Fine Gael is preparing to run a four- to six-week referendum campaign targeting undecided voters.

Tolerance for listening to someone who holds the opposite view to your own on abortion depends, I find, on the day, the hour and the speaker, writes Alison O'Connor.

A small number of Fianna Fáil TDs influenced many others in voting against a bill to allow a referendum on the Eighth Amendment, say party members.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is facing a widescale backbench revolt over his pro-choice abortion views, after half of his party’s TDs voted against allowing any referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

A Fianna Fáil TD claims an increasing number of foetuses are being aborted because of clefts.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin faced criticism from a number of his own TDs over his speech in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment last week.

The Cabinet will next week discuss the thrust of the abortion referendum question and what specific legislation could follow any yes vote.

Pro-life TD Bobby Aylward has said he is “not on a crusade” to oppose the upcoming abortion referendum ahead of special meeting of Fianna Fáil TDs and senators tonight.

The Government has yet to receive legal advice on the wording of a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment and are still mulling over whether an additional clause will be added.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he has been contacted by women coming forward with personal stories following his speech in the Dáil backing a repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

The State’s health services watchdog had to stop some private nursing homes from charging residents additional fees to keep their facilities up to standard, a Dáil committee was told.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan is facing fresh calls to resign after a damning Dáil report led to claims she and others tried to “cover up” the garda college financial scandal.

A number of HSE officials directly involved in the Grace foster abuse case are facing disciplinary action over their failure to prevent the scandal — and allegedly trying to cover it up.

A luxury government jet sold to a US firm two years ago for less than €420,000 is now insured for $5m (€4.7m) and has recently flown from New York to Paris and Barbados.

The controversial sale of Nama’s Northern Ireland loan book — known as Project Eagle — is under investigation by the State’s chief auditor, the C&AG.

Fianna Fáil Seanad candidates have insisted party bosses assured them they would not run an “inner list” of preferred candidates.

Fianna Fáil were trounced here in 2011, their vote slumping from 47.7% to 28.1%.

Fianna Fáil has pledged to appoint a minister for community services and rural development, if in government.

The State is facing almost 900 claims for compensation from members of the gardaí who have allegedly suffered harm in the line of duty, it has been confirmed.

Senator Averil Power has accused Fianna Fáil of using her when she was in the party to cover up for the fact that it had no strategy to attract or elect female politicians.

THE Government knows that selling its share in Aer Lingus will be politically tricky, and will require careful handling. In holding the issue over to yesterday’s cabinet meeting, and in moving on in the afterglow of last weekend’s same-sex marriage referendum win, it is managing its exit from the airline business with as little political hassle as can be hoped for.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and his TDs yesterday moved to minimise the fallout over the shock resignation of Senator Averil Power as the party welcomed its newest TD to the Dáil.

Micheál Martin’s party lacks the numbers and, with only a few exceptions, lacks the passion to impact in Leinster House and the vision to reinvent itself, writes Gerard Howlin

On Saturday, Kilkenny was filled with thoughts of tightrope walking, fire juggling that has burned more than a few, and a horse-and-pony show that still keeps at least some entertained.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has finally won a by-election at the seventh time of asking in a badly needed victory that has relieved pressure on his leadership position.

Selecting the right candidates for the general election is a big problem, writes Gary Murphy

Fianna Fáil’s Bobby Aylward is the country’s newest TD after winning the seat in the Carlow Kilkenny by-election.

Fianna Fáil may not be far enough ahead on first preference votes to see off a transfer-based challenge from other parties in the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.

The first tallies from the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election are starting to roll in.

Counting is well underway in the by-election in Carlow-Kilkenny.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has predicted that the Carlow- Kilkenny byelection will be decided on transfers.

On the face of it, Fianna Fáil and Renua Ireland have little in common.

Officially, Friday’s Carlow/Kilkenny byelection is all about replacing former Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan, who was ‘promoted’ to Europe after the Irish Water debacle.

Fianna Fáil in-fighting has erupted days before a must-win by-election for the party with one well-placed figure calling Micheál Martin a “loser”.

Renua Ireland’s first attempt at winning a Dáil seat has already been hit by controversy, after it was claimed the party’s newest candidate considered joining Sinn Féin just weeks ago.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has insisted his head will not be “on the chopping block” if his party fails to win the upcoming Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.

Former IFA President John Bryan has confirmed he will seek a Fine Gael nomination to run in the Dáil by-election in Carlow/Kikenny.

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Mary Hanafin has become the latest high-profile casualty of the General Election, as just 16 seats now remain to be filled as counts continue in four constituencies.

Fianna Fáil's Bobby Aylward has lost his seat in Carlow-Kilkenny.

Fine Gael's John Paul Phelan tops the poll in Carlow Kilkenny with 10,929 votes but has not reached the quota of 12,291.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan made his leadership ambitions known and encouraged dissent among Fianna Fáil backbenchers over the course of last year, it has been claimed.