Joe Leogue Both Fine Gael and Labour selected candidates for the European Parliament elections in the Ireland South constituency yesterday.

The wimmin’ are gone entirely mad. Losing the run of themselves. Nothing will ever satisfy them now. 

Unlike Enda Kenny, John Bruton and Michael Noonan before him, Leo Varadkar is in total control of his party, writes Daniel McConnell.

All eyes will be on Fine Gael’s special parliamentary party meeting this afternoon where TDs and senators will discuss their views on plans to repeal the Eighth Amendment and allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar may use the resignation of Frances Fitzgerald as Tánaiste as an opportunity for a wider reshuffle at Cabinet to embolden the party ahead of any general election.

They must be worried, says Daniel McConnell. The booze companies I mean

Leo Varadkar took his first bold step onto the pristine furrow — time stopped, breaths were held, and ploughing matriarch Anna May McHugh put her hands to her face in shock.

This Rugby World Cup bid, you know it’s going to happen, right? 

Deeply disappointed Fine Gael TDs have questioned Leo Varadkar’s junior ministerial reshuffle as he faces a backlash over the lack of female appointments.

What jobs there were were mostly for the boys, writes Lise Hand

An absence of female ministers, punishment of his opponents, and the failure to promote several TDs were some of the complaints over Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s junior ministerial appointments.

LATEST: Leo Varadkar has been accused of "undervaluing women's voices" after appointing less females than Enda Kenny to junior ministry roles.

Irish children are smoking less, drinking less and are healthier than they were 20 years ago.

“She’s 100% committed. He’ll just have to target someone else.” It may still officially be a polite, cordial oh-so-Fine Gael leadership race, but there is no mistaking the fact the gloves are slowly coming off in the fight to become taoiseach.

It's not over yet - Housing Minister Simon Coveney has vowed to continue his campaign for the leadership of Fine Gael, writes Eoin English of the Irish Examiner.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar’s “shock and awe” start to his leadership campaign has given him an early but decisive lead over Housing Minister Simon Coveney in the race to become Taoiseach.

Shock and Awe, Blitzkrieg, total annihilation. That was the clear strategy from the Leo ‘X Factor’ Varadkar camp on the first day of the campaign to replace Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in sombre mood this morning, responding to questions about whether he has any regrets about his time in power by saying: "Je ne regrette rien", writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith of the Irish Examiner.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has strongly hit back at claims he lacks charisma, saying a new Taoiseach doesn't need an 'X factor' but needs to deliver, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

Bowel cancer rates for men are double that of women yet fewer men than women are using the free detection service, it has emerged.

The State’s health services watchdog is worried that people who have never smoked will start using e-cigarettes as they become more socially acceptable.

The body which represents firms selling e-cigarettes in Ireland has questioned concerns over vaping being a gateway to smoking.

The European premiere of Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic, was screened in Dublin last night.

Our streets host fabulous parades by day, but scenes of vomiting, urinating, and fighting by night, writes Alison O’Connor.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s controversial St Patrick’s Day meeting with US president Donald Trump will take place during an expanded trade mission, writes political correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Supermarket chains and retailers have been urged to follow Tesco’s example by providing and promoting lower-sugar soft drinks on their shelves.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

THIS society’s struggle with alcohol abuse continues and it would be a very brave person indeed who might suggest that it will ever end. 

Relations between government partners Independent Alliance and Fine Gael are deteriorating further after a second public row in 24 hours, this time over the sale of alcohol in shops.

Small shops may be given an exemption from a bill seeking to limit the way in which alcohol is sold in Ireland amid concerns the law could cause hundreds of family stores to close.

A high hospital admissions rate for people with bronchitis and emphysema is being tackled, Junior Health Minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy told a patients’ conference yesterday.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, the junior health minister, has come under fire from members of her own party over plans to change the sale, advertisement, and price of alcohol.

Fine Gael senators have threatened to vote against the Government’s alcohol bill if they do not get reassurances on measures impacting on small businesses.

Complex negotiations around the Department of Health spend are holding up other departments as ministers continue to hammer out the details of Budget 2017.

One in four people believe the parents of morbidly obese children should face criminal prosecution for child abuse. An Irish Examiner / ICMSA opinion poll also shows 44% are in favour of a sugar tax, versus 39% who are opposed.

Ireland is now near the bottom of the European table for cigarette and alcohol use among Irish teenage pupils thanks to a continuing reduction in the consumption of both substances.

The minority Government suffered its first defeat in the Dáil last night after the Labour Party succeeded in passing a bill to protect workers’ rights.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made more than half of his parliamentary party ministers after a reshuffle of junior positions, in which Fine Gael rebels were shunned.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has just announced a number of new junior ministers in the Dáil.