HOAX phone calls to the fire service are costing up to €3.2 million each year and putting hundreds of lives at risk, it was claimed yesterday.

Senator Brendan Daly has failed to secure a Fianna Fáil nomination to stand for the Clare constituency in the General Election.

Fianna Fáil Minister of State Síle de Valera today said speculation over who would receive the Clare nomination for the next election had nothing to do with her resigning from politics.