Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed the Government will ask the EU to re-appoint ex-Fine Gael minister Phil Hogan as an EU commissioner - despite the backlash over the Mercosur deal.

The Government will make no decision on Phil Hogan’s future as EU agriculture commissioner for at least 10 days amid growing demands from farmers for him to be removed from office.

A “deeply disappointed” junior minister Andrew Doyle openly defied his party's instructions not to canvass in Cork and Tipperary amid an escalating feud between Fine Gael's Ireland South candidates.

Fine Gael has been forced to “revise” its division of the Ireland South constituency in order to bolster MEP Deirdre Clune's flagging campaign, just 48 hours before polling.

The Tánaiste has rejected suggestions that Fine Gael is denying voters the right to hear what their candidates have to say by banning Sean Kelly and Andrew Doyle from tomorrow night's Irish Examiner hustings.

A major row has erupted within Fine Gael after junior minister Andrew Doyle was ordered not to attend a hustings event next week, after previously being told he could go.

The Department of Agriculture is planning to undertake a study to establish the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis infection in the national cattle herd, revealed Agriculture Minister Michael Creed in the Dáil last week.

Ireland’s spiralling rental crisis is failing to be addressed because one in every five TDs are landlords and have a clear conflict of interest on the issue, campaigners have warned.

President Michael D Higgins was among the mourners at the funeral Mass for former Ceann Comhairle and 46-year veteran of the Dáil Seamus Pattison who was buried in his native Kilkenny this afternoon.

The decision to re-open Stepaside Garda Station has been branded “Del Boy politics” by a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which has criticised the move.

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.

Fine Gael TDs are attempting to appease Waterford’s John Deasy after the experienced Fine Gael TD was overlooked for promotion by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Simon Coveney has warned against dropping Health Minister Simon Harris from Cabinet.

Incoming taoiseach Leo Varadkar may ultimately appoint his leadership rival Simon Coveney as tánaiste as part of a peace offering to ease party divisions.

There will be nothing very revolutionary about the makeup of the new cabinet, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Not back in Ireland 72 hours and we were already hearing that Enda Kenny wants to further delay his stay in Government Buildings, writes Daniel McConnell

Irish food companies need to quickly move beyond their reliance on the UK if they are to survive a Brexit worst-case scenario, a parliamentary watchdog has found.

A Fine Gael TD who last week called for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to resign as he no longer has faith in him claims he only made the remark to prevent — and not cause — a no confidence motion in his leader.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has opened an early lead on his main rival Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar in the race to succeed Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

Fine Gael ministers believe they will have a new leader by Easter after Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he will “conclusively” address his future after he returns from his White House visit for St Patrick’s Day.

A defiant Enda Kenny has killed off internal Fine Gael attempts to topple him after silencing rebels with a promise to “conclusively” address his leadership next month.

When Kenny finished, an extensive round of applause began and there was no debate, writes Daniel McConnell.

Enda Kenny could remain on as Taoiseach until mid-April after a potential successor to him failed to rule out a Fine Gael leadership contest finishing by Easter.

Yesterday was to be the day. Those Fine Gael rebels who had vented their spleen last week about wanting rid of Enda Kenny had until 1pm to put down a motion of no confidence in time for tonight’s meeting.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny must explicitly set out his time-frame for stepping down this Wednesday or risk “tearing Fine Gael apart”, senior figures last night warned.

The two most likely successors to Taoiseach Enda Kenny are split on how to remove him from power.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are among senior Fine Gael figures urging Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to reconsider his decision not to contest the party leadership, once Mr Kenny steps down.

Daniel McConnell takes a look at the potential contenders for Fine Gael leadership and who else is looking to give Enda Kenny the heave ho.

We look at the top three contenders to be the next Fine Gael leader.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s closest allies within Cabinet face being wiped out once he leaves office, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Fine Gael are examining plans for a 21-day national leadership campaign race which would see potential successors to Enda Kenny enter regional debates in a move strategists say would energise the party.

LATEST 8.30pm: The Taoiseach has refused to discuss any plans for his departure, saying he is focused on his job as leader of the country.

A number of government TDs are backing the idea of a Brexit minister amid concerns Taoiseach Enda Kenny is unable to focus on securing the best deal for Ireland.

TDs and other elected representatives across the country have given a mix of recommendations and complaints to the boundary commission ahead of proposed constituency changes this year.

A safe enough gambit is that Enda Kenny’s ego is telling him he is the only man for the job, writes Alison O’Connor.

Fine Gael members turned on each other last night as deputy leader James Reilly accused rebel TDs of using him as a “punchbag” and “proxy” in order to get to Enda Kenny.

A “rattled and shaken” Taoiseach Enda Kenny had his leadership called into question for the first time in six years by angry Fine Gael TDs and senators last night.