The Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin went toe to toe last night in the first of two head-to-head debates ahead of the February 8 general election.

The northside of Cork City has been neglected by its recent political representatives with one Government TD not even bothering to show up for work, said Labour’s general election candidate for Cork North Central.

There aren’t many constituencies facing as much of a shake-up as Cork North-Central.

Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould is set to be announced as the party's candidate in Cork North-Central.

TDs and Senators have claimed over €37,000 buying top of the range phones over the past two years.

With recent resignations and multiple ongoing crises, this Government has lost control of the Dáil and can’t last much longer, writes political correspondent Juno McEnroe

With the Dáil set to return later this month for the last session, those hoping for a summer general election might as well forget about it.

At precisely this time last year, I resisted temptation. On or about New Year’s Eve every year, I hazard a few guesses (for the delectation of readers) about what the coming year will bring.

An RTÉ investigation has revealed that Senator Keith Swanick did not vote in three quarters of Seanad votes where he was recorded as being in Leinster House in Dublin.

Double-jobbing former Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy has broken his silence on criticism from Fine Gael over claiming expenses in the Dáil while also working in Brussels.

Law reform to allow former TDs be investigated after controversy

WITH politicians not set to return from their Christmas break until January 15, it’s easy to see how this has been dubbed the “do-nothing Dáil”, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Questions around Dara Murphy prompted a heated spat between the two leaders, with Mr Varadkar calling on Mr Martin to deal with his TDs involved in the 'Vote-Gate' controversy.

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.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar found himself in familiar, discomfiting — or at least it should be — territory on Saturday when he had to give a plausible response to the latest challenge to the idea of high standards in high places bedeviling Fine Gael’s long-cherished but now threadbare idea of itself.

Micheál Martin has criticised the Taoiseach over his handling of the case involving Dara Murphy and his Dáil attendance record.

Though it is — almost — the season the be jolly it is not too difficult to be pessimistic, to be cowed by the challenges facing our world.

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.

The Dáil's ethics committee has found it can't investigate the attendance of former TD Dara Murphy.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is to look at an "alternative way" to investigate the controversy around Dara Murphy's Dáil expenses.

Dara Murphy should only pay back his TD expenses if it is found he broke Dáil rules, the Taoiseach has said.

Former Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy has been entitled to a €24,000 gratuity since last week, relating to his time as a Cork City councillor.

Where's the leadership? Where’s the political gumption? Why isn’t it possible for our leaders to call things for what they are?

As any doctor will tell you, the important thing is not to treat the symptoms but to treat the underlying illness.

Self-driving vehicles and remote work were for some of the proposals discussed by Cabinet for a future job strategy.

A Cabinet member has called for reform of the Dáil rules and for an end to TDs double-jobbing in the wake of controversy around Fine Gael's Dara Murphy.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said former TD Dara Murphy should pay back his expenses if it's found he broke Dáil rules.

Dara Murphy will be entitled to over €500,000 in taxpayer-funded termination and pension payments following his resignation as a TD.

Senator Colm Burke, who was second with first preferences in the constituency byelection, told the Irish Examiner the scandal over Mr Murphy’s Dáil absence “hurt” his chances at winning a seat.

After the Irish Examiner revealed his intention to resign his Dáil seat to take up a plum €150,000 job in Europe, Dara Murphy did the needful.

Dara Murphy had come under fire after it was revealed that he has claimed his full Dáil salary and expenses over the past two years, despite being largely absent from Leinster House.

The poor turnout in last week’s by-elections might, with a Christmas-party dash of wishful thinking, be explained by an approaching general election and the by-elections’ relevance in the face of the ongoing supply and confidence arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

The outgoing Cork North Central TD insisted that he has been “compliant” with Leinster House rules

The most disappointing aspect has been the response of Leo Varadkar to this whole affair.

It was a good day at the office for Fianna Fáil, according to party leader Micheál Martin, and it was hard to disagree.

The Green Party is celebrating its first ever by-election victory in Dublin-Fingal after Joe O'Brien secured the seat vacated by Clare Daly after the eighth count.

Latest: Outgoing Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy has insisted he has “been compliant” with Leinster House rules about his attendance at all times.

Fine Gael's James Reilly has described Verona Murphy's comments about migrants as “very hurtful” and said he rejected them totally.

Fine Gael's Colm Burke is optimistic about his chances of securing a seat in the General Election in 2020 but conceded that it is now unlikely that he will secure a seat in the by-election.

Pádraig O'Sullivan looks "destined" to win the seat vacated by party colleague Billy Kelleher earlier this year, he added.

Minister Creed conceded that a Fianna Fáil victory is all but a certainty today.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended Dáil absentee TD Dara Murphy but said he has not discussed the deputy's expected resignation with him.

It is all eyes on Fianna Fáil in Cork North-Central where the party is scrambling to continue its presence in the wake of Billy Kelleher’s departure to Europe.