Labour has been a party of democratic values, where debate and dissent has been valued, writes Fergus Finlay  

The death of Ian Paisley brings back memories of a difficult time on this island, writes Fergus Finlay

The deterioration in relations between nationalist and unionist politicians in the North was sparked by a decision to limit the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said.

This Sunday, as we mark the 20th anniversary of the IRA ceasefire, celebrations must by tempered by the fact that, three decades after that great, bitterly-won opportunity, the past still holds a crippling grip on the future.

You could, if you wish, remember Albert Reynolds as the man who wrecked two governments. Or you could remember him as the man who built the peace process.

Former presidents, taoisigh and cabinet colleagues have paid tributes to peacemaker and former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who died after a long illness.

Albert Reynolds will be remembered not just for his conventional political failures in Ireland but equally for his success as a peacemaker and statesman, writes Gerard Howlin.

ALBERT REYNOLDS was a unique taoiseach in that he was also a highly successful businessman. Unlike any of the other taoisigh who held the office since the foundation of the State, he came into politics on the back of a career as an entrepreneur.

Scheduled to play their Sigerson Cup game against Queen’s University in Belfast, the management team of Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology made the sensible decision to book a hotel.

THIS weekend, justice was done. Sam Bailey won X Factor, Munster had a thrilling, last-gasp victory over Perpignan to keep Heineken Cup hopes alive, and we exited the bail-out, heads held high. All in all, highly satisfying.

Twenty years ago Martin McGuinness would have led protests over the Queen visiting the North, but times have moved on and now he’s willing to shake her hand, writes Michael McHugh

State prosecutors have been asked to examine the case of veteran Republican Sean Garland to determine whether he should be charged with an alleged US super-dollar forgery plot.

A SUNDAY newspaper has issued a public apology to Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly arising from false allegations made against him in articles published 15 years ago.

CARDINAL Cahal Daly was best known during his time in office as an outspoken critic of the IRA.

WE all know that Albert Reynolds, Taoiseach from 1992 to 1994, hasn’t always enjoyed the kindest press. It’s not just The Sunday Times that has been harsh.

A FORMER IRA leader wanted in the US over a major dollar counterfeiting operation was back behind bars yesterday after delays in his bail application.

HOUSE prices in Northern Ireland are at least a third cheaper than here.

BELFAST’S economy grew fastest among 30 of the largest UK cities over the past 10 years.

The economy of Belfast has grown fastest among the 30 largest cities in the UK over the past decade, it was revealed today.

DO YOU remember the currency crisis at the end of 1992? Well, I’ll never forget it. I took out a mortgage in the month it started. Like most of us, it was more than I could afford and the first mortgage payment was about double the rent I had been paying in the month before that.

I HOPE, not least for their own sake, that the Green Party will ignore your columnist Fergus Finlay’s advice (June 19) based on a dictum of Noel Browne that “the moment you enter a coalition, you must start thinking about how to bring it down”.

The chaos caused by Michael Stone at Stormont should not be allowed to derail Northern power-sharing, a key architect of the peace process said today.

Efforts to secure an end to the IRA’s campaign ultimately proved fruitless, writes Ryle Dwyer.

IT was a long time coming - about 800 years, give or take a few skirmishes - but Ireland’s ‘ould enemy’ is about to become our NBF, or New Best Friend.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended Fr Alec Reid against fallout from his Nazi comment, describing him as a great man who had contributed much to peace in the North.

The Catholic priest who witnessed the completion of IRA disarmament is being investigated by police for alleged incitement to hatred after comparing the North's Protestants to Nazis, it was confirmed today.

Here are some of the key episodes in the peace process since the IRA announced its historic ceasefire almost 11 years ago:

THIS week it might be timely to remember the dangers of drawing far-fetched conclusions from mid-term election results.

A leading Sinn Féin member and a man who engaged in patrols against drug dealers were today sentenced to four years imprisonment for IRA membership.

THE decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons must be carried out on a convincing basis, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said last night.

In a statement to mark the tenth anniversary of the IRA ceasefire the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that, although it has saved lives, a lasting peace has yet to be achieved.

The All-Ireland Catholic Primate has paid tribute to the clergy who played a vital role in securing the first IRA ceasefire 10 years ago today.

Ten years ago Lisa Stewart cradled her newborn baby in her arms and prayed on the first day of the IRA ceasefire that her son would have a very different world to grow up in.

Sinn Féin launched a stinging attack on the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) today for what it branded its destructive role in the peace process.

Archbishop Sean Brady, the Catholic primate of All Ireland, has appealed to the IRA to end its campaign for good.

WILL the IRA disarm, perhaps even disband, now that Gerry Adams has said it may be necessary? The answer is almost certainly yes.

“DR AHERN, I presume ...”

Powerful legislation used to combat the IRA and other illegal organisations should be repealed, Sinn Féin said tonight.

THE Taoiseach yesterday strenuously denied that a Fianna Fáil representative urged the IRA army council to delay the restart of its ceasefire in 1997.

RECENT utterances by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell prompts me to write. The IRA ceasefire in 1994 created a window of opportunity for achieving a lasting solution of the situation in the Six Counties.

The Democratic Unionist Party has announced plans to seek a British government ruling on the IRA’s ceasefire following last Friday’s abduction attempt in Belfast.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and DUP leader Ian Paisley are today preparing for an historic face-to-face meeting in London.

IT seems to me that the Northern peace process is not stalled because of republican unwillingness to engage in childish semantics, but because of the electoral tensions within unionism.