By Sean McCarthaigh

By Sean McCarthaigh

Sinn Féin has emerged as the surprise poll-topper in the Dublin West bye-election with its candidate Paul Donnelly edging out the pre-election favourite, Socialist Party councillor Ruth Coppinger after the first count result.

The battle for Longford-Westmeath once again highlights Ireland’s curious tradition as a Republic that often takes comfort in voting for the hereditary principle when choosing elected representatives.

Fine Gael election candidate Eamonn Coghlan last night told a bizarre anecdote that left television viewers baffled.

In search of a constituency to explain the myriad of issues currently affecting political parties? Then look no further than Dublin West’s by-election.

THE clue is in the name really. Labour. It doesn’t paint word pictures of sunny skies, optimism and basking in the glow of an affectionate electorate.

The Government has named the day for the Longford/Westmeath and Dublin West by-elections.

It has been confirmed that writs for the by-elections to fill the two vacant seats in the Dáil will be moved tomorrow.

It is now almost certain that the Longford Westmeath by-election will be held on May 23 with the local and European elections.

Fianna Fáil is hopeful of winning a seat in the Dublin West by-election after 27-year-old teacher and local councillor David McGuinness was chosen as its candidate.

Fianna Fáil have selected Councillor David Mc Guinness as the party's by-election candidate in Dublin West.

It has been reported that two Dáil by-elections will go ahead on the same day as next month's local and European polls.

AT LEAST it was fitting in Holy Week that we asked the question: Will Labour walk on water?

MAKING predictions in politics is a mugs game, we only have to look back on the last few days to confirm that as a fact.

Ireland has had its share of political sex scandals, which will continue to happen unless we tackle the ‘boys will be boys’ culture and get more women involved in running the country, writes Bette Browne

Former Labour party allies of disgraced TD Patrick Nulty have expressed “shock and distress” at his actions.

TWO political crises on a Monday morning. Isn’t that great!

Fianna Fáil emerged as early favourites to regain a political foothold in Dublin in the wake of the shock resignation of Patrick Nulty.

Even if he had not set himself up as some kind of moral force for good in the Dáil, Patrick Nulty’s fall was still as squalid as it was unexpected.

Fianna Fáil’s not sorry anymore.

Joan Burton, the social protection minister, has rejected calls for the restoration of Christmas bonus payments for welfare recipients saying it was not possible as the Government needed to keep control of spending.

The former chairman of the Labour Party has applied to join Fianna Fáil, the party has confirmed.

Independent TDs accused the Coalition of attacking the old, the sick and the young while corporate profits and the wealthy are protected.

A financial transaction tax and a tax on the wealthy would raise around €600m as part of an alternative budget proposed by independent TDs.

Two alternatives to next weeks budget have been outlined by the Opposition - both would tax more than Michael Noonan is likely to announce.

Seanad abolition will see powers to trigger a referendum stripped from the President as well, Fianna Fáil has warned.

Government funding to tackle youth homelessness has been slashed by a massive 66% since the recession began, despite the fact a child lost their home every 20 hours last year.

Political correspondent Shaun Connolly says three new blocs of rebel TDs want more speaking time in the Dáil, and may have designs on forming a new party

Labour chairman Colm Keaveney resigned from the party saying it is “heading for disaster” and that he wanted to challenge the Coalition’s failed policies from the opposition benches.

Colm Keaveney has quit as chairman and member of the Labour Party.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has received Cabinet approval for extra resources to reverse planned cuts to special needs education from September.

A leading Labour rebel has broken all ties with the party after expressing despair with its leadership.

Resigning from any organisation, political or otherwise, is a legitimate form of protest but whether it achieves anything other than 15 seconds of infamy — or admiration — for the protester is more than questionable.

Former Labour TD Patrick Nulty says he has resigned from the party because they have rowed back on pre-election promises.

The Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty has resigned from the Labour Party.

Limits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.

The Government has been urged to reopen talks with trade unions after workers rejected the extension of the Croke Park deal agreement.

The legacy of Margaret Thatcher will be hotly contested and I was never a fan of hers.

The Labour Party’s days in Government are numbered unless it pursues a different agenda, grassroot members warned.

The resignation of Nessa Childers from the Parliamentary Labour Party is likely to fuel further uneasiness within that party.

MEP Nessa Childers has said she felt it would have been "morally corrupt" of her to stay in the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Nessa Childers has resigned from the Labour Parliamentary Party.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has dismissed any threat to his leadership from a breakaway group of “Real Labour” rebel TDs.