FINE Gael has defended its three candidate strategy in Cork South Central which saw the party fail to win a third seat and lose its sitting TD, Deirdre Clune.

Micheal Martin has been elected on the first count in Cork South Central.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has just over two weeks to save his party’s second seat on his own turf in Cork South Central.

THE Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) referred 13 files to gardaí for alleged contraventions of the electoral acts, including files relating to former Clare TD and senator, Madeleine Taylor Quinn.

THE runners and riders for the race to be a member of the 30th Dáil have been finalised.