The nine-member group of independents have met with both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today and urged both leaders to “get on with it” in terms of forming a government.

A bitter personal row between Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin marred the first day’s sitting of the 33rd Dáil, which failed to elect a Taoiseach.

A new technical grouping of nine TDs has been formed in Dail Eireann which could play a crucial role in the coming negotiations regarding the formation of a new Government.

With the Dáil set to return later this month for the last session, those hoping for a summer general election might as well forget about it.

JUST how long can this farce continue? This is a Government struggling for life and no longer able to guarantee the passage of its legislation.

The Government is on a knife-edge after the resignation of Communications Minister Denis Naughten, with serious doubts over whether it can pass the budget.

Things have changed, apparently unexpectedly. The resignation of Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick from Fine Gael on Monday does not automatically change events, but it may do so dramatically. 

Here's your morning bulletin.

MEP Seán Kelly has called on Fine Gael to reconsider allowing a candidate to contest the presidency as he reiterated his desire to run for the Áras.

A senior banker at Irish Life and Permanent ordered the €7.2 Billion transaction with Anglo Irish Bank be documented in case “something goes pop”, a jury has heard.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves. All 32 of you.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is facing a widescale backbench revolt over his pro-choice abortion views, after half of his party’s TDs voted against allowing any referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

The Government will introduce a free contraception system after the referendum on the Eighth Amendment in a bid to revolutionise Ireland’s sex education and sexual health regime.

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.

The Government is to consider an Oireachtas report recommending a referendum be held to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws and allow for terminations for pregnancies up to 12 weeks.

The Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment fell victim to a tragic “group think” in recommending the legalising of abortion for up to 12 weeks, three rebel members railed yesterday.

The Cabinet is likely to approve the legalisation of abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy in the new year, in line with the report of the committee of the Eighth Amendment.

The Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment has formally signed off on its landmark recommendations to repeal Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, despite three members quitting the group and confirming that they will publish their own unofficial report next week.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has backed abortion in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormalities but has stopped short of endorsing an Oireachtas committee call for terminations up to 12 weeks.

The Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment has formally signed off on its landmark recommendations to repeal Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, despite three members quitting the group and confirming that they will publish their own unofficial report next week.

The Oireachtas abortion committee is widely predicted to vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution and replace it with new laws allowing for abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when it meets this afternoon.

The Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment is set to recommend a straight repeal of article 40.3.3, its complete removal from the Constitution, and for any future abortion laws to be decided solely by the Dáil.

There is a call by members of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment for a referendum on abortion to be held next May.

The HSE is involved in a “constant battle” against rogue crisis pregnancy agencies, the Oireachtas committee examining the Eighth Amendment has heard.

Between Donald Trump’s toddler antics, Boris Johnson’s inability to tell the truth (where’s the £350 million for NHS), and Harvey Weinstein’s ‘mental illness’ (which only appears to affect those with a Y chromosome), it is clear that men’s reputations in politics and public life have been damaged (perhaps irretrievably) for years to come.

Parents forced to go through the torment of giving birth to babies with fatal foetal abnormalities have spoken about being made to feel like “outcasts” by Ireland because of the country’s strict abortion laws.

The cross-party Oireachtas committee examining Ireland's abortion laws has voted by a landslide not to retain article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.

Fine Gael concerns that the abortion referendum could ultimately tear the Government apart have been underlined after a party TD accused one of her colleagues of “lies” and producing “fake” facts on the issue.

The committee will likely end up recommending abortion in restrictive circumstances, writes Alison O’Connor

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has faced criticisms from within his own party that the appointment of Máire Whelan was an act of stroke politics.

Simon Coveney’s campaign team have urged grassroots Fine Gael members to “turn” national politicians supporting Leo Varadkar, after two Clare TDs controversially backed his rival just hours after the Housing Minister visited their constituency.

Five years ago, Kevin Shortall and his wife Tracy didn’t know if their daughter would be alive to make her Communion.

A year on from the last general election the ramshackle minority government continues to stumble from one damaging controversy to the next, writes Elaine Loughlin.

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.

Fine Gael TDs are split on refunding water charges, with half of those contacted by the Irish Examiner in favour of giving the money back and a near identical number saying non-payers must instead be pursued.

Government plans to maintain the right of schools to reserve places for children of past pupils were the subject of strong political differences in the Dáil yesterday.

Denis Casey began his career in 1976 working for Allied Irish Finance Company Limited.