Enda McClafferty

Former Irish cabinet minister Heather Humphreys and Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly have declared they will seek their party's nomination.

Neil Gibson, the permanent secretary at the Department of Finance, says he takes "full responsibility" for the delay.

Talks are taking place for Northern Ireland's first minister to be invited to the Pope's funeral in Rome on Saturday.

Northern Ireland's economy minister will quit Stormont if elected in the Republic of Ireland.

The GAA say additional funds will be reliant on seeing "the colour of the money from the Treasury".

Jarlath Burns made the comment following a meeting with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

An official announcement from John O'Dowd is expected after an executive meeting this afternoon.

BBC News NI profiles the constituency in which two NI party leaders will go head to head.

Political editor Enda McClafferty looks at the twists and turns of the election so far.

Irish election: What went wrong for Sinn Féin?