Northern Ireland Parades Commission chief Roger Poole and its Protestant members today faced calls for them to stand down after Orangemen were banned from marching in a nationalist area.

A member of the North's Parades Commission whose membership of the Orange Order sparked a legal action has stepped down from the organisation.

Hopes of a peaceful summer marching season in the North grew tonight after an accommodation was reached between rival groups over a highly contentious parade due to take place in North Belfast .

The North'sloyalist marching season got off to a peaceful start today.

An Orangeman on Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission was today urged to resign after fresh questions were raised about his appointment.

Shoppers were today warned to expect major traffic disruption in Dublin as the Love Ulster parade moves into the city.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern will discuss recent efforts to restore Northern Ireland power-sharing with Secretary of State Peter Hain in London tomorrow, it was confirmed tonight.

The Irish Government hopes this weekend’s "Love Ulster" parade will pass off peacefully, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said today.

The nationalist SDLP tonight rejected claims it lobbied the British government to have one of its former MPs, Dr Joe Hendron appointed to the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.

A former nationalist MP and a prominent Orangeman are to serve on the next Parades Commission in the North, it emerged tonight.