Ireland South MEP candidate Malcolm Byrne has played down any suggestions of an internal rift in the party between him and running mate Billy Kelleher.

The event, at Lahinch Golf Club, the venue for the forthcoming Irish Open, is attended by members of the Oireachtas past and present, as well as staff and the media.

When questioned last Monday by RTÉ over her startling claim about Ms Guerin, Gemma refused to elaborate, writes Michael Clifford

A debut book of short stories and a powerful new single dealing with suicide and are just two of the projects that Blindboy of the Rubberbandits has on the boil, writes Ellie O’Byrne

It was a week in which the business news was dominated by the travails of dodgy German car salesmen and by the Flight of the Web Summit Earls to a less costly Lisbon.

The Government is to blame for flood of water protests, says Michael Clifford.

A dirty tricks campaign has been launched against former Education Minister Mary Hanafin in an bid to disrupt her attempt to win a local election seat in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

“Stay true to what you believe and don’t criticise.”

So Fergus Finlay is advocating a yes vote, and I applaud him for so doing, but I cannot help wondering what his stance would be if the Labour Party were in opposition rather than in Government.

SEAN GALLAGHER’S bid for the presidency was in disarray last night after the businessman changed his story three times in 24 hours about the collection of a €5,000 fundraising cheque for Fianna Fáil.

FIANNA FÁIL’S outgoing junior minister Dick Roche finally conceded defeat in Wicklow last night after a full day of rechecking of votes failed to save his seat.

FIANNA FÁIL has rubber-stamped a plan to pump tens of thousands of euro into a community project in the home town of embattled Kerry South TD John O’Donoghue.

The new leader of Fianna Fáil will be voted in today in a secret ballot. Seventy-two TDs will vote after the re-admission of Jimmy Devins last night.

FORMER Ceann Comhairle and sitting Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry South John O’Donoghue last night held off a strong challenge from a party councillor to win a nomination to fight the next general election.

THERE is one group of establishment country-wreckers that has managed completely to evade any kind of accountability for bringing this country to ruin.

NOW that the British chancellor of the exchequer has said Britain stands ready to participate in rescuing the state-owned Irish banks, it is appropriate that we should recall the words of an old song.

FIANNA Fáil shows its true disreputable colours in sacrificing Ivor Callely, not for the wrongs he has done, but for bringing the party into so-called disrepute and unwelcome opprobrium on the heads of its politicians.

Talks between Anglo Irish Bank and the Financial Regulator about a possible takeover of the embattled Quinn Insurance firm continued tonight ahead of a crucial court hearing.

GOVERNMENT ministers remain steadfastly reliant on their ministerial cars and government aircraft to travel countrywide and worldwide, according to new figures.

IT was a financial stroke of luck that even Bertie Ahern couldn’t dream of. His daughter Cecelia’s boyfriend David Keoghan put €100 each way and €100 to win on My Valley at 25 to 1 and came out €6,000 wealthier.

FORMER taoiseach Albert Reynolds allegedly got the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to block developer Tom Gilmartin’s plans to acquire lands for a proposed shopping complex, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

A FIANNA FÁIL county councillor has accused his own ministers of being arrogant and complacent.

YOU never know which Brian Cowen out are going to meet on any given day — the indolent clerk or the guy who’s surreptitiously sneaked into the phone booth to slip on his Super Biffo outfit.

Health Service Executive managers are not interested in massive reform of patient care, nurses representatives claimed today.

WATERFORD Regional Youth Services is today preparing for one of the busiest days on its calendar.

A RECORD attendance for Tuesday at the Galway Races enjoyed sunshine, crowd-pleasing winners and a great cure for a Monday night session.

Dignitaries and old allies of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who died yesterday, visited his north Dublin home today to pay their respects.

THE commercial salmon fishing sector has failed to reach its quota since 2001. That year the quota stood at 237,099 and the netsmen returned a catch of 237,626. In 2002, it was set at 219,649 and the return was 208,982.

INADEQUATE grants are forcing students to drop out of college courses despite Government claims that third-level education is a priority, students’ leaders said yesterday.

Fine Gael will set up a dedicated Garda Organised Crime Unit if they are elected, party leader Enda Kenny pledged tonight.

FIANNA FÁIL headquarters last night denied the claim by Education Minister Noel Dempsey that he only provided customised briefing documents for local election candidates under instruction from the party.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night lashed out at striking bus and rail workers who brought public transport to a standstill yesterday.

After the 1977 general election, the gerrymandering aspect was taken out of politics with the establishment of an independent Constituency Commission.

“I REALLY don’t know what I will do now,” said bewildered Dublin woman Rosaleen Hickey, one of 40 mothers who protested yesterday over the axing of childcare funding for adult education students.

I’VE been lucky enough to be a witness to a range of dramatic political events. During the years I worked in Fianna Fáil headquarters, for example, I had a bird’s eye view of controversies during the Lenihan-Robinson Presidential election in 1990 and the collapse of the Reynolds Government in 1994.

IN Government the Labour party would introduce a Garda Ombudsman and restore the Freedom of Information Act, Pat Rabbitte told Labour’s annual conference in Killarney this weekend.

YOUR issue of February 13 last contained a report on the sale of a letter “penned

An anti-war protestor has thrown paint over Fianna Fail Senator Terry Leyden outside Leinster House in Dublin.

POLITICAL lobbyist Frank Dunlop was “under siege” from councillors demanding money in the run-up to the 1991 local elections, the Flood Tribunal heard yesterday.

The Good Friday Agreement will not be re-negotiated, Bertie Ahern warned hardline unionists today.

THOUSANDS of college students are under pressure to pay increased registration fees in the coming weeks while student leaders wait to discuss the issue with Education Minister Noel Dempsey.