Government ministers and the chief medical officer are meeting their Northern Irish counterparts in Armagh this afternoon.

The Government says it is “fully satisfied” with a backstop deal for a frictionless border after Brexit — despite suggestions this pact may lie outside Britain’s withdrawal treaty with the EU.

On the North-South Interconnector, the fact is that we have outdone David Davis on backsliding, writes Gerard Howlin.

Northern Ireland-registered vessels have no legal entitlement to fish for mussel seed in the State’s territorial waters, the Supreme Court has ruled.

David Cameron has told the Taoiseach he will give “whatever help he can” in keeping an open border between Ireland and the North.

Doubts are emerging that the planned North-South electricity power line route will be reviewed by an expert panel, despite a pledge by the Taoiseach to disgruntled backbenchers.

The Minister for Energy said the North-South Interconnector may be too far advanced in its planning application, to be included in the expert panel review of pylons.

The positive effects on society of minimum pricing for alcohol will “swamp” any negative impact on the industry or on tax revenues, a report commissioned by the Government has found.

The Government has shelved proposals to impose a “social responsibility levy” on the alcohol industry, which was supposed to help fund the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol claims the lives of more than 1,300 people each year across Ireland, health chiefs holding a cross-border conference on the problem confirmed.

Alcohol claims the lives of more than 1,300 people each year across the island of Ireland, health chiefs holding a cross-border conference on the problem confirmed.

A joint North-South application to Europe is to be made to support people losing their jobs at Quinn Insurance.

THE agriculture ministers from the south and the North have agreed an All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

The Transport Minister Noel Dempsey will launch a new scheme that will ensure parking offences and toll revenues will apply to both sides of the border.

THE ultimate aim of an all-island animal health and welfare strategy now being developed will be the free movement of animals on the island of Ireland.

Plans to address the issue of child protection on a cross-border basis are expected to discussed at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Dundalk today.

A Kildare based firm was today fined £15,000 (€20,137) for polluting a river in the North while laying down the cross-border gas pipeline.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said there is great scope for cross-border cooperation on a range of projects as he arrived at today's North-South council meeting.

STOP me if you’ve heard it before.

The leader of South Korea’s ruling party today apologised for dancing with a North Korean waitress during his recent trip to a North-South joint industrial zone in the communist country.

The SDLP is calling for the introduction of a single all-Ireland corporation tax rate of 12.5%.

The IRA is sick of being blamed for everything which goes wrong in the peace process and recent developments reflect that, writes Danny Morrison

The Taoiseach is holding a series of top level meetings in London as the pace of work to break the political deadlock in the North intensifies.

The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, is due to announce details of a new North-South workplace safety initiative today.

ALMOST two-thirds of 15-year-olds suffer from tooth decay, according to the first ever North/South dental care survey.

It is understood the anti-Agreement wing of the Ulster Unionist Party is planning to propose an immediate withdrawal of Ulster Unionist ministers from the North-South bodies involving Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government ministers.

The Taoiseach wants to see the ban on Sinn Fein ministers attending North-South council meetings lifted, according to a government spokesman.

The SDLP has said that it is still hopeful of a breakthrough in the peace

The North's First Minister has said he could lift his ban on Sinn Fein Assembly members taking their places at North-South ministerial council meetings.

The row over the banning of Sinn Fein ministers from North-South meetings is continuing to escalate with First Minister David Trimble and his deputy Seamus Mallon at loggerheads over the issue.

Sinn Fein has accused First Minister David Trimble of wrecking tactics after he announced he would not be appointing the party's ministers to North-South meetings.

Sinn Fein has won a major legal victory in its bid to overturn First Minister David Trimble's ban on its ministers participating in North-South meetings.