Sparks flew at a meeting of Fianna Fáil's party meeting this afternoon amid a backlash from TDs over a bad general election and concern about the direction leader Micheál Martin is taking.

Could they all be wrong about Sinn Féin? Could it be that those who suggest it is not a normal political party are being spiteful, opportunistic, fearful?

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has found her mojo. But even she, in private, must be surprised at how well her party appears to be doing in this general election campaign, writes Alison O’Connor

Minister of State for Disability issues, Finian McGrath has described the motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health Simon Harris as a “political stunt”.

The Greens have ruled out supporting the Government amid increasing election speculation while ministers have openly confirmed there is now a growing chance of a February poll.

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

Micheál Martin has said he will remain on as Fianna Fáil party leader after the next general election even if he does not become taoiseach.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wants a guarantee that Fianna Fáil will back the coalition in any Dáil confidence vote because of “dissidents” in the opposition party.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has been accused of trying to “hide” a €24m payment from the State to Aer Lingus and Ryanair as part of a previously undisclosed legal settlement.

Fianna Fáil’s health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly has criticised the “massive lottery post code” when it comes to children’s health services.

A leading Fianna Fáil TD has said he would back a motion of no-confidence in the Government if it were tabled because of its handling of the housing crisis.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has insisted "there is no conspiracy, no cover-up" surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell amid ongoing concerns over the terms of reference of the inquiry into the case.

The Central Bank needs to be given stronger powers to sanction banks, according to the chair of the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee.

John McGuinness, Chair of the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee has called for more powers for the Central Bank to ensure it can sanction the banks.

Judges and the legal profession are to be asked to explain the high costs of compensation claims as TDs attempt to uncover reasons behind costly insurance premiums faced by consumers.

The Government has been sharply criticised for signing off on “unacceptable” pay increases for the country’s top judges while refusing to increase wages for lower-paid workers.

A seven judge Supreme Court has ruled the Dáil Public Accounts Committee acted unlawfully in its treatment of former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins’ when she appeared before two hearings of the committee.

The Central Bank is investigating the legality of commercial banks slapping legal fees onto the mortgages of their customers who have fallen into arrears even before cases are concluded, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

The Islamic community wanted to build on a site at the Hebron Industrial Estate on the edge of Kilkenny city.

A MRI scanner being partly financed through hundreds of thousands of euro raised by the public is still lying idle more than two years later.