Party experts played central role in shaping programme for governmentBACKGROUND: Both Fine Gael and Labour relied on support groups to provide financial, legal and economic adviceTue Mar 08 2011 - 00:00
'Disastrous mistakes' of 1980s won't be repeated, says KennyFINE GAEL MEETING: FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny told his parliamentary party colleagues that in government it would not repeat…Mon Mar 07 2011 - 00:00
Opposition says deal a fudge and bad news for the low paidREACTION: FIANNA FÁIL described the programme for government agreed between Fine Gael and Labour as a fudge, saying it was hazy…Mon Mar 07 2011 - 00:00
New light shed on economic crisis, say FG and LabourFINE GAEL and Labour last night said briefings they received on the economic and banking situation facing the incoming government…Thu Mar 03 2011 - 00:00
Martin says FF senators must look to Dáil seatsSEANAD: FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has told his party’s outgoing senators that future members of Seanad Éireann need …Thu Mar 03 2011 - 00:00
Greens determined to keep goingPARTY MEETING: EAMON RYAN has said there is a quiet and grim determination among Green Party members to try to get it back on…Wed Mar 02 2011 - 00:00
Fine Gael and Labour stress that coalition not only optionFINE GAEL and Labour have separately indicated that a successful outcome to government negotiations cannot be taken for granted…Wed Mar 02 2011 - 00:00
Parties aiming for deal by weekendNEGOTIATIONS: FINE GAEL and Labour have separately set provisional weekend deadlines for the completion of negotiations to form…Wed Mar 02 2011 - 00:00
Failure to get votes likely to result in party's office closingGREENS: THE GREEN Party will hold a number of crucial meetings with staff and with its membership over the next few day to discuss…Tue Mar 01 2011 - 00:00
Nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed, insists negotiator HowlinLABOUR: A MEMBER of the Labour negotiating team has said the party’s talks with Fine Gael on the formation of a coalition government…Tue Mar 01 2011 - 00:00
Kenny hails democratic revolution at ballot boxREACTION: FINE GAEL’S success in the general election was described by party leader, and taoiseach-elect, Enda Kenny as historic…Mon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00
Party breaks record with four-seat Mayo victoryBIG WINS: FINE GAEL’S breakthrough has been marked by spectacular results in key constituenciesMon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00
Senior TDs in FG and Labour experienced in negotiationsCOALITION TALKS: WHILE FINE Gael suggested over the weekend that it would talk to other TDs and groupings, the strong view of…Mon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00
Turnout of over 70% reported at some polling stationsVOTER TURNOUT in the general election appeared to have surpassed that of the 2007 election at the close of voting last night, …Sat Feb 26 2011 - 00:00
Final plea by Gilmore not to give monopoly of powerPARTY CAMPAIGNS: LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore made a final plea that voters should not give one party a monopoly of power because…Fri Feb 25 2011 - 00:00
Martin says FG will not abolish Seanad in next DáilFIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has claimed Fine Gael has no intention of abolishing the Seanad during the next Dáil term because…Thu Feb 24 2011 - 00:00
FF fought 'credible' campaign - MartinFianna Fáil has fought a credible and straight-up campaign and will be fighting for every vote until polling day, party leader…Wed Feb 23 2011 - 00:00
FG to publish job creation strategy 'within 100 days'FINE GAEL says it will publish a “jobs budget” within 100 days of entering government.Wed Feb 23 2011 - 00:00
Green Party critical of Fine Gael's €7bn jobs policyFINE GAEL’S flagship policy to create jobs in the Irish economy will end in failure and could be deeply destructive to the energy…Tue Feb 22 2011 - 00:00
Change of climate tests Ryan's appealON THE CANVASS: Despite anger with the Government, Eamon Ryan gets a mostly cordial reception on the doorsteps of Dublin South…Tue Feb 22 2011 - 00:00
Greens attack FG jobs policyFine Gael’s flagship policy to create jobs in the Irish economy will end in failure and could be deeply destructive to the energy…Mon Feb 21 2011 - 00:00
Martin says return to core values the key to FF survivalRALLY: FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has said he is determined to return his party to the core principles that guided it…Mon Feb 21 2011 - 00:00
FF targets core voters to stave off electoral meltdownFIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin is to deliver a “do-or-die” speech tomorrow in a direct appeal to his party’s grass roots as…Sat Feb 19 2011 - 00:00
Biggest threat set to come from IndependentsCONSTITUENCY PROFILE: LIKE KERRY North-West, Limerick and Sligo-Leitrim North, Roscommon-Leitrim South is one of those geographically…Sat Feb 19 2011 - 00:00
Martin issues appeal to FF grass rootsFianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is to deliver a “do-or-die” speech tomorrow in a direct appeal to his party’s grass roots as…Sat Feb 19 2011 - 00:00
Lenihan accuses Boyle of defamationMINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan has described as a “defamation” the assertion made by Green Party Senator Dan Boyle that he…Sat Feb 19 2011 - 00:00
Labour taxes to cost €1,300 extra per family, says FGFINE GAEL yesterday struck back at sustained Labour Party criticism of its fiscal plans by claiming Labour taxes would cost each…Fri Feb 18 2011 - 00:00
Lowry may top poll but FF's Hoctor faces major challengeCONSTITUENCY PROFILE: A DOMINANT theme in Tipperary North of late has been casino politics – what with Michael Lowry’s grandiose…Fri Feb 18 2011 - 00:00
Exuberant Hayes tackles burning issue and gives thanks for the silent majorityON THE CANVASS: Easily recognisable in his political ice-cream van, he takes the flak with good humourFri Feb 18 2011 - 00:00
Labour and FF put focus on €5bn 'gap' in FG fiscal planFINE GAEL was yesterday targeted for repeated political attacks by Fianna Fáil and Labour, with both claiming there was a €5 …Thu Feb 17 2011 - 00:00
Labour and FG dispute on fiscal plans grows more heatedTHE ROW between Fine Gael and Labour over their respective fiscal plans became increasingly hostile yesterdayWed Feb 16 2011 - 00:00
Kenny saves himself from political limboANALYSIS: Enda Kenny’s low-key approach appears to be winning over the votersWed Feb 16 2011 - 00:00
Fine Gael promises to create 100,000 jobsMANIFESTO: FINE GAEL’S election manifesto has promised that the party, if elected to government, will create 100,000 jobs, reduce…Wed Feb 16 2011 - 00:00
Ahern departure and Fianna Fáil decline opens way for Sinn Féin gainCONSTITUENCY PROFILE: DUBLIN CENTRAL: IN THE 2007 general election, then taoiseach Bertie Ahern was elected on the first count…Tue Feb 15 2011 - 00:00
No clear winner as Kenny holds his own in five-way leader debateFINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny emerged largely unscathed from last night’s televised election debate involving the leaders of all…Tue Feb 15 2011 - 00:00
Fine Gael claims it will transform Ireland if electedFine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said that his party’s manifesto is the best plan produced by any party entering into an election…Tue Feb 15 2011 - 00:00
Electoral tensions laid bare as potential partners attack each other's policiesANALYSIS: Failure to criticise FF or the Greens is most remarkable aspect of Opposition in-fightingSat Feb 12 2011 - 00:00
Labour says plan will set State on right courseTHE LABOUR Party has put forward a 100-step plan in its general election manifesto which it says will set the direction in Ireland…Sat Feb 12 2011 - 00:00
Fine Gael and Labour policy row escalatesTHE TWO parties likely to form the next government, Fine Gael and Labour, have harshly criticised each other’s economic policies…Sat Feb 12 2011 - 00:00
FG, Labour policy row escalatesThe two parties likely to form the next government, Fine Gael and Labour, have harshly criticised each other’s economic policies…Sat Feb 12 2011 - 00:00
Labour unveils 100-step planThe Labour Party has put forward a 100-step plan in its general election manifesto that it says will set the direction in Ireland…Fri Feb 11 2011 - 00:00
Hanafin willing to forgo severance of almost €90,000MINISTERIAL PAYMENTS: FIANNA FÁIL deputy leader Mary Hanafin has said she would be willing to forgo a ministerial severance …Fri Feb 11 2011 - 00:00
Lenihan offer on banking capitalMinister for Finance Brian Lenihan has said if Fine Gael and Labour write to him asking him to inject up to €10 billion into …Thu Feb 10 2011 - 00:00
Greens retreat on social welfare cutsThe Green Party has drawn back from two key commitments it made in agreeing the Government’s four-year plan.Wed Feb 09 2011 - 00:00
Higgins to gain from addition of fourth seatCONSTITUENCY PROFILE: DUBLIN WEST played host to one of the most absorbing battles of the 2007 general elections with three …Wed Feb 09 2011 - 00:00
FG leaflet advises activists to attack LabourELECTION PAMPHLET: A FINE Gael briefing document for party candidates and canvassers includes strong criticism of Labour.Sat Feb 05 2011 - 00:00
Trichet urges party leaders to accept terms of EU-IMF rescue packageIRISH POLITICAL leaders have been urged by European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean-Claude Trichet to proceed with the agreed terms…Fri Feb 04 2011 - 00:00
Gilmore vows to renegotiate 'bad deal' on EU-IMF bailout packageROAD TO RECOVERY THREE-POINT PLAN: LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore has said he will seek a mandate in the general election to renegotiate…Fri Feb 04 2011 - 00:00
Fianna Fáil whittles down candidate list to maximise its chancesELECTORAL STRATEGY : Even if they all won, the party does not have enough candidates to secure a Dáil majorityThu Feb 03 2011 - 00:00
Martin says FG-Labour would form 'tug-of-war government'FINE GAEL and Labour in coalition would be a “tug-of-war government”, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said.Thu Feb 03 2011 - 00:00
