Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins is the first high profile candidate to lose out in this year's election.

As counting continued around the country this afternoon, signs emerged that a number of high-profile candidates appear unlikely to make it to the 30th Dáil.

The Progressive Democrats will plummet to just two Dáil seats - their lowest ever tally, an election expert predicted today.

ON THE WAY IN: 10 tipped to win

THE momentum behind Michael McDowell’s campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Democrats was beginning to look unstoppable by mid-morning yesterday.

ROLL up, roll up for your seats on the mystery train ride that takes you through the long and dramatic journey of Michael McDowell’s political career. Yes folks, we can guarantee a spectacular rollercoaster ride.

ON RTÉ radio recently, Justice Minister Michael McDowell admitted he’d had his arm twisted by PD deputy Mae Sexton to decentralise the Prison Service HQ to her constituency.

Seanad leader and former Government Minister Mary O’Rourke is to run in the next General Election, it emerged today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has denied that people are confused over the ratification of the EU Constitution.

Progressive Democrats TD Mae Sexton has criticised the Government's plans to press ahead with a referendum on the proposed EU constitution.

AT a casual glance, it appeared to be the usual list from the revenue commissioners, naming and shaming the publicans, parish priests and assorted others who are conscientious objectors to paying their tax.

IMAGINE my surprise on learning from the Irish Examiner (February 19), that the giant US conglomerate, Cardinal Health, a company of 50,000 employees in 22 countries on five continents, indicated their intention to set up a plant in Longford back in December 2000 just to get me elected to Dáil Éireann in May 2002.

JUST back for 12 days after a 14 week break, the Government yesterday ratified another week off for Dáil Éireann.

MORE than 1,300 new jobs promised for Longford two years ago are now unlikely to come on stream before 2007, if at all.

The final Dáil seat to be filled following Friday’s election remains at the centre of a recount this morning.