Fine Gael councillor and by-election candidate Emer Higgins’ comments on Travellers are not reflective of the party’s position, senior party figures have said.

A businesswoman who confronted presidential candidate Sean Gallagher on live TV over his business ethics and was subsequently accused of being a “political plant” is set to run for the Social Democrats.

One of the chief advisers for Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, who played a key role in highlighting the sale of Siteserv to a firm linked to businessman Denis O’Brien, is set to run in the general election.