The Government can’t even stave off a nurses strike, Martin thinks he can be Taoiseach propped up by a rag bag of independents and Adams’ Disney economics all make for a dismal election outlook, writes Shaun Connolly.

If a handful of seats had bounced the other way in 2007, Enda would have limped into power at the head of a ragbag coalition, just in time for the financial crash. FF would have been utterly ruthless in their condemnation, writes Shaun Connolly

After another year of high drama and lower farce, Shaun Connolly looks back at the heroes and villains of the past 12 months in Irish politics

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

February’s ballot box office blockbuster will feature the same old political stars after trying their Jedi mind tricks on the electorate, writes Shaun Connolly.

Labour’s deputy leader — and Ireland’s self-styled saviour — was said to be ‘moist of eye’ and ‘emotional’ at a parliamentary party meeting as he protested his innocence over the leaking of poll data, writes Shaun Connolly.

In his column entitled ‘Prochoice must be proactive ahead of campaign’, Shaun Connolly like the majority of the Irish media, is pushing for a secularised value-free Irish society.

France has conceded there is no scientific point in the ban of homosexuals giving blood. It is well beyond time that Health Minister Leo Varadkar lifted the stigma hanging over all gay men in this country, writes Shaun Connolly

This 91-year-old with Parkinson’s didn’t need a cure, he needed care. And this was when Ireland was found to be at its most careless. The whistleblower is being attacked ... but it is Mr Kenny who is to blame, writes Shaun Connolly

According to Shaun Connolly (‘Pro-choice side must be proactive ahead of campaign’ Irish Examiner, October 31) Repeal of the eighth will only pass if there is a clear outline of the structures and time limits for terminations in Ireland.

The pro-choice side is in danger of repeating the early complacency of the marriageequality campaign in their apparent desire to assume an easy win in the referendum, by merely talking to people who think the same as they do, writes Shaun Connolly

Enda Kenny’s two-day visit to Atlanta cost us €4,300 for a chauffeur, while Europe Minister Dara Murphy commandeered a squad car, and the time and services of two gardaí, to drive him 214 miles to Dublin Airport, writes Shaun Connolly

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

The majority of TDs cost the taxpayer more than half a million euro each in pay and expenses in under four years, while TDs who are also ministers have received, on average, €631,000.

While Irish politicians continue to peddle the currency of deceit, Jeremy Corbyn is trying to stay true to himself — and will probably destroy Britain’s Labour party and its hopes for regaining power in the process, writes Shaun Connolly

Micheál Martin will be sleeping with one eye open as contenders for the party leadership circle having left him take the hit for an unspectacular election showing, writes Political Correspondent Shaun Connolly

Gender quotas will see more female election candidates in the field but not necessarily in the Dáil and the woman who spearheaded the policy, Joan Burton, could lose out in the capital’s battle royale, writes Shaun Connolly

In his article on August 6 in the Irish Examiner, Shaun Connolly wrote that the Taoiseach’s intention to win three general elections had “sparked outrage”.

With conservation metering off the agenda this decade and those who didn’t pay for water probably receiving €100 for the privilege, the credibility of those we have put in charge of the country has taken another hit, writes Shaun Connolly

The Coalition’s nakedly blatant electioneering as they lapped it up in Lissadell proves they are no different from the last shower and, sadly, their chicken, opportunist decisions will as ever come home to wreck the roost, writes Shaun Connolly

Recent articles by Shaun Connolly and Alison O’Connor regarding the scrapping of Lone Parents’ Allowance were admirable, points pertaining to this latest attack on vulnerable people by “Cruella” and the Labour Party were well made.

Voters will responde to cuts to lone parent allowance at the polls, says Shaun Connolly

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has refused calls to name and shame the seven banks found to be in breach of the rules for dealing with people in mortgage arrears, writes Shaun Connolly.

Stunning state pensions for Ahern and Cowen, but just statutory redundancy for the Clerys workers turfed out of the building like trash in a feat of financial twisting that was perfectly legal, but morally appalling, writes Shaun Connolly

The Taoiseach was sadly silent on the legal attempt to prevent Denis O’Brien’s finances being discussed in the Dáil, and was remiss in not defending TDs’ democratic right, writes Shaun Connolly

People will not vote in such large numbers at the general election, because they do not trust the political parties to effect change. Voters can only do that themselves, in single-issue referenda, writes Shaun Connolly

The departure of the no-nonsense senator sees Fianna Fáil return to being stale, male, and pale, writes Political Correspondent Shaun Connolly

YET AGAIN, ministers were happy to talk horse manure rather than do anything, writes Shaun Connolly.

Even the National Association of Anti-Climaxes would have refused the Spring Statement entry to its ranks for fear of reducing their already disappointing reputation to an all time low in the minds of right thinking people, suggests political correspondent Shaun Connolly.

Does the Taoiseach really not understand the laws of this country, or does he just think they are there to be twisted to his will whenever he faces a spot of bother, asks Shaun Connolly

Britain’s election is weeks away and Ed Milliband’s policy of economic justice is connecting with the people, while the Government here has roused itself only because it is afraid of massive voter losses writes Shaun Connolly