Labour leader Brendan Howlin conceded it was a “bad day” for his party.

The late Noel Whelan, a skilful political commentator and Dáil number cruncher, once remarked that the analysis of election counts inevitably moves quickly, often glossing over the importance of early seat wins — irrespective of how dramatic they can be for parties.

Update 6.46pm: The family of a young student who was tied up and repeatedly raped throughout the night have arrived in Dublin to care for her, it has been reported.

RTE has completed the sale of lands at its Donnybrook complex to Cairn Homes for more than €107.5m.

Did Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams cost his party 10 seats?

Former Fianna Fail Dáil Deputy, Councillor Chris Andrews, will run for Sinn Fein in the Dublin Bay South constituency in the general election.

Critics of the Poolbeg Incinerator in Dublin say they'll take their fight against the project back to Europe.

A Sinn Féin surge in Dublin City has left a bruised Labour party with just a fraction of its seats and the loss of some of its high-profile councillors.

"I missed you all," Mary Hanafin gushed to reporters in the manner of a faded film star who had just glimpsed the limelight once more thanks to a cameo role in a B movie.

By Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner Political Reporter

Labour look set to be left with just eight seats in Dublin city wards as voters move to Sinn Féin and Independents, according to latest tallies.

Stormy conditions are set to return tomorrow with Met Éireann forecasting changeable and unsettled weather through the weekend and into early next week.

The festive shopping period might not have been the glittering revival of consumer confidence retailers hoped for, but one sector has kept its sparkle.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews has joined Sinn Féin.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews has been left red-faced just hours before he applies to join Sinn Féin after a series of tweets emerged in which he accused the party of being corrupt, referred to the IRA murder of Jean McConville, the Northern Bank raid and “the number of people Sinn Féin reps have killed over the years”.

Sinn Féin's national executive is expected to consider tomorrow an application from an ex-Fianna Fáil TD to join the party.

IT is galling of the Government to blame social media for suicides while simultaneously raiding tens of millions of euro from suicide prevention services in order to shore up the budget of the Department of Health.

SPARE a thought for the Andrews clan, whose next family get-together is bound to be a frosty affair after one of its disgruntled scions was revealed as the poison pen behind an anonymous Twitter account.

Irish human rights activists detained by Israeli authorities as they tried to break the naval blockade on Gaza will arrive home over the next two days.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore is coming under pressure to intervene on behalf of 14 Irish citizens who have been held in an Israeli prison since Saturday.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has today called for the immediate release of 14 Irish citizens who have been imprisoned in Israeli since Friday.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was tonight facing demands to intervene over the Israeli interception of an Irish boat trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

ISRAEL has threatened to ban international journalists for up to a decade from the country if they join aninternational flotilla which includes one Irish vessel, planning to breach the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

IRELAND will press Israel to let activists bring humanitarian goods into Gaza, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore has said.

Ireland will press Israel to let activists bring humanitarian goods into Gaza, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore has said.

ONCE again, a major bank in receipt of taxpayer funding has taken the Government for fools.

Seán Haughey witnessed the end of his family’s political presence in Dublin going back some 54 years, while the Andrews brothers, Chris and Barry, both lost their seats in their respective constituencies.

THE battleground of Dublin South East has been split between Fine Gael and Labour, after booting out a former government minister.

FROM the visuals, it looks like Fianna Fáil’s Chris Andrews is guaranteed two votes at least when the country goes to the polls today.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

MICHEÁL MARTIN was first out of the blocks after the Fianna Fáil leadership became vacant — announcing his candidacy for the position and then watching as a steady stream of TDs declared support for him.

Nominations for the leadership of Fianna Fail will close at lunchtime on Monday with an election by secret ballot to be held at 2pm on Wednesday, party chairman John Browne has confirmed.

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

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to make a public statement at Government Buildings at 7pm.

Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews has called on An Taoiseach Brian Cowen to stand down as leader of Fianna Fáil.

IS there a silver lining in the economic storms at our doorstep? Now that we’re poorer, will we produce better teams?

A Fianna Fáil TD is calling on the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to introduce a formal award recognising the contribution of outstanding citizens.

THE ESB boss is coming under increasing pressure over his €750,000 salary, which a Fianna Fáil TD said is “not acceptable” when householders face a 5% rise in electricity bills.