The Taoiseach has strongly denied claims by David Davis that Sinn Féin is “strongly influencing” the Government in Brexit talks.

The Good Friday Agreement brought the framework for peace, but it hasn’t been an easy ride. Political Correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith looks back on the key moments of the first 20 years of the peace process.

We weren’t just ending the conflict, we were also putting in place arrangements to replace the Anglo-Irish Agreement, writes then junior minister Liz O’Donnell

When a fiction-based resolution of a crisis starts to unravel it is not always easy to pinpoint the moment progress reverts to tribal retrenchment.

The year-long stalemate in the North and the absence of the Stormont assembly is “highly disappointing”, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.

Guinness PRO14: Southern Kings 36 - Ulster 43: Ulster staged a superb second-half fightback to record a 43-36 Guinness PRO14 win over Southern Kings after trailing 22-10 at the break in Port Elizabeth.

Benetton Treviso 14 - Ulster 21: Andrew Trimble scored two first-half tries as Ulster held on to beat Benetton Treviso 21-14 at the Stadio Monigo for their second straight Guinness PRO14 win.

A doctor forced out of a New York City hospital over sexual harassment claims returned with an assault rifle hidden under a lab coat and shot seven people, killing a woman medic and leaving several of her colleagues fighting for their lives.

Ulster 17 Leinster 13: Thankfully it wasn’t all about the game itself on a bright summer’s day at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday. At least two stand-out moments came from the two Ulster players who were bidding farewell to a venue they had graced on numerous occasions.

The EU’s declaration on potential Irish unity has been hailed as a diplomatic coup for the Taoiseach. 

Experienced Ireland star Andrew Trimble has lent his weight to the plethora of indignation that has surrounded plans to condense the Six Nations Championship into five weekends.

Ulster 24 Cardiff Blues 24: Cardiff Blues dented Ulster’s hopes of making the Guinness PRO12 play-offs when they carved out a share of the points at the Kingspan Stadium last night.

Ireland welcome Rob Kearney back to training today ahead of Friday’s must-win Six Nations clash with Wales as the backline selection conundrums multiply for head coach Joe Schmidt.

Ulster have the luxury of rolling out some serious power for the Guinness Pro12 visit of Treviso this evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

Joe Schmidt may wait until after training this morning at Carton House before finalising his Ireland team to face France in Dublin on Saturday.

Exeter 31 Ulster 19: Ulster boss Les Kiss cut a frustrated figure as his side’s hopes of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals ended in England’s West Country last night.

A controversial penalty try helped Scarlets to a narrow 16-13 Guinness PRO12 victory over Ulster at a rain-drenched Parc y Scarlets.

One last push. The bodies may ache more than usual after that punishing Test against the All Blacks but Ireland have a chance to finish the year on a high against Australia this Saturday and Andrew Trimble believes the players will not lack for motivation.

Less on the scoreboard than in Soldier Field maybe, but Saturday’s renewal between Ireland and New Zealand matched the drama of Chicago in pretty much every other way and even sprinkled a painful dose of controversial incidents along the way with it.

Ireland international winger Andrew Trimble has been summoned to make his first start of the season when Ulster travel to take on Bordeaux-Begles in their own backyard this Sunday.

Andrew Trimble believes Ireland will need to walk a fine line between self-confidence and respect when they face the All Blacks in their international season opener in Chicago’s Soldier Field and again in Dublin two weeks later.

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee expects something different when the sides meet in tomorrow’s final Test in Port Elizabeth.

In the face of criticism from Springboks coach Allister Coetzee that Ireland “weren’t interested in playing rugby”, Andrew Trimble has proclaimed pride in his team’s streetwise victory against the odds.

Ospreys 26 Ulster 46: Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs after an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium as Ospreys failed to qualify for next season’s European Champions Cup.

A 46-26 defeat saw Ospreys fail to qualify for the European Champions Cup next season, while victorious Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs in an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium.

Ulster stayed on course to make the Guinness PRO12 play-offs by defeating Leinster 30-6 in a pulsating derby clash at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster 18 Connacht 10: For Ulster the misery of the a month which saw them slump to fifth ended in a hard-fought win in Belfast over a Connacht side which never took a backward step but was undone by injuries and some unforced errors.

The smiles are back and the spring has returned to players’ steps but Ireland wing Andrew Trimble fears that Scotland might be in the mood to rain on his side’s end-of-season parade this Saturday evening.

Paddy Jackson has still to play one minute of Six Nations rugby this year, but his Ulster colleague Andrew Trimble believes the out-half is nonetheless well down the road to reaching the standards of Ireland playmaker Jonathan Sexton.

Ireland's five-match unbeaten run against France came to a punishing end as Guy Noves' side edged home a tight Six Nations encounter at Stade de France today.

Sean O’Brien took an encouraging step closer to an Ireland return yesterday as Joe Schmidt’s squad began their final preparations for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown in France.

Ulster 56 Oyannax 3: Eight tries, all converted, and a clinically attacking Ulster got the bonus point win over Oyannax on Saturday at the Kingspan Stadium needed to prolong – for 24 hours at least – hopes of a Champions Cup quarter-final spot.

Ulster head coach Les Kiss believes Saracens are the greatest threat to Toulon’s reign as European champions.