Former paramilitary prisoners will be allowed to serve on local policing boards in Northern Ireland if republicans and loyalist terror groups complete the transition from violence, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said today.

The co-chair of the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary body has called for the penalty points system to be enforced on the entire island of Ireland.

Sinn Fein has rejected suggestions that everything will be fine in the North if the IRA disbands.

New British government plans to open up Northern Ireland’s police force to scrutiny still need to be strengthened, it was claimed today.

There has been a call for Gardai to operate in nationalist areas north of the border.

The Government should use its international influence to bring about a return to peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Sinn Fein argued today.

A small group of anti-war demonstrators has gathered outside Dublin Castle to protest against British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s continued attacks on Afghanistan.

The organisation representing survivors and victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings will stage a protest during British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Dublin this afternoon.

The issue of the new MOX plant at Sellafield is expected to dominate talks between the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Dublin today.