Polls have now closed in the Northern Ireland local elections.

Peadar Tóibín contended no other country in the world would allow the political and economic chaos that Northern Ireland faces.

Sinn Féin remains the most popular party in the country, sitting with 31 per cent. Fine Gael's fall to 20 per cent marks a two per cent decrease on last month

Thousands attended the March for Life in Dublin city centre on Monday.

The bank is before the Oireachtas Finance Committee today, in the wake of the agreement reached with former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey

Mr Tóibín told Newstalk Breakfast that while most people in the country wanted to help those fleeing war, violence or hunger, the State had a responsibility to do so in a “sustainable and sensible” fashion.

Protests are taking place outside Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Kerry in Tralee as well at hospitals in Galway, Letterkenny, and other sites where patients have faced long delays this winter.

The party stands at 32 per cent, however, its popularity has dropped two points in the past month

Dr Nóirín Russell is said to have made the remarks about women making claims against the service in a recorded conversation some two years

Aontú's Peader Tóibín is calling for reform within the political parties

There has been strong opposition to the proposal to replace the hospital's Emergency Department with a 24-hour medical assessment and injury unit.