You win some and you lose some: TD in but Power talk lingers

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and his TDs yesterday moved to minimise the fallout over the shock resignation of Senator Averil Power as the party welcomed its newest TD to the Dáil.

Mr Martin admitted Ms Power’s surprise departure had overshadowed the arrival of Carlow-Kilkenny by-election winner Bobby Aylward and that “events happen in politics”.

He deflected the ongoing criticism of the party by Ms Power, who has claimed TDs laughed at her concerns that nobody was out canvassing on the doorsteps for the marriage equality referendum.