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Defence Minister Willie O'Dea arrives at Aras An Uachtarain to recieve his seal of office.

Ahern sticks with tried and trusted Cabinet team

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern unveiled his new technicolour Government with the Green Party yesterday - and produced most of the old faces from the FF-PD administration.

Selling deal to its members 'biggest barrier' for Greens

By Gene McKenna and Diarmaid Mac Dermott

THE selling of a deal to its members would be the "complicated part of the jigsaw" if the Green Party was to come to an agreement with Fianna Fail, party chairman John Gormley said yesterday.

Enda refuses to concede

By Michael Brennan

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny attempted to keep his slim hopes of forming a Government alive yesterday as he welcomed his party's 20 new TDs to the Dail.

When Bertie met Michael...

By Eugene Moloney

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday had his first public encounter with Tanaiste Michael McDowell since the election.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern greets President Mary McAleese at the Aras yesterday

Taoiseach's turf ranks lowest in turnout at the ballot box

By Michael Brennan

IT is famous for hurling, mining and now for voting - Tipperary North has been revealed as the constituency with the highest turnout in the country.

Double joy as new TD scoops share in Lotto prize

By James Hayden

A FINE Gael politician had a 'lotto luck' when he captured a €25,000 prize and a Dail seat in the same week.

Greens leader Trevor Sargent is hoping to iron out his differences with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and hammer out a deal

You'd want to be very green to believe in this fairy story of strange political partners

By Kevin Myers

JOHN Gormley sat at his desk, while an armour-plated bluebottle stormed around the Green headquarters, battering its head against the window pane, before landing on the lightshade before him, where it performed a scrupulous toilet.

Greens are now itching to inhabit Planet Bertie, once so packed with perils

By John Cooney

JOHN Gormley, the abrasive chairman of the Green Party, made a cheeky speech earlier this year describing life on 'Planet Bertie'.

Ahern waits on crucial Harney decision

By Fionnan Sheahan

THE last time Mary Harney went on a holiday with husband Brian Geoghegan she decided to stand down as leader of the Progressive Democrats.

Rebel Dan in coalition deal with his father's old team

By Fionnan Sheahan

THE Greens' Dan Boyle is negotiating a coalition deal with Fianna Fail but his family already has a place in the history books of the Soldiers of Destiny.