Major parties gear up for next election

BOTH Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will start putting concrete plans to fight the next general election in place this autumn, even though it is three years down the road.

The disastrous local and European election results for Fianna Fáil have prompted the Taoiseach to hold a special two-day crisis meeting of the parliamentary party in West Cork in September.

Every TD, senator and MEP will be asked to come up with ideas on how Fianna Fáil canimprove their policies and organisation.