Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley and independent candidate Thomas Pringle have been elected in Donegal South-West.

Outgoing Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has been eliminated in Donegal South-West.

Taoiseach-in-waiting, Enda Kenny, tonight launched a fierce attack on the outgoing government for being removed from the people.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty has been elected on the first count in Donegal South-West.

Senior figures in the Fine Gael party have claimed they could be on course for single-party government.

FERRIES and a helicopter carried ballot papers to the first of 2,600 island residents voting in the general election. Islanders in Donegal South-West and Mayo voted two days ahead of tomorrow’s mainland poll.

The new Fianna Fáil frontbench

With all boxes opened in the Donegal South-West by-election , Pearse Doherty has won 39.75% of the first-preference votes, according to the tallies, and is significantly ahead of Fianna Fáil's Brian O' Domhnaill on 21.2%.

The Government will today begin laying the groundwork for a multibillion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Europe.

Ireland was tonight on the verge of an unprecedented bailout worth up to €70bn.

The Government meets today to finalise a four-year, €15bn savings plan as International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European officials continue their audit of the State’s finances.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen tonight flatly denied Ireland has approached Europe for emergency funds.

FINE GAEL has secured permission from the High Court to bring proceedings aimed at forcing the Government to hold by-elections in Dublin South and Waterford constituencies.

The Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny has said the by-election in the Donegal South-West constituency is a "national question" and not a contest about local issues.

THE self-serving, typically ‘cute-hoor’ response of the Government to the High Court decision in relation to the Donegal by-election is the latest twist in the epic tale of Ireland’s spiralling democratic deficit and outrageous contempt for the electorate by a rudderless Government that is incapable of reform.

IT is hard to believe that anyone with any intelligence was surprised by the High Court ruling this week that the Donegal South-West by-election should be held without further delay. The existing delay, since the election of Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher to the European Parliament in June 2009, has been the longest in the history of the state.

THE people of Donegal South-West were “not put at a disadvantage” by being left almost a year and a half without full Dáil representation, according to the Taoiseach.

The Government is tonight facing two more potentially damaging court battles over delayed by-elections.

The Government has offended the spirit of the Constitution by failing to hold the long-awaited Donegal South-West by-election, the High Court ruled today.

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

The President of the High Court will deliver his judgment next month on Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty's challenge over the refusal by the Government to move the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election.

The Government has indicated that voters in Donegal South-West, Dublin South and Waterford will go to the polls early next year.

Soaring unemployment and the banking crisis will top the agenda at today's meeting of the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle in Dublin.

Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has been granted leave to bring a judicial review challenging the Government's delay in holding a by-election Donegal South-West.

Sinn Féin is today mounting a legal challenge to the Government's refusal to hold the Donegal South-West by-election.

FRESH opposition attempts to force a by-election for one of three vacant Dáil seats will be defeated, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has predicted.

THE Government has had to rely on the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle to stave off an unwanted by-election.

The Government has defeated a move by the Opposition to try and hold the Donegal by-election - but only with the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle - after two Fianna Fáil backbenchers voted the wrong way.

The Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has challenged the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to proceed with by-elections in Donegal South-West, Dublin South and Waterford.

THE Taoiseach returns today from Washington. At the top of his in-tray is next Tuesday’s ministerial reshuffle. This represents his last chance to refresh his Government.

Minister Mary Hanafin has signalled that by-elections in Donegal and Dublin are unlikely to take place before the end of the year.

The 30th Dáil has selected a Ceann Comhairle and reinstated Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach for an historic third term.

DISMISSED until now as the political wing of the Irish Mafia, Sinn Féin are positioning themselves to become Ireland’s political wave of the future.

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday accused the Government of not taking housing needs seriously.

The Labour Party has officially launched its campaign for the June 11 local elections.

Independent TD Tom Gildea has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming general election and is believed to have nominated his secretary, Gwen Breslin, to stand in his place.

Fianna Fail MEP Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher is expected to top the poll in Donegal south-west in the upcoming general election, according to an opinion poll conducted by TG4.