May 31, 2007

SF takes up seats on Policing Board

Sinn Fein has taken up its position on the North’s Policing Board for the first time this morning.

May 29, 2007

CARRY ON, BERTIE?

Talks between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and potential coalition government partners have been hit by fresh controversy over suspect payments received by him when he was Minister for Finance.

Sinn Féin looks to the future

Sinn Féin’s hopes for a major breakthrough in the 26 Counties with this election were not borne out, despite some impressive performances and an increase of some 20,000 votes over their 1997 total.

Unionists block equality bill

A Sinn Féin motion calling for new equality legislation was defeated due to unionist opposition in the assembly last week.

NIO plot to renege on stop and search powers

British officials have proposed deploying special ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation across England, Scotland and Wales in an attempt to retain the repressive measures in Ireland.

PSNI accused of harassment

PSNI police have raided the home of a Strabane republican in an escalation of tensions between local republicans and the force.

Protestors defy Tara destruction

There have been clashes at the construction site in the Tara valley where the Dublin government is attempting to construct a motorway through an important archaeological site.

The anguish of Roisin McAliskey

An article by Nell McCafferty, originally published in December 1996, recalls the campaign to free Roisin McAliskey following British attempts to extradite her to Germany.

Taking it on the chin

From the ecstasy of March to the agony of May, 2007 is turning out to be quite the rollercoaster year for republicans.

May 26, 2007

Election counts conclude

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is considering a number of coalition options as the 26-COunty general election counts are completing.

May 25, 2007

Michael McDowell quits politics

Deputy Prime Minister and Progressive Democrats leader, Tanaiste Michael McDowell, has quit Irish politics in a dramatic response to his election defeat today.

Small parties suffer as FF set to retain power

The 26-County general election now seems almost certain to return Fianna Fail’s Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, who may do so without the need to again form a coalition with the decimated Progressive Democrats.

Ahern likely to return as Taoiseach

In unofficial tallies in Thursday's 26 County General Election, the vote for Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail appears to be up and, while it is early days in the election count, the party looks likely to form part of the next government in Dublin.

May 21, 2007

Roisin McAliskey arrested

Roisin McAliskey has been arrested on foot of a new extradition bid by Germany.

SF READY TO NEGOTIATE NEW GOVT

Bertie Ahern could be returned as 26-County Taoiseach for a further five years, according to the latest polls, but only if he finds a new coalition partner.

Diplock ruling overturned

Derry Republican Charlie McMenamin has walked free from court 27 years after he was wrongly convicted.

DUP may veto Irish Language Act

The DUP’s Gregory Campbell has said his party will veto an Irish Language Act for the North of Ireland.

Arthurs arrest ‘political policing’

Sinn Féin has criticised the PSNI after a prominent republican was arrested during a raid on addresses in County Armagh and in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

McGuinness backs Omagh bomb inquiry

Sinn Féin is prepared to co-operate with any independent, international inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bomb, it has been confirmed.

Ahern makes landmark speech at Westminster

The restoration of power-sharing in Belfast marks the dawning of a new era for the island of Ireland and for Anglo-Irish relations, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told British parliamentarians last week.

Key constituency profiles

A look at the constituencies where republican candidates could make gains in Thursday’s 26-County election.

Assembly is merely a twig on the NIO branch

The Northern Ireland Office hasn't gone away, you know.

May 16, 2007

Election 2007: Sinn Féin Election Manifesto

The Executive Summary of Sinn Fein's General Election Manifesto, preceded by a message from Gerry Adams.

May 15, 2007

ELECTION CAMPAIGN SHIFTS GEAR

The election campaign in the 26 Counties is heating up with just over a week left to polling day.

DUP to get files on republicans

The appointment of two senior members of the DUP to the Privy Council, allowing the party to gain access to high-level security intelligence, has been criticised by nationalists.

Paisley visits Boyne battlefield

The planting of a walnut tree on the Battle of the Boyne site in County Meath by 26-County Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and DUP leader Ian Paisley on Friday has highlighted a new dispensation in north-south relations.

Sinn Féin confirms policing move

Sinn Féin has confirmed that it will take up its seats on the North’s Policing Board, which has a supervisory role with the PSNI police.

Prison protest suspended

Republican prisoners held in Maghaberry jail have agreed to suspend their 10-month long protest.

British choppers engage in suspicious activity

British army helicopters being flown in rural County Tyrone at night-time, apparently as part of preparations for “foreign” war zones, are infuriating residents.

Republican Unity?

Republican traditionalists met in Derry at the weekend to attempt to build a united opposition to the new political order in the North and the “continuing British occupation”.

Face of Ireland changed in just 16 minutes

On Tuesday everyone in Stormont was entitled to feel proud.

May 10, 2007

Blair announces resignation

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced his decision to stand down as leader of the British Labour Party and resign as Prime Minister on June 27th.

May 8, 2007

HISTORY, HYPE AND HOPE

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The Six Counties have a new power-sharing Executive in another historic day at Stormont.

‘Bertiegate’ scandal hogs election headlines

The Progressive Democrats said they were within hours of quitting the 26 County coalition government with Fianna Fail yesterday as a crisis over corruption allegations continued to dominate the general election campaign.

Sinn Féin campaign ‘quietly confident’

The North’s deputy first minister-designate Martin McGuinness has predicted Sinn Féin will be “the story of the election” in the 26 Counties later this month.

Cautious welcome for UVF statement

An announcement by the unionist paramilitary UVF that it is effectively ‘standing down’ has been welcomed, but there were calls for it to go much further.

Govt to mark Great Hunger

Campaigners have won a four-year battle to force the Dublin government to officially recognise an annual event to commemorate the Great Hunger.

Scottish nationalist triumph challenges union

Scotland moved closer to independence after the Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party in the Scottish parliament this week.

The Wedding Cake

A look back at the history of Stormont -- the site of many failed Six-County political initiatives in the past -- but today the focus of renewed political hope.

Politics and the daily grind

Some tales from the Celtic Tiger as you consider your options and as the country winds itself up to go to the polls.

May 7, 2007

Devolution restored

British Direct Ruler Peter Hain has signed the order paving the way for a new era of power-sharing to begin.

May 3, 2007

UVF issue statement on new role

The unionist paramilitary UVF has said it “will assume a non-military, civilianised, role” from midnight and claimed that its arms have been “put beyond reach”.

May 2, 2007

CONTROVERSY MARKS CAMPAIGN START

Intense election campaigning has begun in the 26 Counties after the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s early morning visit to the Presidential residence, Aras an Uachtarain, to finally dissolve the Dublin parliament on Sunday.

EU chief in Belfast backs power-sharing

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The President of the European Commission Jose Barroso visited Belfast on Tuesday to announce financial aid and support for the new Six-County administration.

Ahern address at Westminster sparks debate

A row how has broken out over plans by the 26 County leader Bertie Ahern to make a high-profile address to the London parliament at the height of the 26 Countyh election campaign.

Important find vindicates ‘Save Tara’ campaign

Just 24 hours after the 26 County Minister for Transport ‘turned the sod’ on the billion-Euro M3 motorway project in Co Meath it has been confirmed that a site of major archaeological importance has been discovered.

Official IRA mark death of Johnny White

A man has been arrested after shots were fired at the funeral of former Official IRA leader Johnny White.

SNP within reach of historic victory

Campaigning is today drawing to a close in the British local elections which could see Scottish nationalists become the largest group in the devolved Scottish parliament at Holyrood.

The East Tyrone Brigade & the Loughgall Ambush

Next Tuesday, May 8th, marks the 20th anniversary of the Loughgall ambush, in which 8 IRA Volunteers and a civilian were killed in an SAS attack.

The writing is on the wall for ‘Britishness’

Tomorrow’s election results in Scotland are going to increase the isolation of unionists in Ireland even more.

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