The Government is being accused of losing the support of the people.

Sinn Féin says the results of the two Dáil by-elections yesterday prove that the public wants a change of leadership.

In Dublin South West, Anti Austerity candidate Paul Murphy topped the polls, while Independent Michael Fitzmaurice took a seat in Roscommon South Leitrim.

Gerry Adams claims that no Fine Gael or Labour candidates won because the country is unhappy with their policies.

And despite the fact that Sinn Féin's own election candidate, Cathal King, was defeated in Dublin, the party leader says the real losers were the Government: