Ireland Election News

Link to Original ArticleDara Calleary TD has welcomed the announcement of renewal of contracts for a number of services provided under the Community Services Programme in Mayo. The Minister for Social Protection Eamon OCiv TD has approved the offer of three years funding (2011-2013) from the programme to employ people on a full-time basis in [...]

Link to Original ArticleFianna Fil TDs mostly in their thirties have ambitions to challenge senior colleagues for the party leadership, writes MARY MINIHAN SIX NAMES have emerged as prominent in Fianna Fils so-called gra generation, a group of TDs mostly still in their 30s and elected for the first time in 2007 but now aspiring [...]

Link to Original ArticleBy Colm Gannon When the nominations were put forward for the leader of Fianna Fil this week, Mayo TD and Minister of State Dep Dara Calleary was the one who proposed Dep Mchel Martin for the leadership of the party. This has led to speculation that the first term deputy could be [...]

Link to Original ArticleTHE NEW LEADER of Fianna FilMichel Martin looks set to return Limerick TD Willie ODea to the front bench ahead of the general election campaign. The former defence minister was at the centre of a scandallastyear after he swore afalseaffidavit, and it is likely that he will feel renewed criticism in relation [...]

Link to Original ArticleSTEPHEN COLLINS and DAN O’BRIEN Sharp differences between Fine Gael and Labour emerged over the weekend as the election campaign got under way in advance of the dissolution of the Dil tomorrow. In a significant move, Labour pulled back from its commitment to the 15 billion budget adjustment target by 2015, opening [...]

Link to Original ArticleFianna Fil TD Niall Blaney has become the latest Dail deputy to announce he will not run in the General Election. The deputy for Donegal North East cited ‘personal reasons’ for his decision. Mr Blaney was first elected to the Dil in 2002 for Independent Fianna Fil but his organisation merged with [...]

Link to Original ArticleHARRY McGEE, Political Correspondent NEW FIANNA Fil leader Michel Martin is expected to announce his new front bench on Monday, with many deputies of the view he will select Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin as deputy leader. Sources close to Mr Martin said yesterday he had spent most of his first two [...]

HARRY MCGEE, Political Correspondent Irish Times Former minister for foreign affairs Micheál Martin is considered the overwhelming favourite among his party colleagues to become the next leader of Fianna Fáil after his decision to publicly challenge the leadership of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Following the refusal to other potential leaders to show their hands publicly, Mr [...]