Former DUP leader Ian Paisley Snr made his farewell speech in the Commons tonight, insisting the North was “moving in the right direction”.

Politicians have been paying tribute to Ian Paisley Snr who has announced today that he will not be seeking re-election in the forthcoming General Election.

Northern Assembly member Ian Paisley Jnr was fined £5,000 (€5,862) today for refusing to reveal the name of a confidential source.

The Democratic Unionist Party was tonight urged by Gerry Adams to calm down after a Northern Ireland Assembly committee failed to reach agreement on a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.

Senior civil servants were asked to help the Northern Ireland Office give as positive a response as possible to issues raised by the Rev Ian Paisley’s son during devolution negotiations before a key political deadline, it emerged today.