Mary Lou McDonald looks set to become the next Sinn Féin President after a number of other contenders ruled themselves out of the race.

Sinn Féin's deputy leader has joined a growing number in her party in opening up the possibility of going into Government with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael after the next election.

Micheál Martin has hinted at extending the confidence and supply agreement to support Fine Gael in Government for longer than the three-budget deal.

Fianna Fáil is to raise the Government’s failure to address pensions inequalities which are denying tens of thousands of women full payments. 

Often described as the godfather of Fine Gael, Michael Noonan has been the glue that keeps the Government together — but at times he has been the reason for its headaches.

Declan Hassett and Pat Talbot have teamed up to create a play about Jack Lynch’s incredible feats in both sport and politics, writes Jo Kerrigan.

Fine Gael will be hoping to build on the success of their 2011 election result and is introducing a number of promising new candidates into the race this time around.

Enda Kenny spoke for almost half an hour live on TV and radio without saying anything, according to Daniel McConnell.

For too long sorry seemed to be the hardest word to utter in Irish public life. But that is no longer the case. The advent of the banking inquiry means no one week seems complete without at least one being uttered along with a public beating of the chest, well more like a gentle palpitating.

Was it not strange and neglectful that the script of Micheál Martin’s leader’s speech to the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis did not contain any references to either of the two referendum proposals that the electorate will consider on May 22?

First-time buyer couples would get grants of up to €10,000 to help with deposits for their homes, Fianna Fáil has promised.

The costs of compulsory health insurance will vastly overshadow the effect of water charges.

Fianna Fail will focus on childcare policy ahead of the party’s Ard Fheis this week, Munster’s Anthony Foley has dismissed claims that Paul O’Connell has been linked to French side Toulon, and woman opens fire in a McDonald’s when staff failed to give her bacon in her burger.  These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Tax credits for working parents and state-paid subventions for private creches are among proposals for childcare support set to be launched at this week’s Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.

Now that the Fine Gael back-slapping Árd Fheis is over and Enda’s well-rehearsed speech is said, the auctioneer politics begin.

THEY’RE playing it down, of course, but Fianna Fáilers are rather gleeful at present given their rather robust state of political health. All things being relative.

A strong majority of teachers of English do not accept they had enough training to begin covering a new course next autumn as part of Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s Junior Cycle reforms.

Even though in his speech to the Fine Gael Árd Fheis last weekend, Enda Kenny was quite certain that there is no alternative to Universal Health Care, (how often have we been told there is no alternative only to find out too late that there was and it was a better alternative), he might like to be informed about a recent milestone.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that Rehab should reveal the salaries of some of its senior managers.

Delegates at the Fine Gael Árd Fheis have asked the Minister for Health James Reilly to explore banning the sale of cigarettes in pubs.

Health Minister James Reilly has said that the current health system is “unfair and inefficient” and has left Ireland with one of the highest priced, most expensive systems in the developed world.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has conveyed his sympathy to the parents whose babies died at a maternity unit in the midlands regional hospital in Portlaoise.

Fine Gael's Árd Fheis is beginning in Dublin this evening.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness last night apologised to the family of a garda killed by the IRA in 1980 at the opening of the party’s conference.

A “harrowing” report on the deaths of young people in state care between 2000 and 2010 will be published on Wednesday.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he will not "be shoved around" by Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has used part of his Árd Fheis speech to campaign for a No vote in next week's fiscal treaty referendum.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said that Taoiseach Enda Kenny made the right decision for him by choosing to meet people face-to-face during the EU Treaty campaign.

The Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has accused the Taoiseach of refusing to engage directly with him on the fiscal treaty referendum.

Fine Gael is rounding on Sinn Féin this afternoon saying they have been misrepresenting to people that the country can vote 'No' and still access ESM funding.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned his party had no cause to celebrate while hard-pressed families struggle, despite earlier urging them to cough up for the controversial household charge.

Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald has promised to end what she called the "shambolic" child protection system put in place by the previous Government.

Remarks by Justice Minister Alan Shatter advising protestors against the household charge to "get a life" have been criticised by campaigners today.

Job creation and restoring the economy will be top priority at the Fine Gael ard fheis this weekend, it has been revealed.

There are further indications today that a deal could be done to renegotiate the debt of the former Anglo Irish Bank.

Micheál Martin met with the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party last night after the departure of Eamon Ó Cuív as his deputy leader.

Next weekend Russia will hold a presidential election that will be little more than a charade.

FIANNA Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he does not believe in political dynasties and has vowed to put an end to parliamentary members dominating the embattled party.

FIANNA FÁIL will decide on Monday whether to throw its weight behind an independent presidential candidate or to stay out of the race altogether.

FINE GAEL have stated in their election manifesto that they will keep “communities vibrant” by reversing the ban on the Ward Union stag hunt.