Social Democrats

Your essential end-of-week politics catch up: Outside of coalition talks, other big story of the week was undoubtedly Eoin Hayes’s suspension from Social Democrats

With government formation talks set to intensify before Christmas, focus now on who will provide safety in numbers for next coalition

Suspect package found at offices on South Frederick St, with security cordon put in place

There is a strong expectation that Labour leader Ivana Bacik will recommend that the party does not proceed with negotiations about joining a coalition government

Following initial engagement with other political parties, there had been speculation that the newly-enlarged party would leave government formation talks

People are tired of politicians and politics, reflected by the low turnout of eligible voters

Each party has its own distinct challenge facing into the post-election period. Sinn Féin’s is about how to transform itself from government-in-waiting to radical opposition

Cian O’Callaghan could not say if suspended TD has a route back into the party in the future

Michael Lowry expects to meet Chambers and McEntee to discuss ‘parameters’ of engagement in government formation talks

Details of donations were included on suspended TD’s page until Tuesday but it was taken down by him that night

Gannon had claimed some journalists were only asking questions because they were interested in government special adviser jobs

Labour and Regional Independent group to decide on pursuing negotiations with two outgoing ruling parties

TD, who will now sit as an independent when Dáil resumes, says shares were not sold earlier due to ‘administrative barriers’

Fianna Fáil particularly keen on enticing Labour into a coalition rather than Independents, while main two negotiating parties have differing views on issues including VAT reform, new departments and overhaul of the Department of Public Expenditure

Eoin Hayes denied that it was politically hypocritical for him to call for the State to divest its interest in Israel when he was making money from the company

Minister for Finance says it will likely be at least January before a new coalition is put together

For people who care deeply about the democratic process, low voter turnout figures can be depressing

Voting patterns in this trio reveal why some parties exceeded expectations and others fell short of hitting targets

Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan says his party and Fine Gael can form a stable government with support of ‘reliable’ Independents

Development comes after Labour and Social Democrats shun ‘common negotiating platform’ in advance of government-formation talks