The Garda whistleblower John Wilson has issued High Court defamation proceedings against RTÉ over comments made in relation to his work in exposing the abuse of the penalty points system.

Garda whistleblower John Wilson has joined the ranks of a new, non-party political grouping to contest the local elections next May.

There have been calls for the Minister for Communications to investigate alleged disruption of mobile phone coverage in the north-east.

Amid angry scenes, senators have voted in favour of a referendum which could sweep away the Seanad.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has refused opposition requests to reconvene the Moriarty Tribunal to probe new financial allegations swirling around disgraced TD, Michael Lowry.

The Moriarty Tribunal has said it cannot comment on what it will do with a large amount of new evidence received on the involvement of Michael Lowry in English property deals.

A former Fianna Fáil TD has denied any wrongdoing by using prepaid Oireachtas envelopes to send out notices of local party meetings.

The English land Michael Lowry has not been declaring to the Dáil was previously wrapped up in allegations of blackmail and payoffs.

A Fianna Fáil senator claims he has “new information” that links Michael Lowry to a British football club transaction probed by the Moriarty Tribunal.

WORD from the rarified surrounds of Seanad Éireann, the crèche that cares for the oldest and boldest children in the country, that the rations are low and the natives are restless.

A FORMER leader of the Seanad brought a close to the election count by imploring newly elected members to fight for the continued retention of the Upper House.

Counting in the Seanad Election has ended after the fifth panel of Senators, the Administrative Panel, was filled late this afternoon.

Three Fianna Fáil Senators - Jim Walsh, John Hanafin and Labhrás Ó Murchú - have resigned the party whip over their opposition to the Civil Partnership Bill.

SENATOR Kieran Phelan, a Laois auctioneer and father of five, died yesterday.

Eggs were hurled at the home of a Fianna Fáil TD in a late-night attack, the party claimed today.

THE coalition deal worked out between Fianna Fáil and the Greens may extend to the Seanad elections, with both parties seriously considering an electoral pact.