Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said a Fine Gael-Labour coalition would not represent a change in direction for the government, and that therefore "the larger the Sinn Féin team (in the Dáil), the better".

The Green Party Leader John Gormley has spoken with the Taoiseach this morning to express his concerns over the five Cabinet vacancies.

It appears the Greens will wait until after tomorrow's Dáil sitting to decide whether the Taoiseach Brian Cowen has dealt with the controversy surrounding his dealings with the former Anglo Chairman, Seán Fitzpatrick.

The former Green Party Councillor Chris O'Leary has joined Sinn Féin.

Green Party Chairman Dan Boyle has said he would like to see John Gormley stay on as Minister for the Environment in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle.

The Green Party leader John Gormley is meeting the Taoiseach Brian Cowen this evening to discuss the ongoing WIllie O'Dea controversy.

Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna has said Ireland needs an independent voice in the European Parliament.

The Irish government was today forced into an embarrassing climbdown over controversial plans to abolish automatic free health care for the over-70s.

China’s Communist Party chief in Tibet delivered a fresh attack on the Dalai Lama today as envoys of the region’s exiled leader met for a second day of secretive talks with Chinese officials.

AUSTRALIA, Argentina and Malaysia — just some of the exotic destinations to which government ministers will travel this year to represent Ireland on St Patrick’s Day.

Joan Burton has been elected the new Deputy Leader of the Labour party.

Opposition TDs have begun meeting in Leinster House to decide what sanction they will take against the Taoiseach over controversies surrounding his 1990s financial affairs.

GREEN Party Minister Eamon Ryan has defended the absence of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern from the Dáil last Wednesday.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has left the Republican Party and switched to “unaffiliated”.

The polls to decide Ireland’s next government have closed around the country in one of the tightest General Election contests in history.

A leading trade union has expressed “outrage” that members will have to pledge support for Labour’s policies during the forthcoming ballot for the election of a new Deputy Leader, it was disclosed today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today defended the decision to part-privatise Aer Lingus by saying it would secure its future.

Michael D Higgins, the President of the Labour Party, has warned other parties that want to co-operate with Labour that there are bedrock values that will not be compromised.

A 24-HOUR call centre in Co Mayo where clerical staff input garda reports into the Pulse system is freeing-up officers to fight crime on the beat, it was claimed yesterday.

THE lengths to which Paschal Taggart will go to impose his authority within Bord na gCon have been described in court documents as “dangerous” by a fellow board member.

The Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said today that the Government's reaction to the Rip Off Republic TV programme has been ugly and over-the-top.

Fresh trouble broke out in Belfast today after police launched a series of raids in the loyalist north of the city.

OPPOSITION parties last night labelled “shameful” the Government’s refusal to extend the Dáil term and instead take a three-month holiday from the House from Friday next.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley held talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today, with both sides stressing they want to see action on decommissioning, not just words, from the IRA.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday confirmed that the so-called Bertie Bowl national stadium at Abbotstown will never be brought back onto the Government’s agenda.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today had a telephone conversation with Democratic Unionist Party Leader Ian Paisley to discuss the difficulties in the Northern Ireland peace process.

THE Government’s bounce back in the opinion polls yesterday caused Mary Harney to suggest Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats will win a third term in power.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will today challenge claims that the DUP is not intent on changing the Good Friday Agreement.

MORE than 10,000 people took to the streets of Dublin yesterday evening to protest against the arrival of US President George W. Bush.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte has written to the Taoiseach seeking a cross-party Dáil motion calling on the IRA to end paramilitary activity and disband.

THE shocking findings that politicians are seen by the public as corrupt led to demands for reform of the Dáil and Seanad last night.

Sinn Féin have hit back at Orange Order allegations that they were attacked in Belfast today.

Sinn Fein has selected Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin as their parliamentary party's group leader in the new Dail.

A specially convened meeting of Sinn Fein members was held tonight to assess the fall-out from IRA decommissioning among "troubled" grass-roots republicans.

Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna has said the issue of Sellafield should be top of the agenda when Bertie Ahern meets Tony Blair at the EU summit in Ghent today.