The No side has remained ahead throughout the afternoon in the referendum to abolish the Seanad - but with a very tight margin.

The final Dáil vote saw 31 TDs oppose the X case legislation as numbers were swelled by left-wing deputies protesting that the new law was not liberal enough.

Three of Ireland’s 43 constituencies voted against Government plans to enshrine children’s rights in the constitution.

The referendum to enshrine children's rights in the constitution looks set to pass, early results have indicated.

There is a sense of deja vu about all this.

Ireland should be granted a deal to lower its bank debt now that it has passed the fiscal treaty, Enda Kenny has said.

Voters in just five of the country’s 43 constituencies rejected the referendum, with strong divisions between urban and rural areas.

Working-class Dublin joined defiant Donegal in their rejection of the European Fiscal Treaty.

The Chief returning officer, Riona Ni Flanghaile, has declared the official national result of the Fiscal Treaty referendum at Dublin Castle.

Ireland has backed the European Fiscal Stability Treaty with around 60% of those that turned out to vote yesterday saying Yes to the treaty.

Results in the EU Fiscal Treaty referendum are flowing in fast this afternoon and it looks like the country has passed the 30th Amendment to the Constitution.

Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea has backed calls for pensions to be taken from politicians who are found to have acted corruptly.

The first of the official counts in the Presidency are being declared this evening with Michael D Higgins is now certain to be elected the ninth President of Ireland.

First count results in the Presidential election are expected to start coming in from around the country in the next hour or so.

Labour's Michael D Higgins is on course to be the ninth President of Ireland according to tallies so far.

A Sinn Féin TD has said it is "hypocritical" to reject the notion of Martin McGuinness as President of Ireland while welcoming his role as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

MICHEÁL Martin cut a lonely figure as he walked down the Leinster House plinth in search of a bench.

SINN Féin has long threatened. This time it delivered.

The fall of Mary Coughlan signalled not only the demise of a Government but also the end of a Fianna Fáil political dynasty.

The fall of Ireland’s former Tánaiste signalled not only the demise of a government but also the end of a Fianna Fáil political dynasty.

Fine Gael’s Joe McHugh has been elected to Donegal North East.

The returning officer in Donegal North East has announced the commencement of counting of votes for Padraig MacLoclainn, SF and Joe McHugh, FG, the top two candidates.

IT’S nearing the final stretch in another gruelling run in a Cork South Central campaign for a candidate from Turner’s Cross.

Fianna Fáil's Niall Blaney has become the latest TD to announce that he will not contest the General Election.

ONE of Brian Cowen’s constituency colleagues has admitted Fianna Fáil will be in “fierce trouble” in Laois-Offaly if the Taoiseach doesn’t run in the general election.

LEADING political analyst Sean Donnelly has predicted Fianna Fáil could lose all seats in the two Co Donegal constituencies, including Tánaiste Mary Coughlan’s.

OUR politicians are so self indulgent. It’s always about them. Dithering over the timing of the election date reminds me of similar political paralysis in 2008.

THE last vestige of credibility evaporated from the Progressive Democrats from the moment Michael McDowell hoist the petard that the PDs were exiting government — only to subsequently change their minds.

The long-awaited Donegal South West by-election will be held on Thursday November 25, it was revealed today.

The Government will today formally move the writ for the Donegal South West by-election.

The High Court will rule today on a Sinn Féin lawsuit to try to force the Government to hold the long-awaited by-election in Donegal South West.

“THEY gave me nothing and I owe them nothing” was how Jim McDaid summed up his relationship with Fianna Fáil back in 2007, just after he regained his seat on the party’s ticket in Donegal North East.

The clamour for a general election intensified tonight after renegade TD Jim McDaid quit politics, accusing the Government of failing to take tough decisions.

Renegade TD Jim McDaid is to quit politics, it was confirmed today.

THE fuss about Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright’s announcement of her planned departure from politics has been justified because of how it illustrates the difficulties of time management faced by women who want an active political career, especially those with pre-school and schoolgoing children.

FINE GAEL TD Olwyn Enright has attributed her decision not to contest the next general election solely to family reasons.

The son of a former Fine Gael TD is to be the latest recruit for the Labour Party.

Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal North East Niall Blaney is seeking a meeting with his constituency colleague Jim McDaid who withdrew his support for the Government today.

VALENTIA and Malin Head coastguard stations have been saved from threatened closure, it was revealed last night.

A CORONER for the county with the country’s worst record on road deaths has said a lower legal alcohol limit will not significantly reduce the carnage.

MORE than half of the country’s 43 constituencies will undergo extensive changes in electoral registers and county boundaries under the raft of recommendations by the Constituency Commission.

SLACKING in the Dáil, accepting free perks, breaking the law — even that most cardinal of sins, criticising Fianna Fáil — none seem too bad to prevent career progress in the eyes of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.