This Friday marks the first anniversary of the latest collapse of Stormont.

SOMETIMES, it’s wise to forget or at least to pretend to forget so that age-old divisions might be resolved.

Micheál Martin has hinted at extending the confidence and supply agreement to support Fine Gael in Government for longer than the three-budget deal.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has staked her party’s place in Government on winning over struggling working families, after revealing that Labour will give first-time buyers €6,000 to buy their first homes as part of a €180m “save to buy” scheme — if re-elected to power.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has urged voters to return the Coalition for the sake of the recovery as two senior ministers ruled out alternatives and insisted no pre-election talks with Independents have taken place.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

The costs of compulsory health insurance will vastly overshadow the effect of water charges.

Sinn Féin’s ard fheis in Derry was a fast-paced bellicose gathering of a party hungry for power and baring its teeth before next year’s general election.

Sinn Féin will scrap property and water charges, while bringing in a new wealth tax if it can form a government next year, party leader Gerry Adams told its annual conference in Derry.

“And look where they put us. Stuck up here on the fifth floor.”

Environment Minister Phil Hogan is reiterating calls for the Fianna Fáil leader to withdraw the remarks he made over the weekend on the report by the Independent Committee into the review of Local Electoral Areas.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan has given his clearest indication yet he will consider tax cuts in the coming budgets.

Electromagnetic fields from pylons pose no major health threat to humans, according to a review by the European Commission.

THE leader’s address that rounded up the Fianna Fáil ard fheis was underwhelming to say the least.

The Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has reacted angrily to comments made by a Fianna Fáil Senator at their Ard Fheis today.

The “party strictures” in Sinn Féin mean many members who are opposed to abortion do not articulate their views, according to its justice spokesman, Peadar Toibin.

Diarmaid Ferriter’s new book on Ireland in the Seventies highlights the sporting influence on the nation’s culture, writes Michael Moynihan

Paying the €100 household charge was described as an act of “genuine patriotism to this country at this difficult time” by Environment Minister Phil Hogan, who led the attack at the ard fheis against the Socialist TDs opposing the charge.

There were no big announcements, no bold promises and no triumphant celebrations.

Final figures show that a total of 805,569 properties had registered to pay the €100 household charge by the payment deadline of midnight last night.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned his party had no cause to celebrate while hard-pressed families struggle, despite earlier urging them to cough up for the controversial household charge.

The latest figures on the Household Charge show that 770,980 people have registered to pay the €100 fee.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has said that if there was a "credible alternative" to the €100 household charge then it would have been pursued.

The Taoiseach has tonight urged people to make their contribution towards the restoration of sound public finances by paying the household charge.

THEY stood side by side, Dev and Dev Óg.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the party should nominate a candidate or back another to be President of Ireland.

History has been made at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis tonight as the first Protestant clergyman from the North has addressed the party.

I AM writing this letter in response to the regular presence of political parties at church gate collections.

Sinn Féin is proposing a solidarity tax of 1% on all assets, except farmland, worth over €1m.

FINE GAEL has refused to deny reports that it will unveil a new logo at its ard fheis next week.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise has said the failure of retail outlets to bring down their prices remains a major cause of concern.

The Green Party’s achievements during its first 10 months in Government will go under the spotlight today at its annual convention.

LIKE a blond Robbie Williams wired into the national grid, the Fine Gael leader burst onto the floodlit stage of his party’s ard fheis screaming: “Come on! Let me Enda-tain you!”

ENDA KENNY has pledged not to remain in office for a second term as Taoiseach if he fails to deliver on his promises in the first.

WHEN Bertie Ahern wants to spur the masses, he turns to the Iron Lady rather than the Republican men of steel.

Fine Gael will outline policies to transform public services at the final national conference of the pre-election season this weekend.

CONCERN was growing last night about the whereabouts and well-being of a senior Fianna Fáil minister who is said to be in a state of total bewilderment following his party’s Ard Fheis last weekend.

Tanaiste Michael McDowell is refusing to speculate on whether Fianna Fáil will make an announcement in relation to stamp duty at its Ard Fheis today.

THIS column needs to summon every political cliché to its side this week.

New proposals to help first-time home buyers get on the property ladder will be unveiled by Sinn Féin at its Ard Fheis this weekend, it emerged tonight.

FIANNA FÁIL will put forward its own proposals for tax reform in the next few weeks, following promises by Labour and the PDs to cut income tax.

Former IRA prisoner Gerry McGeough has confirmed his intention to stand against Sinn Féin in the next Assembly election.