Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has topped the poll in Cork South Central and has been deemed elected ahead of the Tanaiste and the leader of Fianna Fáil.

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire looks set to top the poll in Cork South Central, where Simon Coveney, Micheál Martin and Michael McGrath are also running.

Daniel McConnell and Mick Clifford have been on the campaign trail and they deliver their verdict here.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald is confident the party will defend all three seats it currently holds across Cork City and county in the upcoming general election.

Cyberbullying, eating disorders, depression and suicide are some of the toxic behaviours and dangerous thought patterns often spread online that new draft legislation aims to protect children from.

But the Taoiseach has defended Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy by claiming some people “are always angry” no matter what the Government does.

The Government has been criticised for “dragging its heels” on the establishment of a digital safety commissioner.

Education Minister Joe McHugh has insisted all schools caught up in year-long fire safety and structural concerns will re-open this August - despite admitting work is still taking place on more than a dozen facilities.

Communications Minister Richard Bruton received correspondence pleading for the retention of An Post’s mail centre in Cork — but not on behalf of any of the others threatened with closure.

Fewer than three in 10 garda stations in Cork have experienced an increase in staffing levels in the past four years, during a period when almost 2,600 new gardaí were recruited.

Women’s Aid has described as a “scandal” the delay in the construction of the promised state-of-the-art family courts complex.

Local election candidates have been left in limbo over whether they are allowed into direct provision centres to canvass.

Joe Murphy was one of three IRA Volunteers who died on hunger strike in jails in 1920.

The culture minister has been criticised for not facing Dáil questions on the Cork event centre controversy for a third time.

The Government has been sharply criticised for breaking a significant promise on online safety for children.

The Government has been urged to immediately set up a full commission of investigation into the death of Shane O’Farrell after the Dáil voted in favour of such an inquiry.

More than half of all front-line gardaí are not qualified to drive with flashing blue lights and cannot respond to emergency call-outs.

The number of frontline gardaí based in several Cork City Garda stations is still at 2010 levels despite the arrival of 15 probationary gardaí in two districts this week.

The numbers of community gardaí have been axed by almost 40% in the last seven years and continue to fall in many divisions.

Senior gardaí estimate it would cost almost €7m over a period of 28 years to examine all Garda phone calls recording breath tests.

Sinn Féin has denied wanting to trigger a general election with the tabling of a motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste, but insists the party is ready for one if the Government collapses.

The unsuitability of the acute mental health unit at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) for dementia patients and the need for an acute hospital on Cork City’s northside were among issues raised at the launch of a series of healthcare documents by Sinn Féin.

Delays in paying maternity benefit to women due to give birth have been described as “unbelievable and unacceptable” and as “adding to the stress” of parents awaiting a new arrival.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and her department have been accused of misleading the UN by claiming the McAleese report made “no finding” in relation to State liability with regard to Magdalene Laundries.

The Government has come under pressure to carry out excavations at the site of Bessborough Mother and Baby Home where hundreds of infants died.

Thousands of homes in one of the country’s largest commuter towns have been excluded from the latest rent-cap zone measures, because of electoral boundary anomalies.

The Government has been urged to set up a “crisis response team” to examine a spate of suicides on the south side of Cork City which has seen at least five young adults and teenagers die “in scarcely a month”.

Housing, childcare and justice will be top priorities for new Cork TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. The 27-year-old from Togher joined Sinn Féin at the age of 18.

Cork county councillors have reacted angrily to reports that the Government will not reimburse the local authority for the near-€4.5m yearly bill to collect motor tax.

“The city councillors will fight this tooth and nail,” whispered one of Cork’s longest-serving county councillors as Minister Alan Kelly unveiled the merger plan.

Plans are being drawn up to create what are likely to be the biggest banners ever displayed in this country, which will highlight next year’s centenary of the Easter Rising.

A potential pact between Civil War enemies has surfaced in Cork County Council, with Sinn Féin and Fine Gael coalescing in a move which may seriously worry Fianna Fáil — the party which currently has control over the local authority.

Cork County Council has been criticised for not doing enough for homeless people and spending less per head on them compared to other local authorities.

Back in April, Aghinagh were within touching distance of claiming the Féile Peil B title.

Cork County Council is offering some Christmas cheer to shoppers after announcing that there will be "some relaxation" in charges in eight towns which have pay parking.

Some councillors will earn around €300 an hour each if they chair meetings of the eight new, municipal districts in County Cork.

Immigrant support groups have called for the lifting of a ban on political canvassing in direct provision centres.

“THE longer this goes on, the more resolute we are becoming — there is fierce determination to resist Irish Water.”

A MORE clinical Naomh Abán edged out Carrigaline after extra-time in the Cork PIFC second round at Ovens on Saturday.

I REFER to the letter from Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Irish Examiner, August 4) in answer to my letter (Irish Examiner, July 30).