Commuting from Kildare to Dublin every day, while paying a mortgage and rearing a family, James Lawless felt he understood much of his constituency.

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

The population of this constituency has, like many other commuter belt areas, increased in recent years.

Files have been sent to the gardaí and DPP by political funding watchdogs in relation to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil branches.

A loosening of the party whip system and allowing individual TDs to vote with their conscience on laws would be bad for stability and therefore bad for investment, the Taoiseach told the Dáil.

A loosening of the party whip system and allowing individual TDs to vote with their conscience on laws would be bad for stability and therefore bad for investment, the Taoiseach told the Dáil.

The Taoiseach said he was "naturally, personally disappointed" by the defeat of the referendum to abolish the Seanad, as attention now turns to the need for political reform.

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

Michael McNamara, Labour, Clare: “I do hope that Fine Gael support this [X case legislation] as it is in the Programme for Government.

A Fine Gael TD has said it was “legitimate” to table a Dáil question asking if a drug dealer would be granted compassionate release from prison to attend a niece’s Communion.

The Government must take a more “assertive approach” to reducing bank-related debt, according to Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin.

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.

THE Irish people did not so much speak at the ballot box last week as scream their disapproval of the current government, and this was especially apparent around the capital.

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

Independent Catherine Murphy and Fine Gael's Anthony Lawlor have been elected on the last count in Kildare North.

Independent candidate Catherine Murphy has taken a seat in the fifth count in Kildare North.

Labour's Emmet Stagg has been elected in Kildare North.

No candidate has been elected in Kildare North, which had a quota of 10,245. Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan topped the poll, with 10,168 votes.

According to final tallies in Kildare North, no candidate will be deemed elected on the first count.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he has given Intel bosses a guarantee that our low 12.5% corporation tax rate will remain in place.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is on the cusp of defeating the Fianna Fáil rebellion after backbenchers lined up to show loyalty to their leader.

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.

Latest results fed to the national count centre in Dublin Castle included a massive 76% in favour of Lisbon in Kildare North and another strong backing of 70% in Tipperary North.

The Taoiseach is dropping seven TDs from the junior ministerial ranks, it was confirmed this afternoon, as the new line-up of 15 Ministers of State appeared for an official photocall at Leinster House.

A call to bring all Irish banks under state control will be debated at Labour’s national conference, which begins tonight.

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.

INDEPENDENT TDs received almost €1.4 million of taxpayers’ money on top of their salaries over the past three years and did not have to explain how they spent it.

THE new Labour leader is likely to be announced in the middle of October following a drawn-out election process involving the entire party membership.

FORMER Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Joe Rea died yesterday after a short illness.

Bertie Ahern will make history on June 14 when the Dáil reconvenes if he is, as expected, elected Taoiseach for a third term.

THE extraordinary resurgence of Fianna Fáil means the country’s most successful political party will form a record third government in a row.

Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has said his days as a public representative are over.

Bertie Ahern appeared to be on course for a third term as Taoiseach this afternoon.

The Kildare North constituency has elected Fianna Fáil's Aine Brady after the first count.

Fianna Fáil candidates are dominating the early election tallies in constituencies across the country.

Irish emigrants living abroad have until today to register to vote in the May 24 General Election.

Independent TDs Catherine Murphy and Finian McGrath will take their battle to have constituency boundaries redrawn to the High Court today.

The Progressive Democrats have announced a 30-year-old local entrepreneur as their general election candidate in the Kildare North constituency.

Parents don't want more childcare places, they want financial help to mind their children or have them cared for by grandparents, writes Political Editor Harry McGee.

The Government will adopt a long-term plan to help parents access cheaper childcare, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said tonight.

A SUBSIDY of up to 40% of the average cost of childcare and free pre-school education for three to four-year-olds are at the heart of the Labour Party’s revamped childcare policy.

The Green Party will begin the process of grooming itself for government when over 500 party members meet in Cork tonight for its three-day annual convention.

PUBLIC support for an alternative government coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party has waned, according to a new opinion poll.