Sinn Féin has rejected any chance of a last-minute deal to prevent the collapse of the Stormont government, insisting DUP leader Arlene Foster must be removed from power over her role in the €563m “cash for ash” scandal.

A new talks process is about to begin at Stormont to determine the shape of the new power-sharing government.

Sinn Féin has said it is “open” to the potential return of the Independent Monitoring Commission to ensure paramilitary groups no longer exist after Northern Ireland’s secretary of state said this may be the only way to resolve the current crisis.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has insisted she is 100% certain that no money from the Provisional IRA or linked criminality has been used to fund her party.

Senior members of the Ulster Unionist Party have voted to withdraw from the North’s power-sharing government over claims the Provisional IRA (PIRA) still exists.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has insisted the Provisional IRA no longer exists, even in a “benign” criminal gang form alleged in recent days, and that his party has “no special responsibility” over recent murders in Belfast.

Potential changes to Northern Ireland’s corporate tax regime will not damage a government-backed initiative to bring jobs into the Republic, the head of Connect Ireland has said.

On the 90th anniversary of the infamous Army Mutiny, Ryle Dwyer highlights aspects that history has overlooked

A bomb found near the border contained 500lbs of explosives and was aimed at killing security forces, a politician for the area has said.

Jack Lynch — August 13, 1969:

BEING saddled with the slogan “West Brits Out” was not the best start to Martin McGuinness’s presidential push.

SWEDE Alexander Noren produced the joint-best round of the Nordea Masters so far to take the outright lead at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm.

A bid to bring a professional golf tournament back to Northern Ireland following the region’s stunning success in the world game has been backed with a financial commitment from the Stormont government.

The Democratic Unionist Party’s Northern Ireland Assembly victory was tonight hailed as its greatest ever political triumph.

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has blamed Stormont government delays over approving a controversial runway extension for his decision to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport.

Pressure was mounting on the Ulster Unionists today to drop their opposition to the landmark deal to devolve policing powers to the North after a new government poll indicated sizeable public support for the move.

Orangemen will be urged by their leaders today to back key parading proposals linked to the landmark deal to devolve law and order powers to the North.

IT was a throwaway quip that acted like a valve, releasing the tension which had pushed the Stormont government to the brink of implosion.

Proposals to deal with the legacy of the Troubles were today rejected by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Peter Robinson.

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

The party earmarked to take on the North's new Justice Ministry will not accept the post until the Stormont government agrees on a strategy to tackle segregation in the region, a senior member signalled today.

Fresh tensions emerged today between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.

Hundreds of child abuse victims in the North demanded a full inquiry today into the mistreatment they suffered in institutions run by the Catholic Church and the state.

THE Public Prosecution Service in the North has dramatically dropped all charges against a US citizen accused of involvement in the notorious break-in at Castlereagh top security base in 2002.

Unionists stayed away from a meeting of ministers from the North and Republic of Ireland today in a further escalation of the tensions hitting the Stormont government.

Judges in the North may be given extra powers to probe mystery disappearances to guard against a repeat of the John Darwin missing canoeist fraud, it was revealed today.

British prime minister Gordon Brown is to meet political leaders in the North next week as negotiations aimed at stabilising the power-sharing government intensify.

A five-star hotel in the North has apparently been told to keep some of its foreign staff away from business delegates attending a major US investment summit, it emerged today.

Politicians in the North hit out at the UK government tonight after it decided to reduce the sexual age of consent in the province against the wishes of the Stormont Assembly.

Soldiers will pull out of south Armagh today on a day of reflection for fallen comrades, the army said.

Another major milestone in the North’s return to normality was being reached today with the last soldiers leaving the former IRA stronghold of South Armagh.

Another major milestone in the North’s return to normality will be reached tomorrow when the last British soldiers are pulled out of South Armagh.

Sinn Féin was accused today of selling a fantasy after it vowed to secure a referendum on a united Ireland in its manifesto for the Republic of Ireland’s General Election.

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.

Former Maze Prison escapee Gerry Kelly will join Conor Murphy, Michelle Gildernew and Caitriona Ruane as Sinn Féin's choice of ministers in the next Stormont government, the party confirmed today.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown needs to improve on the offer made to an incoming Northern Executive, Ian Paisley insisted last night.

Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams will have to strike their own devolution deal if next week’s power-sharing deadline in the North is missed, Peter Hain warned today.

Hard-line republicans who have forced Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to step up their personal security are trying to undermine power-sharing plans for the North, Peter Hain said today.

The Irish and British governments were urged today by Gerry Adams not to let any more deadlines on the road back to power sharing at Stormont slip.

Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams will lead their parties into the first meeting of a new committee today which will draw up policies for a future power sharing government.

Peter Hain is to make a fresh appeal for all parties in the North to sign up to a shared future in policing and other aspects of society.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain came under fire today from a number of the Assembly parties at Stormont about how he dealt with them.

The murder of former IRA member and British spy Denis Donaldson is an attempt to damage the peace process, Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said today.