Since taking power it appears that Enda Kenny has a rather ambivalent attitude to the North, writes Alison O’Connor

The existence or otherwise of the IRA is a real issue, despite what the Shinners might claim and Gerry Adams’ best efforts to blame ‘cynical’ political opponents, says Michael Clifford

Concerns about republican sex abusers and Sinn Féin’s handling of allegations were raised with Tánaiste Joan Burton during her visit to the US this week.

Sinn Féin’s child protection officer has claimed a backbench Government TD is only raising concerns over the alleged cover-up of rapes by the Provisional IRA to improve her chances in the next general election.

Another shocking revelation last week about the sexual abuse of Paudie McGahon by an IRA member and the kangaroo ‘court’ that seems to have been a systematic way for IRA/Sinn Féin to deal with crime.

Abuse survivor advocate Colm O’Gorman has warned reports that sex offenders could have been removed from communities without the involvement of the justice system as “deeply troubling”.

Ireland's head of Amnesty International has described as "deeply troubling" claims that alleged sex abusers could be expelled from a community as punishment for their offences.

The war of words between Enda Kenny and Gerry Adams intensified as the Taoiseach insisted the Sinn Féin leader must reveal all to the gardaí about alleged child abuse by IRA members.

When, in 1597, Shakespeare included the line “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” in Henry IV, Part II, he can hardly have imagined how relevant, how very pertinent and precise, his observation would be on this small island more than four centuries later.

Kenny does not believe Sinn Féin leader and says he would have been well aware of alleged rapes

Sinn Féin conducted a secret 2006 investigation into "40 different cases of sexual and physical abuse" by the Provisional IRA, and sent a memo to party media handlers "should the report ever be leaked," it has been claimed.

A ‘Ferns-style’ commission of inquiry should be set up to investigate the extent of the Sinn Féin abuse allegations, after it was claimed the party is aware of more than 100 attacks that were covered up by the provisional IRA.

Abuse victim Mairia Cahill has passed on the names of around 35 alleged abusers to the gardaí and PSNI.

DURING the turbulent election campaign of 2011 I wrote about the possibility of Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness being elected as the President of Ireland, writes Alison O’Connor

A Cabinet Minister has accused Sinn Féin of a smokescreen in their request for an all-island forum for victims of sex abuse to come forward.

IRA abuse victim Paudie McGahon has described former Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan’s 2009 letter advising him to go to the gardaí with his complaint as “a red herring” and “a diversion”.

The IRA man who raped Paudie McGahon comes from a top Belfast Republican family which has connections with Sinn Féin, according to fellow abuse victim Mairia Cahill.

Special Correspondent Michael Clifford looks at the possible fallout for Sinn Féin following

WHENEVER it suits Sinn Féin, the party draws a line in the sand, making a fine distinction between its role as the self- described biggest political party on this island and its attitude to and handling of historic but still live allegations involving crimes of rape and sexual abuse of young people by members of the republican movement.

Enda Kenny has agreed a mechanism is needed to protect victims of Republican abuse and said he is willing to discuss a cross-border process with British prime minister David Cameron.

It is a matter of 'deep regret' that a man allegedly sexually abused by an IRA member feels let down, Gerry Adams has said.