Political figures from around the country have been remembering the Jackie-Healy Rae, after the Kerryman passed away.

Former Kerry South Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae has died today.

YOU’ve known each other since your first job. You’ve had nights out and days shopping, you’ve shared boyfriends and secrets.

YEARS ago, I tested an Audi S3 for a weekend in South Kerry, before Jackie Healy Rae was elected as an independent TD for the constituency and used his Dáil vote to persuade the government to invest in the infrastructure in the area.

Michael Fassbender is a big admirer of Brad Pitt, while Benedict Cumberbatch is infatuated with Matt Damon. Dave Kenny checks out the latest male celebrity craze.

DOLLY PARTON apparently once said “just because you lost your fuzz, don’t mean you ain’t a peach”.

LUNCH, like dieting or fidelity, means many things to many people.

MORE than €5.3 million was paid in golden handshake payments to 75 TDs who lost their seats or retired in February’s general elections.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has joined the growing chorus of people calling on the Healy-Raes to repay money used on premium rate phone calls.

Kerry South TD Michael Healy Rae is facing continuing pressure to repay the cost to the taxpayer of premium rate phone calls.

It has been claimed that Independent TD Michael Healy Rae won a reality TV show four years ago after over 3,600 votes were cast from a single phone in the Dáil.

Here are some of the quotes of the General Election 2011 results day:

IF you have loins, prepare to gird them now.

IT was the Seven Dwarfs vs the Three Stooges, but it symbolised perhaps one of the weirdest weeks ever in Irish politics.

The debate on the Finance Bill will resume this morning, after the Bill passed the committee stage in the Dáil last night.

WHAT an appalling mess this country of ours is in — a dysfunctional and powerless minority Government surviving under what can only be described as political blackmail and an ineffective Taoiseach hanging on after losing the leadership of his party.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin kicked off a four-week campaign to rescue his party from electoral wipeout by delivering an apology for its mistakes.

TWO defiant independent TDs forced the Government into its final climbdown after a week of humiliation to ensure the Finance Bill can pass before the general election.

The Finance Bill has passed its first major hurdle with the second stage getting the backing of the Dáil by 80 votes to 77.

The Government has scraped over the first hurdle in its attempts to put Budget 2011 into law.

A crucial vote on the Finance Bill is taking place in the Dáil around now.

Independents Mattie McGrath, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae have cast fresh doubt on the passage of the Finance Bill.

MEDICAL card holders have had their tax burden reduced, but key independent deputies demanded more concessions to allow the Finance Bill overcome its first major hurdle at midday.

The Government faces a new crisis tonight as TDs threaten to oppose putting Budget 2011 into law by passing the Finance Bill.

South Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has confirmed his support for the Finance Bill cannot be guaranteed.

The Finance Minister has announced that he is cutting the rate of the Universal Social Charge for medical-card holders.

TDs were gathering in the Dáil this afternoon to begin debating the Finance Bill, the aim being to expedite the passing of the legislation and go to the country.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan will enter talks with opposition parties today over the fast-tracking of legislation that will give effect to the Budget and bring forward a General Election.

The Government is tonight on the brink of collapse as the Green Party walked out blaming a complete breakdown in trust, patience and communications in coalition partners Fianna Fáil.

Deputy Michael Lowry has said that his support for the Finance Bill is not guaranteed.

South Kerry Independent TD Jackie Healy Rae is refusing to comment on whether or not he will continue to support the Government until he has met his Independent colleague Michael Lowry.

THE wretched, gray year dragging to a close has been one of misery, frustration, disappointment, capitulation and anger.

Opposition politicians tonight vowed to renegotiate the €85bn bailout after next year's General Election.

The Social Welfare Bill, which will cut the dole, child benefit and other payments, has passed all stages in the Dáil this evening.

A SMALL group of isolated deputies made the most decisive votes of their Oireachtas career as the Government squeezed out a majority for its budget and social welfare cuts.

ON the day after the budget is delivered, it is customary for some part of it to unravel. The first thing to start coming apart in Brian Lenihan’s plan presented yesterday should be the myth that everyone — rich and poor — will share equal pain.

IT was the final, bitter, whiplash goodbye from the Two Brians.

ON behalf of the many sensible of Ireland, I want to congratulate the Kerry-South constituency on your continued support for Jackie Healy Rae.

DEVASTATING welfare cuts and more taxes on the poorly paid are likely to be passed through the Dáil after the Government shored up support from independents and backbench TDs to pave the way for what’s expected to be one of the harshest ever budgets.

Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton, who has said she will abstain in Budget votes tomorrow night rather than see it fail to be passed, insists others in the party share her view.

Independent TD Jackie Healy Rae has said he has not yet decided on how he will vote on the Budget tomorrow.

The Government will try to finalise a deal with Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae today to pass key Budget votes in the Dáil tomorrow night, after "Intensive discussions" at the weekend aimed at securing their support.

Counting will get underway at 9am today in the by-election in Donegal South West.