FIANNA Fail backbenchers were told they would have to agree with controversial plans to change the medical card system, or the Taoiseach would be brought back from Brussels to deal with them.

There are signs that voting in the Lisbon Treaty Referendum has picked up slightly after a very slow start.

THE young people’s wing of Fianna Fáil in Limerick has warned against any government move to raise the legal age for buying drink from 18 to 21.

LIMERICK’S three electoral constituencies have been radically revised with 13,146 voters being transferred to the constituency of Kerry North under controversial recommendations made to the Government yesterday.

The number of Dáil TDs should remain at 166 but changes must be made to several constituencies, a state body said today.

SHANNON Airport employees angry at Aer Lingus’s decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow flights have sent an estimated 2,500 protest letters to the six Fianna Fáil TDs in the region.

FIANNA FÁIL’s mid-west TDs could be left red-faced over the Shannon issue when the Dáil resumes later this month.

EVERY Dáil constituency in the country should be a five-seater, according to a radical proposal made to the Constituency Commission by the Labour Party.

FIANNA FÁIL has called for Kerry constituencies to be redrawn as a single five-seater in the next general election — resulting in the loss of one of the county’s six TDs.

IT IS hard to imagine a more resounding expression of disappointment with the Government and with Aer Lingus than that revealed by today’s poll.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s decision to increase the number of junior ministers was again criticised by the opposition yesterday.

HAVING just won Dáil seats, two successful candidates yesterday went along to the monthly meeting of Limerick County Council only to learn they were no longer members.

Fianna Fáil has taken a second seat in Limerick West after the third count as John Cregan got past the quota of 10,108, finally polling 10,355.

It could be the first time in almost half a century that a TD from the O’Malley dynasty will not be in the Dáil, while other political families prospered in the General Election.

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

Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins has been elected in Limerick West with 10,326 first preference votes.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny will blitz several Munster constituencies today as the General Election campaign enters its final 48 hours.

THE campaign of outgoing Limerick West Fianna Fáil TD John Cregan was left with ministerial egg on its face yesterday.

GOODWILL to all men — even those of a Fine Gael or Labour persuasion — has broken out in the office of a leading FF strategist in Limerick.

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea was last night at the centre of a bitter row between two Fianna Fáil candidates.

THE Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday agreed to adjourn a tax charge against a Limerick TD until after he retires from the Dáil.

INDEPENDENT Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West Michael Collins is to stand trial on tax evasion charges in the Circuit Court, a judge was told yesterday.

THE Oireachtas Committee which will examine if the Constitution should be changed following the Supreme Court decision on statutory rape may repeal the emergency laws on child abuse introduced last month.

AN alliance between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats on Limerick County Council is under threat in a row over the lucrative chairperson’s position - which carries an allowance of almost €40,000.

SMALL towns around the country have been urged to fight to ensure size doesn't matter when it comes to having locally elected town councils.

FORMER Fine Gael TD Micheal Finucane has revealed he was once abducted by the IRA in Limerick over 14 years ago.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night defied his reputation for indecision by moving swiftly to expel Beverly Flynn from Fianna Fáil following her failed Supreme Court libel appeal.

THE combination of a glorious spring day, and the possibilities offered by an alternative three-party opposition, appeared to work magic on the moods of delegates at the Fine Gael Árd Fheis at the weekend.

THE largest family gathering in the country was Martin Cullen’s curious description of the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis.

THE pressure mounted on Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright last night as it emerged that payments he received from lobbyist Frank Dunlop will be investigated by his party’s ethics committee.

ANOTHER Fianna Fáil TD has broken ranks with the leadership on the smoking ban.

Both Donegal constituencies have voted 'Yes' in the Nice Treaty referendum, albeit by a narrow margin.

Michael Finucane has conceded he has lost his seat to Dan Neville in the Limerick West recount.

The recount in Limerick West is continuing, with 20 votes being checked by count staff.

Fine Gael’s Dan Neville will face off with party colleague Michael Finucane, after requesting a recount after losing by one vote in Limerick West.

Election candidates in five constituencies are awaiting the results of recounts.

Election candidates in five constituencies are awaiting the results of recounts.

Fianna Fail is on track to win a total of 81 or 82 seats, just short of an overall majority.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is preparing to return to power after a resounding general election victory.

The fourth count in Limerick East has now been completed without anybody reaching the quota.

A recount has been called in Limerick West for tomorrow morning.

Polling stations throughout Ireland are reporting an average turnout so far of around 10% to 15%, despite heavy rain throughout the country.

Michael Noonan is taking his election campaign to Limerick West today where he will address problems in agriculture and rural life.