A Government setting up a task force sounds impressive. It’s what the Taoiseach told the Dáil on Wednesday. The task force, he said, will deal with the “local situation” in the north inner city.

I agree with those who insist Dail reform should be a number one priority before a government is formed, and I suggest reform of the draconian whip system should be to the forefront.

Five people will contest the election today for the role of ceann comhairle in the 32nd Dáil.

Dublin Central has changed from a four-seater to a three-seat constituency since 2011 and with four prominent sitting TDs, not to mention a number of high-profile candidates hoping to be elected, the race to the Dáil will certainly be interesting.

Micheál Martin has categorically stated that he will under no circumstances enter a coalition with Fine Gael or Sinn Féin.

The criticisms levelled by Senator Averil Power against Fianna Fáil in her resignation speech could equally be applied to the other political parties.

Senior gardaí have asked the chairman of the Dáil to stop TDs from making "adverse" comments and "damaging allegations" in the chamber about members of the force.

The killing of a hen harrier in County Kerry was greeted with shock and sadness, not just by the conservationists but by thousands of people who posted messages on social media or phoned radio stations.

Dublin lord mayor Christy Burke is considering running as a Dáil candidate for the mooted Independents alliance headed up by Finian McGrath, Shane Ross and Michael Fitzmaurice.

While taoiseach in 1982 Charles Haughey fulfilled the invitation to the White House for St Patrick’s Day that had been extended to his predecessor Garret Fitz-Gerald. Mr Haughey then invited the president to Ireland on a state visit.

As crime boss Nidge in Love/Hate, Tom Vaughan Lawlor hasn’t flinched from dispatching his enemies, and soon he’ll be playing another character who knows where the bodies are buried.

It would be a mistake to dismiss the massive swell in support for Independents as a simple protest vote; it is at the heart of a breakdown of trust in mainstream party politics, writes Ray Kinsella.

A Dublin City Council committee will today discuss a proposal to rename the city's Millenium Spire after the late Nelson Mandela.

Politicians shot down plans to honour Nelson Mandela with the freedom of Dublin just five years before he was eventually awarded the accolade, classified files have revealed.

Politicians shot down plans to honour Nelson Mandela with the Freedom of Dublin just five years before he was eventually awarded the accolade, classified files have revealed.

THE year was 1987, the final week of the broadcasting season, and a sexed-up book review was about to rock the nation.

DEAR Eamon,

1982: Main events

The year which saw two governments fall is best summed up by the phrase coined that August: Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented. Ryle Dwyer reports

The exile of Mick Wallace from his former alliance with other Independents has only prolonged the identity crisis of the technical group.

THIRTY years ago this month, a young TD named Tony Gregory held a government to ransom.

A NEW group of independent TDs said they are willing to hand over their individual €40,000 allowances if the mainstream parties also sacrifice some state funding.

From a former stockbroker to a pro-cannabis campaigner, the Independent TDs in the next Dáil are a diverse bunch.

Independent Maureen O'Sullivan has been elected Dublin North Central; the late Tony Gregory's constituency.

“WHEN’s it on anyway?” A young girl pushing a buggy near Dublin’s Moore Street asked as an election leaflet is shoved into her hand. “It’s Friday,” Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald told her. “That’s tomorrow you know?”

SINCE Dáil Éireann was established in 1919 there have been 125 by-elections. All but 11 of those were held within six months of the vacancy occurring. But the current Dáil has three vacancies, two of which are already more than six months old and the third well over a year and heading for a record delay.

A ballad paying tribute to the late Dublin TD Tony Gregory has become a cult hit among his former constituents, it was revealed today.

THERE are many people in politics who continue to take Enda Kenny for a mug. Taoiseach Brian Cowen is the embodiment of it, his low opinion of Kenny evident in his withering putdowns of the Fine Gael leader in the Dáil.

IT DAWNED on him pretty quickly.

The country's two new TDs have taken up their seats in the Dáil.

The Government is set to table a motion of confidence in itself when the Dáil meets this afternoon.

“THE best fighter money can’t buy” was how Joe Higgins described himself on his black and white election posters scattered around Dublin in recent weeks.

INDEPENDENCE Day has come once again as the importance of the Dáil’s non-party TDs continues to grow while the Government’s majority diminishes.

SINCE her early 20s, Maureen O’Sullivan worked behind the scenes for one of the best known faces in the Dáil. But she remained as low key in her victory over Dublin Central as she did during her month long election campaign.

THE legacy of the late Tony Gregory helped his election agent of more than 30 years, Maureen O’Sullivan, win his Dáil seat in the Dublin Central by-election – signalling the end of the Ahern-dominated era in the constituency.

BRIAN COWEN’S bruised and battered Government will stagger on in office after the Green Party admitted it dare not pull out of coalition and risk a general election.

Counting begins in the European elections today with Fine Gael hoping to build on landmark victories which made it the largest party in the State for the first time.

Journalist-turned-politician George Lee is expected to scoop a massive victory for Fine Gael in the Dublin South by-election.

Former journalist George Lee is on course for victory in the Dublin South by-election.

COUNTING in the elections gets under way today with Fianna Fáil bracing itself for heavy losses and Fine Gael set to overtake it as the largest party at local government level.

Some 12 offshore islands vote today in the local and European elections.

Most of the country’s offshore islands will today vote in the local and European elections.

DUBLIN Central is a fascinating contest.