Gabija Gataveckaite

Fianna Fáil's Niamh Smyth Catherine Ardagh of Fianna Fáíl Fianna Fáil's Aisling Dempsey with mother Bernadette and father Noel

Dozens of electrical engineers from various countries have started arriving in Ireland to help exhausted ESB workers tackle the unprecedented damage to the national power grid.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris with newly appointed Ministers of State during a photocall outside the Government Buildings in Dublin.

Niamh Smyth, Emer Currie, Marian Harkin and Emer Higgins Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris with the newly appointed ministers of state outside Government Buildings. Photo: PA

A Fine Gael politician had to apologise to a female political staffer over his inappropriate behaviour in an incident in a bar.

Sinn Féin is up in the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll by three points, and Fine Gael is down by two points – while housing has risen even further in being the biggest issue among voters.

It’s the first day of Michael Healy-Rae’s new job at Agriculture House on Kildare Street, and dawn has not yet broken. The building is largely empty, apart from security staff, the Kerry TD and his son and staffer councillor Jackie Healy-Rae Jr.

Further chaotic scenes loom in Leinster House this week over Dáil speaking time as a new Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll reveals the majority of the public back opposition parties over the Government in the debacle.

Gabija Gataveckaite Today at 03:30 Latest Sunday Independent / Ireland Thinks poll reveals anger at Michael Lowry arrangement