Join the Oireachtas and see the world… new figures show that the spend by TDs and senators on overseas travel last year increased from €218,799 to €230,313.

Labour parliamentary party chairman Jack Wall has said he is confident party TDs will vote in line with the Government today and oppose a Dáil motion on legislating for fatal foetal abnormalities.

Junior health minister Alex White’s late bid to lead Labour has been weakened after party TDs yesterday indicated their support for Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.

Joan Burton’s bid for the Labour Party leadership is expected to be challenged by Junior Health Minister Alex White, in a move which will divide party members following a bruising set of elections last week.

The Government has agreed not to oppose proposals for strict regulations on the location and operation of wind farms in plans put forth by Sinn Féin.

Fears that a €500m-pylon network will cause health problems have been dismissed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility here would have to be a viable commercial proposition, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told the Dáil.

The backbench rebellion against the abolition of the Seanad is growing, with more TDs and senators opposing the Government’s plan to shut down the upper house.

A second prominent Labour TD has come out against the Government's proposals to abolish the Seanad.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has vowed to face down the challenges facing Labour after its humiliating defeat in the Meath East by-election.

Considering the tragic nature of his death, the words of Fr Seamus Houlihan at last night’s removal of the late Shane McEntee were all the more poignant to those in attendance.

Sometimes perceived as the maverick minister who is too honest for her own good, Joan Burton is viewed as having leadership ambitions by the party faithful.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny had the minor advantage of familiarity when he lined up alongside golf’s golden boy Rory McIlroy for the glamour Irish Open Pro-Am in Killarney yesterday.

With all bar four of the 43 constituencies in the General Election finished counting, the country’s political scene has undergone a sea change.

Former Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin has failed to retain her seat in Dun Laoghaire. Richard Boyd Barrett won the seat, bringing the haul of seats for Independents and others to 17.

The election of Fine Gael's Mary Mitchell O'Connor in Dun Laoghaire brings to 141 the total number of seats filled so far (from a total of 166).

There are 70 seats filled so far.

Labour's Jack Wall has been elected in Kildare South.

Fine Gael councillor Martin Heydon looks set to top the poll in Kildare South and win back the seat lost by Alan Dukes in 2002.

THE Department of Agriculture will assist with a study to assess the possibility of redeveloping the sugar beet industry, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

Workers at a frozen pizza factory ended their hunger strike today after striking a deal with bosses over the sacking of three men.

THE Government is providing €900,000 to the HSE to cut chronic treatment waiting lists for heroin addicts in many parts of the country.

MINISTER Martin Cullen’s proposal to cut €2.5m from the inter-county player scheme and restrict it to 20 county teams has been branded as “elitist” and “absolutely despicable” by GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell.

Former Kildare County Board chairman and current Labour TD Jack Wall has backed the call of the Gaelic Players Association to retain the Government grants scheme, and also the GPA's quest for official recognition by the GAA.

THE HSE has failed to implement an EU Council decision in March urging member states to ban a legal ecstasy pill.

Hundreds of Irish troops may have to remain in war-torn Chad after the March 2009 end-date of the €57m mission, the Defence Minister told the Dáil today.

THE number of unqualified teachers in primary schools continues to grow, despite government efforts to tackle the problem.

FINE GAEL last night urged the Government to seek legal advice on an author’s controversial claims that one of its ministers was a regular cocaine user.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has said she has no plans to ban herbal ecstasy, despite concerns being raised about the pills, which produce a so-called legal high.

Labour's Jack Wall has been elected to the third seat in the Kildare South constituency.

Fianna Fáil has swept two candidates to power in the Kildare South constituency.

IN THE void left by silent politicians, grassroots commuter groups are forming en-masse in an effort to harness support for improved rail services and standards.

THE Labour Party yesterday promised to make physical education a Leaving Certificate subject carrying third-level points.

THE Steering Committee on violence against women has expressed disappointment at being kept in the dark about the announcement of a new national domestic violence office.

FINE GAEL will fail to win a seat in one of the constituencies the party targeted for a key gain at the general election, according to the results of a new poll.

A LOCAL politician running for the Dáil has been removed from the updated register of electors.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche will attend a hastily convened meeting of a backbench committee on Monday to discuss criticisms of his efforts to update the electoral register.

THE Labour Party has urged a series of measures to address what it calls the “mess” of the electoral register after discovering one of its own TDs was deleted from the records.

Credit card firms have more information on people than the Government’s Electoral Register, it was claimed in the Dáil today.

THE Irish summer is over but a cross-party group of politicians have been given the opportunity to enjoy some sunshine for a few more days at least — in Morocco.

The Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon is leading a parliamentary delegation to the Kingdom of Morocco.