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.

The North's First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley is odds-on to stand down from office this year, a bookmaker claimed today.

The British Government today put fresh pressure on Northern Ireland First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, to agree to the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Executive.

President Mary McAleese tonight met First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley at a war museum in the North.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley was not pushed into stepping down as head of the Free Presbyterian Church, a spokesperson for the leader said today.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, was forced from his position as head of the Free Presbyterian Church, sources claimed today.

The Rev Ian Paisley has become the first MP in the North to be voted Opposition Politician of the Year.

Helping to bring peace and powersharing to the North is Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s biggest achievement in office, he said today.

Northern Ireland MEP Jim Allister tonight embarked on a political career outside the Democratic Unionists after he quit the Rev Ian Paisley’s party over its power sharing pact with Sinn Féin.

THE world needs the Northern Ireland peace process to work to show that Christians can co-exist together, Pope Benedict said yesterday.

The Rev Ian Paisley was tonight accused of boosting the prospect of seeing another Sinn Féin Education Minister in the North.

The North's rank-and-file police today lambasted Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Ian Blair over claims he referred to RUC members in the North as members of a paramilitary force.

The time for true and visible Sinn Féin support for policing has arrived, the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists said tonight.

Unionists are not going to throw Sinn Féin a lifeline in the current stand-off over support for policing, a senior MP in the Rev Ian Paisley’s party claimed today.

The Northern peace process has been plunged into crisis because the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party reneged on an agreement with Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams said today.

Police and representatives from schools in a town blighted by sectarian violence in the North today met an internet company about tackling hate messages on its site.

The Democratic Unionist Party is split over support for the St Andrew’s Agreement, the leader of the Ulster Unionists claimed today.

The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists will hold a private strategy meeting today in a bid to allay concerns about the party’s involvement in efforts to revive power-sharing at Stormont.

A senior member of the Rev Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church warned today that many worshippers were opposed to the Democratic Unionist leader joining Martin McGuinness at the joint head of a Stormont administration.

Sinn Féin’s response to the St Andrews Agreement is actually a step backwards, the Rev Ian Paisley claimed today.

Growing numbers of the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party are unhappy with the St Andrews Agreement which would put it into government with Sinn Féin, it was claimed today.

The Rev Ian Paisley is right to insist in crucial talks on devolution for the North that Sinn Féin comes on board over policing, a senior British government minister insisted today.

DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley is to hold historic face-to-face talks with the Catholic Primate of All Ireland Sean Brady.

The Minister for Enterprise & Employment Micheál Martin was today personally congratulated by a senior member of the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists for bringing in Europe’s first ever ban on public smoking.

Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister was accused of shameless opportunism today after he attacked rival Ulster Unionists for joining forces at Stormont with a loyalist politician.

The Northern Ireland Assembly should be allowed to have its say on key issues affecting the North even if a devolved government cannot be formed, the Rev Ian Paisley insisted today.

The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane today held a first-ever meeting with Democratic Unionist Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley.

The family of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane is holding talks with the Rev Ian Paisley today over proposals for an inquiry into one of the most controversial murders of the Troubles.

The Rev Ian Paisley will today insist that republican involvement in criminality must end before there can be any political progress in the North.

The Democratic Unionists may appoint a representative in the United States to put the party’s case directly to opinion-formers, the Rev Ian Paisley said today.

British prime minister Tony Blair will hear proposals from the Rev Ian Paisley today, outlining steps towards the return of devolution in the North.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain faced demands tonight from the Rev Ian Paisley for a meeting over the dropping of charges against three men accused of operating a republican spy ring at Stormont.

A suspended member of the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party has launched libel proceedings against the BBC and two newspapers.

A face-to-face meeting between Gerry Adams and the Rev Ian Paisley would be truly historic, Sinn Féin claimed tonight.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is to hold historic talks with Democratic Unionist Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley in Belfast tomorrow.

The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists today snubbed Peter Hain by withdrawing an invitation to the Northern Ireland Secretary to address their councillors.

The Rev Ian Paisley was challenged today to stop hiding behind rhetoric and show real political leadership by sharing power with Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today called on the British and Irish Governments to move quickly to restore power-sharing in the wake of IRA decommissioning.

The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party today had talks with the clergymen whose witnessing of IRA arms decommissioning they have questioned.

Sectarian attacks on Catholic homes in the north Antrim area must stop and those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice, the Rev Ian Paisley said today.

The North's most senior policeman was today urged to adopt a get-tough attitude to loyalist paramilitary leaders following a recent wave of sectarian attacks.

Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley intervened tonight in a bid to prevent further rioting in Belfast linked to a loyalist paramilitary feud.

Gerry Adams today celebrated the removal of a military watchtower despised by republicans in west Belfast and suggested a possible relocation on the Rev Ian Paisley’s church rooftop.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain was today preparing to face Assembly members from the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.