job creation plan to deal with the worsening economic situation.

ANGLO Irish Bank was nationalised last night despite protests from the opposition that just five hours was set aside in the Dáil to debate the move.

GOVERNMENT TDs have voted to take an extra day off from the Dáil next week, despite opposition protests.

IRELAND’S rejection of the Lisbon treaty was not a rejection of Europe, said Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen delivered an unexpectedly wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle which saw eight departments change hands.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said Brian Cowen had demonstrated loyalty to Fianna Fáil, but the challenge facing the new taoiseach was balancing that loyalty against the national interest.

Responding to the election this morning of Brian Cowen as the leader of the Fianna Fáil party, Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has urged a new direction in Government policy.

The Minister for Health has said again today that lessons must be learned from the breast cancer misdiagnosis scandal in Portlaoise.

THE Christmas lights were switched on at Leinster House yesterday in the presence of the Taoiseach and his fellow party leaders, but there was one notable absentee.

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil he had never expected Mary Harney to do the honourable thing and resign.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader and health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has tonight challenged TDs to register a vote of no confidence in Minister for Health Mary Harney tomorrow.

Tributes are today being paid to former Labour TD Joe Sherlock, who died this morning after an illness.

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte last night said he was prepared to take over the job of Minister for Health, considered to be the poisoned chalice in government.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is a “dead man walking” politically, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent claimed yesterday.

THE opposition broadly welcomed the historic meeting between Mr Adams and Mr Paisley yesterday.

UP to 30% of all shootings in the country now occur in Limerick, the city’s garda chief said last night.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has dismissed as "disgraceful scare tactics" comments by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell that the party was playing a significant role in prompting trouble at the Shell gas terminal site in Co Mayo.

OPPOSITION leaders yesterday warned the new leader of the Progressive Democrats, Michael McDowell, that he would have a tough baptism of fire in the nine months leading up to the general election.

A son of a former Sinn Féin Dáil candidate has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with an incident in which shots were fired at a Garda patrol car.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday accepted that hospitals should be regulated by a licensing authority as the political debate over the findings of the Lourdes Hospital inquiry continues.