AS the days count down to a historic vote on changing our Constitution, most voters will be unaware that if senators are let go, so to speak, they are entitled to bumper pay offs.

GATHERINGS may be all the rage for 2013, but the concept is old hat to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which has been gathering together musicians from across the Irish diaspora for over 60 years.

OPPOSITION is not new for Fianna Fáil but electoral decimation and reputational destruction are.

Dana’s touchy-feely campaign may be time well spent — even if she loses the Áras battle

MICHEÁL MARTIN scrambled to reassert his authority on Fianna Fáil last night after the party’s shaky presidential stance provoked uproar.

YESTERDAY’S decision by Fianna Fáil not to nominate candidates to contest the presidential election ended the ambitions of three aspiring candidates.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has today agreed that its 33 TDs and Senators should not nominate candidates for the upcoming presidential election.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has unanimously decided not to allow its members back any Presidential candidate.

Fianna Fáil Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú has today withdrawn his name as a prospective candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators meet today to decide whether to nominate external candidates to enter the presidential race.

“HE has no choice but to put it to bed, because if he doesn’t there’s a direct challenge to his own leadership.”

FIANNA FÁIL is expected to decide today against facilitating the entry of another independent candidate to the presidential race, despite a last-minute plea by Senator David Norris.

WITH Fianna Fáil’s popularity slumping to just 10% in a weekend poll, deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív has reportedly made a veiled threat to form a breakaway party.

THE Fianna Fáil leadership is considering a total “close down” on the presidency by not allowing TDs and senators to facilitate the entry of another candidate.

VETERAN senator Labhrás Ó Murchú is no stranger to controversy and his last -minute bid for the Áras has split opinion once again.

DAVID NORRIS scrambled to rebuild the wreckage of his presidential bid last night.

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 of votes cast in the Seanad election is due to resume at around 10am this morning.

FORMER Fine Gael TD, Deirdre Clune, returned to national politics after becoming the first candidate to secure one of 60 seats in the Seanad.

Fianna Fáil have rallied in the Seanad elections, winning two seats in the last hour.

THE first of an estimated 250,000 people expected for this year’s 60th annual All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil have descended on Cavan town for the official opening of the event last night.

GROWING dissent in Fianna Fáil led to the resignation of three of the party’s senators for “conscientious” reasons ahead of today’s vote on the Civil Partnership Bill.

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.

I AM writing on behalf of the members of the 1916-1921 Club whose main objective is to honour and remember the dead who fought for Irish freedom and all those who worked for the same cause.

CHILDREN as young as six and seven have been used as runners by drug gangs in a part of Dublin, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.

FIANNA FÁIL took three of the first five Seanad Éireann seats filled last night, as the counting of votes continues.

THE right of citizens to access State services and documents through Irish is a Constitutional right, said Gaeltacht Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv yesterday.

Shouting from the rooftops about Ireland’s rip-off prices is driving away tourists, an Oireachtas Committee heard yesterday.

Shouting from the rooftops about Ireland’s rip-off prices is driving away tourists, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

THE political career of former Clare TD Madeleine Taylor Quinn was in tatters last night when she lost her seat in the Seanad.