Selecting the right candidates for the general election is a big problem, writes Gary Murphy

Fianna Fáil’s Bobby Aylward is the country’s newest TD after winning the seat in the Carlow Kilkenny by-election.

Fianna Fáil may not be far enough ahead on first preference votes to see off a transfer-based challenge from other parties in the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has predicted that the Carlow- Kilkenny byelection will be decided on transfers.

On the face of it, Fianna Fáil and Renua Ireland have little in common.

Officially, Friday’s Carlow/Kilkenny byelection is all about replacing former Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan, who was ‘promoted’ to Europe after the Irish Water debacle.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has been accused of “cosying up” to Fine Gael in a desperate bid to survive as head of the party, and enter government after the next general election.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has lashed out at colleagues “sniping from the bushes”, a reference to claims from Eamon Ó Cuív about the party facing demise.

Renua Ireland’s first attempt at winning a Dáil seat has already been hit by controversy, after it was claimed the party’s newest candidate considered joining Sinn Féin just weeks ago.

The leading TD of a new independent alliance of politicians has said his group has not held talks with the Coalition about propping up parties after the next general election.

The two men accused of murdering a 24-year-old man in Mahon last year by stabbing him 11 times were found guilty of the crime yesterday and they were given sentences of life imprisonment.