Around 1,500 people have taken part in demonstrations outside Leinster House to coincide with the start of the new political term.

Thousands of police and soldiers stormed the Jamaican ghettos where reggae was born in search of a reputed drug kingpin wanted by the United States, intensifying a third day of street battles that have killed at least 30 people.

The multi-national team given the formidable task of overseeing paramilitary disarmament in the North ended 13 years of work in the region today with its task broadly complete.

THREE Northern Irish paramilitary factions announced the destruction of their illegal arsenals yesterday, 24 hours before an amnesty on the movement of weapons by groups carrying out decommissioning ends.

The High Court will decide tomorrow if it is to continue an injunction against SIPTU, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions officials and employees of a cargo handling company involved in a strike at Dublin port over the alleged harassment and intimidation of staff at the firm who have continued to work.

High Court proceedings against Siptu, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions officials and employees of a cargo handling company involved in a strike at Dublin port over the alleged harassment and intimidation of staff who are continuing to work have been adjourned.

Siptu, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions officials and employees at a company involved in a strike at Dublin port have denied that they have harassed or intimidated staff who are continuing to work.

A cargo handing company involved in an industrial dispute has secured a High Court injunction preventing anyone harassing threatening its employees who have continued to work during the strike.

ABOUT 600 protesters blocked operations in and around Dublin Port for three hours yesterday in an escalation of the eight-week long protest at Marine Terminals (MTL).

ABOUT 600 protesters blocked operations in and around Dublin Port for three hours yesterday in an escalation of the eight-week long protest at Marine Terminals (MTL).

Migrant workers are essential to the North's economy and enrich life in the region, a public rally against racism was told today.

Trade union leaders in the North will hold a rally in Belfast city centre today to protest against the spate of racist attacks in the city.

Workers protesting 1,000 job losses in the North are to hold a mass rally today.

THE Northern political process remains unshakeable despite the murder of two soldiers by the Real IRA, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday.

People in the North were today urged to attend a series of silent protests regarding the murder of the two soldiers in Antrim

Thousands attended a march in the North today for an end to violence in the Middle East.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain led tributes to Progressive Unionists leader David Ervine, who died in hospital today.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin has announced the new board of the Labour Relations Commission.

The British and Irish governments are facing calls today to establish a high-level task force to co-ordinate the planned investment of €100nm in infrastructure north and south of the border.

AN POST last night expressed its willingness to open talks on the company’s decision to close its loss- making SDS parcel division.

Talks have taken place between Unions and the Minister for Communications Dermot Ahern over the planned closure of An Post's parcel delivery service.

Unionist threats to topple Northern Ireland’s power-sharing regime will only fuel the blood-lust of sectarian killers, it was claimed tonight.

Detectives today revisited the scene of the murder of young Catholic postal worker Daniel McColgan in a bid to persuade more witnesses to come forward.

All paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland must disband and the problem of sectarianism be deplored, thousands of people attending trade union peace rallies in Northern Ireland were told today.