In short
The latest opinion poll in the Dublin EU constituency shows Fine Gael's Mr Gay Mitchell (above) topping the poll with Dublin Lord Mayor Mr Royston Brady ahead of his Fianna Fáil running mate Mr Eoin Ryan, writes Mark Brennock.
The support shown for each of the candidates in the poll is: Mr Gay Mitchell (FG), 17 per cent; Mr Royston Brady (FF), 16 per cent; Mr Proinsias de Rossa (Labour), 13 per cent; Ms Patricia McKenna (Green), 13 per cent; Ms Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin), 12 per cent; Mr Eoin Ryan (FF), 12 per cent; Ms Ivana Bacik (Lab), 11 per cent; Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist), 3 per cent; Mr Paul Doonan (Ind), 1 per cent; Mr Brendan Price (Ind), 1 per cent; and 0 per cent for independents Mr Tom Prendeville and Mr Barry Despard.
The poll was taken last Saturday, Sunday and Monday among a sample of 500 voters in the Dublin constituency. It was conducted by Lansdowne Market Research for the Irish Examiner and RTÉ's Prime Time.
The results suggest that Mr Gay Mitchell and Mr Royston Brady will be elected with Mr Proinsias de Rossa probably taking the third seat. Transfer patterns shown in the poll suggest Ms Patricia McKenna would probably win the fourth seat.
However with just two percentage points separating five candidates - Mr de Rossa, Ms McKenna, Ms McDonald, Mr Ryan and Ms Bacik - the poll makes predicting the destination of the final two seats uncertain.
Asked about voting intentions in the local government election, the state of the parties excluding the undecideds shown by the poll in Dublin is as follows: Fianna Fáil, 29 per cent; Labour, 21 per cent; Fine Gael, 14 per cent; Sinn Féin, 14 per cent; Green Party, 11 per cent; Progressive Democrats, 3 per cent; Others, 8 per cent.
Some 53 per cent of Dubliners polled said they approved of the proposal to amend the constitution in the citizenship referendum. Some 33 per cent said they disapproved with 14 per cent having no opinion.
McDowell criticises doctors' group
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has claimed that a group of doctors campaigning against the citizenship referendum is "unrepresentative" of the medical profession generally, writes Arthur Beesley.
Dismissing the arguments set out by the Doctors For a No vote, Mr McDowell said it was doctors and healthcare professionals who had sought change to address the medical and health issues "arising from the present exploitation of Irish citizenship by non-nationals". He added: "These doctors are a small and unrepresentative group within their overall profession."
Dr Mary Henry, the Independent Senator who is campaigning with the group, said she had been approached by non-national medical colleagues who were concerned about the proposal in the referendum. Dr Henry also criticised the tone of the Minister's attack against the group.
"He may feel that we're small and insignificant but I'm not in favour of belittling people."
Dr Henry said she had opposed the first abortion referendum in 1983 and predicted then that the proposal could create the "most painful" situations.
"This could do just the same," she said of the proposal in the citizenship referendum.
Separately, the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, accused Labour and Sinn Féin of "dangerous scaremongering" in their opposition to the referendum.
Mr Ahern said: "Our unique citizenship law is being exploited by people who have no connection with this country. Women are putting themselves and their unborn children at risk by travelling here heavily pregnant. This situation must end."
Workers' Party calls for No vote
The Workers' Party has called for a No vote in the citizenship referendum, describing the Government's plan "as a dangerous and reactionary move", writes Mark Hennessy.
The party, which is running five Dublin City Council local election candidates, said the Constitution had served the State well for 70 years "and should not be lightly changed".
Mr John Dunne, who is running in Ballymun-Whitehall, said the referendum is being "rushed through with indecent haste and without proper time for debate".
Mr Dunne said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, "may need reminding that not so long ago Fianna Fáil introduced legislation to allow the sale of passports for investment, which saw a former FF Taoiseach's family business benefiting from one such investment. He and his party are hardly in a position to lecture anyone on the question of citizenship," said Mr Dunne.
Besides Mr Dunne, the other Workers' Party candidates in Dublin are: Mr Andrew McGuinness (Ballyfermot), Mr Brendan Phelan (Crumlin-Kimmage), Mr Owen Martin (Finglas) and Ms Angie Murphy (South East Inner City).