Smaller parties are getting much of the praise after last night's leaders debate.

Yup.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has claimed the IRA is calling the shots for Sinn Féin in the Republic.

The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said he doesn't believe Gerry Adams' claims that he has no knowledge of Republican sex abusers being moved from the North to the Republic.

The Dáil is discussing the allegations of sexual abuse by members of the Provisional Republican movement.

The deputy leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, says she accepts that volunteers to the IRA were decent people.

There is bad news for Sinn Féin in two political opinions polls this evening.

And it is a wonderful thing.

A new opinion poll out today shows that the coalition has hit a new level of unpopularity.

Gerry Adams has been warned of a "credible" death threat, Sinn Féin has said.

Sinn Féin has been boosted by a drop in support for the Coalition.

More than 90% of TDs who responded to a recent survey thought politicians should not ban alcohol in Leinster House.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams’s sex abuser brother, who is being held in high-security custody in Northern Ireland amid concerns he is under threat, should be jailed for at least 15 years, a judge has been urged.

Old Bailey bomber Dolours Price has been found dead, it has emerged today.

An opinion poll today shows Sinn Fein has more than twice the level of voter support as Labour.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has used part of his Árd Fheis speech to campaign for a No vote in next week's fiscal treaty referendum.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to address the nation on the fiscal treaty referendum on Sunday evening.

Fine Gael is rounding on Sinn Féin this afternoon saying they have been misrepresenting to people that the country can vote 'No' and still access ESM funding.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he is not in favour of any future coalition with Sinn Féin.

The High Court is due to rule today whether to extradite Gerry Adams' brother Liam back to the North on rape charges.

West Belfast Assembly member Paul Maskey will contest the constituency's Westminster seat, Sinn Féin has confirmed .

A European warrant was issued for the arrest of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ brother over alleged sex abuse.

Police in the North say they do not know when exactly they will be able to question Liam Adams about allegations that he sexually abused his daughter.

The election circus continues today, with the leaders of the main political parties set to visit a number of key constituencies in the hope of shoring up valuable votes.

Voters will not be duped by election promises to abolish stamp duty for first time house buyers, it was claimed today.

Independent republican candidates standing against Sinn Féin in the North's Assembly Elections will not be a flash in the pan, a leading Irish American sympathiser claimed today.

Republicans who broke away from Sinn Féin 20 years ago are to challenge Gerry Adams' party in at least 11 constituencies in the forthcoming Stormont Assembly Election.

Sinn Féin is being forced into u-turn after u-turn because of the insatiable demands of Ian Paisley, a former party member said tonight.

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde has strongly criticised Sinn Féin and the SDLP over their response to the recent Police Ombudsman's report on collusion.

Republican Sinn Féin has rejected Gerry Adams' offer to meet dissident republicans in an effort to explain his support for endorsing the PSNI.

Hopes that powersharing in the North could be restored in March have been boosted today after Ian Paisley spelt out what he expected from Sinn Féin.

The Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, has welcomed the Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams' decision to call an Ard Chomhairle meeting on policing, calling it a “seismic step”.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has welcomed Gerry Adams' decision to call a meeting of the Sinn Féin leadership tomorrow to push forward on the policing issue.

Sinn Féin says dissident republicans planned to assassinate Gerry Adams recently, but called off the attack due to his security arrangements.

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 DUP leader, Ian Paisley, has accused the Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, of “declaring war on law and order”.

LOYALIST terror groups were last night urged to follow the lead of the Loyalist Volunteer Force following its declaration that it was standing down its military units.

The British government is determined to restore devolved government in the North, according Queen Elizabeth II's traditional speech at the opening of the new parliament.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan has claimed that success for his party in the upcoming Westminster election in the North would force the IRA to disband.

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble has predicted the IRA will issue a statement within days in response to Gerry Adams' call on the organisation to stand down.

The deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party has said his party will never share power under any system that automatically entitles republicans to ministerial positions.

Sinn Féin is attempting to play down the Bush administration's decision not to invite the North's political parties to the White House's annual St Patrick's Day celebration this year.

Sinn Féin MP Martin McGuinness launched a scathing attack on Justice Minister Michael McDowell during a rally of the party's supporters in Belfast last night.

SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood claimed Gerry Adams' call for calm today was an admission from Sinn Féin that his party had lost the argument over IRA criminality.