Clare Daly, in her attempt to introduce legislation to allow for termination of pregnancy in the case of fatal foetal abnormality, did the State some service, says Michael Clifford

Sinn Féin has rejected a bid to give it TDs and Senators a free vote on abortion.

Eamon Gilmore insisted Ireland was on track to exit its bailout programme by the end of next year, despite claims by Fianna Fáil that the country was likely to need a second financial rescue package.

THE Government will bring in temporary measures to protect up to 200,000 low-paid workers affected by a High Court decision on wage-setting mechanisms, Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has said.

Twenty-two TDs gathered at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin today to call on the Government to overturn consents granted by former Minister Pat Carey to Shell E&P Ireland on the day of the recent General Election.

THE loss of two Fianna Fáil seats in Meath West, where Fine Gael won two, and the election of Meath’s first Sinn Féin TD since Liam Mellows in 1918, was the outcome of an astonishing count in this constituency.

With all bar four of the 43 constituencies in the General Election finished counting, the country’s political scene has undergone a sea change.

Former Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin has failed to retain her seat in Dun Laoghaire. Richard Boyd Barrett won the seat, bringing the haul of seats for Independents and others to 17.

The election of Fine Gael's Mary Mitchell O'Connor in Dun Laoghaire brings to 141 the total number of seats filled so far (from a total of 166).

OUR politicians are so self indulgent. It’s always about them. Dithering over the timing of the election date reminds me of similar political paralysis in 2008.

Fine Gael has accused Minister Noel Dempsey of trying to undermine this afternoon's protest march against cuts at Navan Hospital.

Around 5,000 people are expected to take to the streets in Co Meath this afternoon in a bid to have closed services at Navan Hospital reinstated.