We welcome moves to include Westbank Orphanage, Greystones, in inquiries into institutional abuse in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has today passed a hard-hitting budget dealing with billions in cuts from London, but ministers were left divided over the controversial financial plan.

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

FORMER minister Conor Cruise O’Brien’s forthright style saw him accused of many things during his long and distinguished career but few would have blamed him of facilitating communist infiltration in RTÉ.

The former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his British counterpart, Tony Blair, have both been conferred with honorary doctors at Queens University in Belfast.

Today’s notable meeting expected between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and DUP leader Ian Paisley is at least indicative that the formula worked out during last week’s talks in Scotland may in the longer term prove fruitful.

ROBIN BURY of the Reform Movement states (Irish Examiner November 8) that “1916 was not mandated.”

SINCE the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the British government always had to bear in mind the desirability of keeping the Unionist Party comfortable with the devolution project.

DESPITE the scepticism from some quarters — unionists in general and the DUP in particular — which greeted the IRA’s statement that they had ended the armed struggle, the fact remains that the organisation will be scrutinised by two independent bodies which will be able to audit their intent.

The Orange Order has voted to sever its links with the Ulster Unionist Party.

A committee on police reform in Northern Ireland was urged 35 years ago by some officers to change the name of the force in a bid to attract more Catholic support, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams says the DUP - the North's biggest Unionist Party - must reflect on its position following a gun attack on a Sinn Fein Councillor last night.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair tonight described the sudden problem to hit the peace process as a “glitch” which he was confident could be resolved.

ULSTER Unionist Party members were reviewing their security yesterday after a mail bomb sent to leader David Trimble partially exploded.

IF Charlie McCreevy wants to save us all money — now that we’re back in the land of cutbacks — he could do worse than take the advice of one Ulster Unionist Party official who believes investment in the family is the way to keep society intact, while saving the taxpayer a fortune into the bargain.

Sinn Fein today urged Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble to visit a nationalist community in east Belfast.

The unprecedented IRA apology came at a crucial time for the Northern Ireland peace process.

Breandan MacCionnaith, the chairman of the Garvaghy Road Residents Committee, has accused the British Government of politicising the loyalist marching season by establishing a review of the Parades Commission.

The Ulster Unionist leader was today invited by Sinn Fein to address a joint session of both houses of the Dail.

The British and Irish governments were tonight preparing to hear whether Northern Ireland politicians would accept or reject the latest package aimed at saving the peace process.

Anti-agreement assembly member Peter Weir tonight won his bid for reinstatement to the Ulster Unionist Party.

A one-time chairman of the North's Civil Rights Association said today he noticed an "obvious" change in Army policy on the eve of Bloody Sunday.

Sylvia Hermon tonight gave a massive boost to Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble by pulling off a remarkable victory against sitting MP Bob McCartney.

The Unionist Party will contest 11 seats in the local Government elections, it was announced today.

Sinn Fein today accused the Government of damaging the Northern Ireland peace process by turning a blind eye to sanctions put on republican ministers by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.