THERE was a mutinous atmosphere at Waterford count centre as by 8pm on Saturday the first count had not materialised. Once it came officials kept going until after 4.30am when the final candidate was elected on the 11th count.

Fine Gael's John Deasy leads the way after the first count in Waterford with 10,718 votes.

All boxes in Waterford have been tallied, with counting expected to begin after lunch.

THE Labour Party has decided to run two candidates in Waterford for the first time in 42 years, despite the imminent retirement of one of its most experienced TDs.

LAST night’s Fianna Fáil meeting ended with a call of unity from Micheál Martin who told his supporters to unite behind Taoiseach Brian Cowen, following his side’s victory by a significant margin in a vote of confidence in his leadership.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is on the cusp of defeating the Fianna Fáil rebellion after backbenchers lined up to show loyalty to their leader.

TOP-PAID RTÉ staff will not be subject to the €250,000 pay cap for public service and semi-state workers announced in the budget, the Department of Communications confirmed.

THE majority of the Dáil believes Taoiseach Brian Cowen should call a general election before the December budget.

A FORMER mayor of Waterford has declared his intention to become the constituency’s first independent TD at the next election.

FIFTEEN people have died as a result of accidents on farms so far this year compared with 11 for the whole of 2009.

I USED to be an inveterate funeral goer – several per week. I hadn’t been to one for the past two years until the unexpected death of newspaper man and former schoolmate, Alan Ruddock.

There has been further criticism of the Taoiseach's Cabinet reshuffle from the Fianna Fáil back benches.

THE Government has been accused of putting lives at risk over plans to reduce the Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service in the south-east.

Fishermen warned today of tragedies at sea after the Government’s decision to scale back a coastguard helicopter service.

A government backbencher has described Noel Dempsey's new drink driving proposals as a sensible compromise.

Homeowners were today urged to have their say on how to protect themselves against criminals breaking into their property.

The funeral of former Waterford TD Billy Kenneally, the father of sitting TD Brendan Kenneally, takes place today.

Former Waterford TD Billy Kenneally – the father of sitting TD Brendan Kenneally - has died at the age of 83.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has given consolation prizes of almost €20,000 apiece to the three junior ministers he sacked last month.

“MY SON”, spelt out in blue and white flowers beside the coffin of 23-year-old John Grey, was the last message from his heartbroken parents before he was laid to rest yesterday in Waterford.

BERTIE AHERN has not yet named the ‘temporary’ senators who will replace the four Taoiseach’s nominees in the outgoing Seanad who have been elected to the Dáil.

A CALL has been made for a designated garda presence in a Co Waterford village after two robberies in recent days.

Poll results

ONE of five fishermen missing off the Irish coast was the third generation of his family to drown at sea.

PARENTS of pupils at a Waterford primary school say they’re going to appeal a decision by the local council to grant retention for a mobile phone mast located within 180 metres from the junior infants’ classroom.

PRIMARY school teachers in Waterford county and city are preparing to make classroom sizes a key issue in the next general election in the four-seat constituency where Fianna Fáil will be defending the two seats it has consistently held for a generation and more.

WATERFORD and the entire south-east region should benefit massively from the new partnership deal, a local politician believes.

WATERFORD’S reputation as a hive of sporting activity is getting a major boost, with work about to get under way shortly on a top-class youth and community centre in the city centre.

AS PARENTS of pupils opposed to a mast close to their school were meeting last night to discuss their next move, a local senator has raised his concerns over the development.

WATERFORD Fianna Fáil Senator Brendan Kenneally has said the city and the south-eastern region will continue to lag behind the rest of the country unless Waterford Institute of Technology is given university status.

THE “chaotic” oncology services for cancer sufferers in the south east offered at Waterford Regional Hospital are set to get a lot worse before they improve, a local senator has warned.

The Progressive Democrats are using the survival of the salmon industry as a political football, an Oireachtas Committee claimed today.

WATERFORD is well-positioned to become the new financial hub outside Dublin, according to Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.

THE pressure on government to deliver radiotherapy for Waterford and the South-East will step up a gear with a major rally in support of cancer services scheduled for Waterford within the next fortnight.

FIANNA FÁIL is coming under intense pressure in Waterford to provide radiotherapy at the local Regional Hospital.

Niamh Nolan

THE highest claiming expenses TD in the Dáil, John Deasy, has put his high claim record as being down to him “not being as cute” as his other 165 colleagues.

The Oireachtas communications committee has published its long-awaited report on the provision of a national high-speed Broadband internet services.

WOMEN and smoking carry a health warning in a Waterford pub.

DISAPPOINTED general election candidates and hopefuls for a seat in the next Dáil figure among the Taoiseach's nominees to the Seanad, announced last night.

COUNTING in the Seanad elections today enters its final day when all of the 49 seats should be filled.

Fine Gael’s Mary Jackman has become the latest candidate to be eliminated from the Seanad elections for the commercial and industrial panel.