Assembly members in the North are today poised to vote through a controversial bill barring ex-prisoners guilty of serious offences from becoming special advisers to Stormont ministers.

More than twice as many Catholics as Protestants have been appointed to the board of Sport Northern Ireland, it was claimed tonight.

Stormont politicians united today to offer words of sympathy and support for the grief-stricken Spence family.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness today pledged to re-double their efforts to create a better and shared future in the North as they were reappointed First and Deputy First Minister.

LIKE any half-decent barrister, TUV leader Jim Allister understands that the people who sit on juries don’t necessarily use their intelligence when making decisions.

The North's government ministers will meet today to draw up plans for an inquiry into the water crisis that hit the region.

JAKE WHITE is desperate to oust South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, even on an interim basis, and has revealed that contact with his former employers over the role has already been made.

A suspected getaway car used by dissident republican bombers disappeared after being left for two days without police examination, officers admitted tod

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley will not seek re-election in the forthcoming general election, it was revealed today.

The North’s leading politicians Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness promised a new spirit of partnership today, despite their famously frosty relationship.

Collapsing power-sharing and returning to direct rule from London would consign unionists to second class citizenship, the leader of the DUP said today.

Collapsing power-sharing and returning to direct rule from London would consign unionists to second class citizenship, the leader of the DUP said today.

Hardline unionists in the North today spelled out their hopes of bringing down the region’s power-sharing government.

A hardline unionist party was today accused of an embarrassing climbdown after it apologised for branding Irish a "leprechaun language".

A hardline unionist in the North is calling for the prosecution of Martin McGuinness following the emergence of a photograph showing him holding a gun.

Former DUP leader Ian Paisley has taken the Northern political establishment by surprise today by saying he might contest the next British general election.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) suffered a major collapse in its vote today as a new force in right-wing unionist politics emerged in the North.

Election officials in the North will begin preparations today for the official counting of the votes cast in the European Parliament election.

The Ulster Unionist Party was accused of being in disarray tonight after making an agreement about next year’s European election with a small hardline unionist party – and then insisting it was not an electoral pact.

The Ulster Unionist Party today made a pact for next year’s European election with former Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister, who is seeking to retain the seat he won when still in the DUP.

The Northern Executive has been held hostage to Sinn Féin’s demands on policing, Peter Robinson said tonight.

The North's newest unionist party will today face its first electoral test.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is withholding documents issued to the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin because of fears their release could destabilise Stormont’s power-sharing government, it was claimed today.

Unionists opposed to the DUP's power-sharing deal with Sinn Féin are being invited to join a new political movement in the North.

Unionists opposed to sharing power with Sinn Féin have held an exploratory meeting to discuss forming a new party.

European Union chiefs were today urged to put pressure on Sinn Féin to disband the IRA Army Council.

A political movement will emerge to give voice to unionists opposed to the Democratic Unionists’ sharing of power with Sinn Féin in the North, a senior politician predicted today.

Bonfires were lit in loyalist areas across the the North last night as a traditional prelude to the annual July 12 Orange parades.

A European Commissioner leading a Brussels taskforce on the North Ireland will today meet a senior minister in the Stormont power sharing government.

Sinn Féin has today hit back at unionists who claimed they have reneged on their commitment to policing.

Sinn Fein critic Jim Allister has accused the party of reneging on its support of policing after it criticised the arrest of a republican.

John Higgins quickly wrapped up the one frame he needed to beat Ireland's Fergal O'Brien at the 888.com World Championship today.

Unionists will be alarmed that Sinn Féin will be in charge again of education in the next Stormont government, a former DUP member claimed today.

EMERGENCY legislation to facilitate the return of devolved Government in the North on May 8 was rushed through Westminster last night.

Northern Ireland MEP Jim Allister tonight embarked on a political career outside the Democratic Unionists after he quit the Rev Ian Paisley’s party over its power sharing pact with Sinn Féin.

DUP MEP Jim Allister is expected to announce his resignation from the party today in protest at its willingness to share power with Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin was today accused of "bowling short" in its motion to party members to endorse the police in the North.

Emergency aid should be granted to Northern fishermen facing the losses of their livelihoods under official fishing restrictions, the DUP said today.

Moves by Sinn Féin leaders to urge their members to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland were tonight hailed as potentially historic on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Sinn Féin could contaminate policing and justice if the party gets control over it in a devolved government, a hardline Democratic Unionist said tonight.

The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists will hold a private strategy meeting today in a bid to allay concerns about the party’s involvement in efforts to revive power-sharing at Stormont.

Yesterday’s planned talks of party leaders in the Programme for Government Committee were called off because Ian Paisley was not prepared to attend, following a row over the interpretation of the St Andrews Agreement in regard to the ministerial oath of office.

A senior member of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists today expressed concern that the IRA is not obliged to disband its Army Council under the St Andrews Agreement.

Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister was accused of shameless opportunism today after he attacked rival Ulster Unionists for joining forces at Stormont with a loyalist politician.