The Green Party’s six TDs will retain their seats in the General Election, leader John Gormley predicted today, but said it would be a tough fight.

Ireland’s junior coalition party, the Greens, threatened today to bring down the Government in a row over filling Cabinet seats left empty by a string of ministerial resignations in a day of high drama at Government Buildings.

The Green Party today threw down the gauntlet to Taoiseach Brian Cowen demanding a general election by the end of March.

It appears the Greens will wait until after tomorrow's Dáil sitting to decide whether the Taoiseach Brian Cowen has dealt with the controversy surrounding his dealings with the former Anglo Chairman, Seán Fitzpatrick.

THE Greens have given mixed signals as to how long they are prepared to stay in Government before demanding a general election next year.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and his wife Mary Molloy were among several hundred people who sympathised with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin and his family last night as they began the heartbreaking process of saying goodbye to their beloved Léana.

THE Government was accused last night of “completely failing” some of the worst affected victims of the devastating flood which struck Cork city last November, causing an estimated €100 million damage.

The Labour Party has said that the Government's "gamble" on Anglo Irish Bank did not pay off.

THE Taoiseach is resisting pressure from within his own party to hold three outstanding by-elections, saying they are “more likely next year than this”.

SENATOR Dan Boyle has called for the resignation of Ivor Callely from the Seanad. He refers to the drip-feed of allegations around his colleague and the consequent need for the Seanad select committee on members’ interests to consider these allegations.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern is denying that Fianna Fáil and the Greens are split over the future of Anglo Irish Bank.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was urged to intervene directly in the Ivor Callely affair last night, after one of his ministers called on the senator to quit the Oireachtas.

HUNDREDS of mourners from the world of politics, business and the GAA gathered at St Michael’s Church, Blackrock, Cork, yesterday for the funeral of former city manager Jack Higgins.

The Green Party Chairman Dan Boyle is hitting out at claims that top public service jobs don't pay enough to attract high calibre candidates from the private sector.

The Seanad Committee investigating Senator Ivor Callely's expenses is bringing forward its next meeting to next Monday.

DUBLIN is not likely to vote on a new mayor until next spring the Green Party has admitted, effectively giving up on its commitment to have the election this autumn.

Senator Ivor Callely is today considering an appeal after strenuously rejecting the findings of the investigation into his expenses.

EU Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn gave up the battle to retain her lucrative pension after numerous Cabinet ministers made clear she should forego it.

State-owned Anglo Irish Bank tonight moved to strike a deal with the Financial Regulator to secure the takeover of Quinn Insurance.

Senator Dan Boyle has insisted he was not given a Twitter gagging order by the Green Party.

Green Party Chairman Dan Boyle has said he would like to see John Gormley stay on as Minister for the Environment in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle.

WHEN Brian Cowen became Taoiseach, the litmus test of his style was whether he would reshuffle Mary Harney.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has indicated he may not rush to fill the Cabinet vacancy created by the resignation of Willie O'Dea.

Green Party leader John Gormley today revealed the stability of the Government was threatened during the fallout from Willie O’Dea’s brothel slur.

The Green Party leader John Gormley has said Willie O'Dea's behaviour in trying to defend his actions meant he had to resign.

A defiant Willie O’Dea today declared himself a victim as he continued to face down calls for his resignation over allegations he perjured himself in a sworn statement.

The editor of the Limerick Leader newspaper has confirmed that it will release the tape of the interview journalist Mark Dwayne conducted with Defense Minister Willie O'Dea.

A RATTLED Green leadership last night moved to try and rubbish claims of spinelessness in its dealings with Fianna Fáil.

The company behind a controversial Dublin incinerator tonight confirmed it may import waste from outside the capital to ensure the scheme is viable.

Cork Senator Dan Boyle offered to resign as Green Party finance spokesman last week over concerns about the planned banking inquiry, it has emerged.

IT IS the hope that dare not speak its name; it may yet only be whispered even in the secure confines of 65-66 Lower Mount Street, but there is a nascent hope amongst Fianna Fáil’s true believers that they may have weathered the very worst of the storm.

PUBLIC sector workers were last night warned they would pay for all-out strike action with even deeper wage cuts as the Government and unions squared up for an “explosive” battle.

DESPITE an epic campaign to keep it open, Cork’s Kino – the only independent arthouse cinema outside of Dublin – is to close this weekend. The building on Washington Street will be put up for sale.

An election for chairman of the Green Party is underway.

THE Government will attempt to avert the threat of escalating industrial unrest by inviting the social partners back for talks on a national response to the economic crisis.

CASH-STRAPPED universities will be left to increase registration charges to compensate for the Green Party winning the fight to stop the Government formally introducing third level fees.

A REVERSAL of controversial education cuts introduced in the past year could be crucial to a deal to keep the Green Party in coalition with Fianna Fáil but Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe was unwilling to say yesterday if he is willing to concede such changes.

Talks on a revised programme for Government are to continue in the coming week, ahead of the Green Party convention next weekend.

GREEN PARTY leader John Gormley is confident the Coalition partners will agree a new Programme for Government despite his party’s demands for major policy shifts.

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan should appear before the Dáil committee investigating Fás to explain her approval of a “golden handshake” for Rody Molloy, Fine Gael has said.

Former FAS chief Rody Molloy today quit his role promoting high standards in the public sector.

Senator Dan Boyle of the Green Party has said that "there are a number of areas where Green Party ideas differ from those of the Commission on Taxation".

FINE Gael has called for the Green Party to be cut out of the public debate on NAMA (National Asset Management Agency) for failing to send any of its leaders to quiz Finance Minister Brian Lenihan at the Oireachtas committee hearing on the plan.

COLM McCARTHY has been reviled in certain quarters in recent weeks, but the public may shortly end up owing the economist a great deal.