It has emerged that Ms Chambers, who was cleared in an initial voting controversy, also voted on behalf of her party colleague Timmy Dooley in the Dáil in January.

Micheal Martin will not reinstate two TDs he removed from the Fianna Fáil front bench after the vote-gate controversy.

Lisa Chambers could now receive a caution after the decision by the Committee on Members Interests - but only after the move is itself approved by the Dáil.

Fianna Faíl says it's in favour of establishing an independent pay commission for the Defence Forces and wants to restore an Army brigade which was disbanded in 2012.

A chronic shortage of trained pilots has forced the Air Corps to reduce the number of hours it will fly the Emergency Aeromedical Service helicopter, based in Athlone.

Moya Doherty also said that this is a defining time for the public service broadcaster after it was announced that 200 jobs are to be lost and that some of their star presenters will have to take pay cuts

After a torrid week, the Fianna Fáil benches were noticeably downbeat.

Minister of state Damien English and Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen are the latest politicians to be dragged into the ‘phantom voting’ controversy.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has insisted a full investigation into the "illegal act" of TDs voting for colleagues while they are physically absent is needed - claiming some votes could be cast while TDs are out on "a skite".

There are mounting calls for the Dáil's electronic voting to be suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry into TD's voting on behalf of colleagues.

The Justice Minister has admitted that he has voted for a colleague in the Dáil chamber on a couple of occasions.

Fianna Fáil has criticised Sinn Féin for refusing to take its Westminster seats for crucial Brexit votes.

The UK has put forward controversial proposals to set up a string of customs posts on either side of border which would replace the Brexit backstop.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has defended the sending of a naval vessel to New York next week as part of Ireland's bid to land a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

The number of recruits paying to get out of the Defence Forces before their training has even finished confirms claims that the retention crisis can't be overcome just by major recruitment drives alone.

The Government and the EU are working on ways to avoid border checks after a leaked document revealed the UK has accepted there will be hard border if they crash out of Europe.

Wexford Youths went close to causing a major FAI Cup shock at the Brandywell, but Brian O’Sullivan’s First Division side were punished by Derry City’s in-form hitman, David Parkhouse, just six minutes from time.

Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has been criticised as being “asleep at the wheel” after admitting he was not “briefed in advance” over the Navy staff shortages “fiasco”, which led to two vessels being docked.

Britain's likely next prime minister Boris Johnson has been warned he will not be able to win the Brexit stand-off by "sloganeering" and must put his "ego" to one side if he is to find a solution to the crisis.

Liam O’Gradaigh has battled along with his wife Sheena to keep their son Donagh, who is now aged 11, alive.

The incoming European Commission president has pledged to defend the Brexit backstop and the peace process amid calls for communities to be informed about possible border controls if there is no deal.

The joint Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs and defence has been urged to visit Naval Service headquarters to investigate for itself how bad manpower levels are.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has been urged to visit Naval Service headquarters to investigate for itself how bad manpower levels are.

Just because something is permitted, doesn’t mean it is right, writes Elaine Loughlin

The Minister of State for Defence has been accused of being “in a bunker of denial” when it comes to the hardships endured by members of the Defence Forces.

The Taoiseach has refused to fast-track any pay restoration for the Defence Forces to address a recruitment and retention crisis.

The Defence Forces are carrying out an investigation into claims that a number of its personnel were denied their constitutional right to vote in the local or European elections, because they didn't receive postal votes in time.

Latest: Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has suggested Leo Varadkar could be facing a worse local election performance than Enda Kenny.

Fianna Fáil has hit back at Fine Gael for trying to claim Billy Kelleher's seat before it has even been vacated.

Proposed increases in allowances for members of the Defence Forces could make the retention and recruitment crisis worse, not better, it has been warned.

A rift has emerged between Fianna Fáil’s two candidates in Ireland South after Malcolm Byrne lodged an official complaint to party bosses about his party rival Billy Kelleher, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Health Minister Simon Harris says critics of his decision to offer free smear test re-checks to women last year are "playing politics" with the crisis and making "crass" claims amid growing opposition pressure over the move.

The national director of the HSE’s screening service will be quizzed today about the 33 week wait for the return of cervical screening results.

The Government and Health Minister Simon Harris came under severe attack in the Dáil over fresh delays in cervical tests for women who had to be retested.

Following this afternoon's rejection of Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement, Fianna Fáil's Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers believes that a no-deal Brexit is "a distinct possibility".

The Government has been urged to provide clarity on plans for the border as the threat of a no-deal Brexit increases.

A chorus of Fine Gael ministers has insisted the party is “election-ready”, with posters set to be printed at any time.

The majority of families who had babies damaged by Thalodimide have never been recognised, writes Terry Prone. 

The Department of Defence is “out of touch with the retention crisis” in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, it has been claimed, as a leaked military report shows it is failing to achieve the number, or calibre, of new recruits needed to fill gaps.

Leaked British plans to create a 10-mile “buffer zone” around the border have been described as “bonkers”, “fantastical”, and “like something out of Alice in Wonderland” by both British and Irish Brexit experts.

Doctors who are opposed to abortion will not be forced to dispense the abortion pill, according to Health Minister Simon Harris.

How many top strikers would pass up the chance of a hat-trick so a man who might end up taking their place could get a goal?

The appointment of young Dublin West TD Jack Chambers was the sum total of change to the Fianna Fáil front bench in the reshuffle announced by Micheál Martin on Thursday, writes Daniel McConnell

The Department of Defence is considering scrapping, or lowering, intelligence tests, which are used to select recruits to the army, naval service, and air corps.