TDs have clashed on who should be the next Taoiseach as the Dáil debates candidates for the role and amid the ongoing standoff in the government formation talks.

Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd has ruled himself out of the race to become the Ceann Comhairle in the 33rd Dàil.

A vote for Ceann Comhairle first order of business in 33rd Dáil, says Cianan Brennan.

Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan has launched a blistering attack on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy during a private meeting of the parliamentary party.

The Finance Minister has refused to give a commitment that the new National Children's Hospital will not tip over the €2 billion mark.

Further cost overruns during the development of the national children’s hospital are "highly likely", an Oireachtas committee has been told.

The Government may fall before the long-awaited Public Health Alcohol Bill passes through the Oireachtas, Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly has warned.

Struggling mortgage holders must be offered debt write-downs instead of so-called foreign vulture funds, Paschal Donohoe has been told.

Health Minister Simon Harris has asked the HSE to conduct an “evidence-gathering” exercise with state-funded organisations providing health and social care to establish a factual position on pay reductions and pay restoration.

All eyes will be on Fine Gael’s special parliamentary party meeting this afternoon where TDs and senators will discuss their views on plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

‘Legalise all abortions, without restriction, for unborn babies up to 12 weeks.

The Government is to consider an Oireachtas report recommending a referendum be held to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws and allow for terminations for pregnancies up to 12 weeks.

Wednesday’s votes felt like a massive step forward for Irish women’s reproductive rights, writes Alison O’Connor.

The Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment is set to recommend a straight repeal of article 40.3.3, its complete removal from the Constitution, and for any future abortion laws to be decided solely by the Dáil.

Facing the political gallows, the Tánaiste forcefully argued that she was not part of any conspiracy to undermine Maurice McCabe and had nothing to hide. 

The government's strategy on homelessness has been criticised by its own Fine Gael TDs after recent controversial remarks by the Taoiseach and the Housing Minister comparing the problem here to other countries.

Six convicts remain at large after absconding from custody here over the past four years. 

The cross-party Oireachtas committee examining Ireland's abortion laws has voted by a landslide not to retain article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.

Ray Ryan reports on why Irish sport horse industry leaders attending Dublin Horse Show will be keenly aware of the Brexit challenges ahead

Socialist TD Paul Murphy has accused the Taoiseach and two of his ministers of defaming him in connection with the Jobstown anti-water protest.

A spokesman for Leo Varadkar says the Taoiseach has "nothing to add" to comments he made about the Jobstown protest on Wednesday.

Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy will make a formal complaint today alleging Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and four Fine Gael TDs “defamed” him during Wednesday’s divisive Dáil Jobstown row.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has faced criticisms from within his own party that the appointment of Máire Whelan was an act of stroke politics.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has backed calls for the abortion referendum to be held by February 2018 after saying the Oireachtas committee tasked with setting its scope does not need six months to decide.

There is disagreement on the make-up and numbers for a special Oireachtas committee that will now examine Ireland’s abortion laws and decide the terms for a possible referendum.

Drugs minister Catherine Byrne is pressing ahead with legislation to set up injecting facilities, despite concerns raised at an Oireachtas health committee yesterday.

A number of government TDs are backing the idea of a Brexit minister amid concerns Taoiseach Enda Kenny is unable to focus on securing the best deal for Ireland.

Fine Gael TDs are split on refunding water charges, with half of those contacted by the Irish Examiner in favour of giving the money back and a near identical number saying non-payers must instead be pursued.

Fine Gael remain split over whether TDs should accept a pay increase which would see their salary jump by €5,400 over two years.

The Garda Representative Association has blamed a significant increase in injuries to its members on a lack of resources; a lack of manpower; as well as a lack of respect for the role they play in society.

Members of Fine Gael have dismissed comments from John Halligan who has backed Simon Coveney as the next leader.

A “rattled and shaken” Taoiseach Enda Kenny had his leadership called into question for the first time in six years by angry Fine Gael TDs and senators last night.

Yesterday’s announcement that rent allowance levels are to be increased has been broadly welcomed.

The Government will this week face pressure to set up a taskforce to examine the soaring costs of motor insurance as consumers continue to be hit with huge hikes in their premiums.

The four way race for the €35,000-a-year position of Dáil vice chairman ended in a stalemate yesterday despite two hours of voting in the Dáil.

The Dáil has failed to elect a Leas-Cheann Comhairle today.

Decisions on who chairs Oireachtas Committees as well as who takes the position of Leas Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil are expected to be decided later this week.

The Taoiseach surprised his party colleagues last night by announcing that the Dáil will rise for three months despite the long absence during government formation talks.

Of the 47,773 people who have been reported missing here in the past five years, 157 have never been found, figures from the Department of Justice show.