Low-income families and those surviving on social welfare payments were today warned they face a hit in the upcoming Budget.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has warned that December's Budget will have to be "significantly

The Orange Order has criticised comments made by the North's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, at a Sinn Féin event over the weekend.

Members of Sinn Féin will gather in Kildare this afternoon for the annual commemoration at Bodenstown Cemetery of Theobald Wolfe Tone.

Sinn Féin is to hold its annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration in Co Kildare today.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday claimed that unionists should have no fear of Fianna Fáil extending into a 32-county party.

FINE Gael yesterday claimed that it had discovered a “black hole” of almost €6 billion in Fianna Fáil’s election promises.

The Taoiseach is to ask all members of Fianna Fáil around the country to contribute ideas to plans by the party to organise on a 32-county basis.

The Taoiseach is due to give the annual Fianna Fáil Wolfe Tone oration in Bodenstown cemetery in County Kildare today.

CRUELLY but superbly, you wrote recently that Bertie Ahern had been measured for his lame duck suit(October 4).

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams today signalled a major shift in the party’s strategy towards the Republic after their hugely disappointing performance in the General Election.

Hundreds of Republican Sinn Féin supporters are expected to take part today in the annual commemoration at the grave of Theobald Wolfe Tone in Co Kildare.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday said nationalists and unionists were closer in purpose and understanding now than at any time over the past two centuries.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern borrowed the words of Ian Paisley today to tell a republican commemoration that a settlement to the Irish question was at its closest for two centuries.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is playing down reports that the Government is to make €1bn in aid available for the North.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today reiterate his call to loyalists to build stability within their communities in the North.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended Fr Alec Reid against fallout from his Nazi comment, describing him as a great man who had contributed much to peace in the North.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said today that loyalists need space, encouragement and support to move beyond their recent past.

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

CONFUSION among the public and grassroots Fianna Fáil is easy to understand given the mixed signals emanating from both Government and the country’s biggest party on the question of getting into bed with Sinn Féin.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday rowed back publicly from the views expressed by Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern that it was only a “matter of time” before Sinn Féin would be considered as suitable coalition partners for Fianna Fáil.

IAN PAISLEY’S Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is ready to share power with Sinn Féin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has aid that no stone can be left unturned to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is fully implemented, but he did allow for the possibility of some changes to the operation of the agreement to accommodate unionists.

SINN FÉIN vowed yesterday to exhaust all avenues to kick-start the peace process despite the British Government working towards a unionist time-frame.

The Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams told his party's annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown in Co Kildare this afternoon that republicans must face up to the challenges ahead.

A Progressive Democrat TD tonight said she had hit a raw nerve with republicans after she dressed up a mannequin in pro-IRA merchandise sold in a Sinn Féin shop.

Intensive efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the North’s peace process were due to continue today as Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists try to bridge the remaining gaps between them.

The next few days will be of crucial importance for the democratic life of Northern Ireland, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

Sinn Féin say that they are intensifying efforts to persuade unionists that a United Ireland is the best option.

The Taoiseach has said that he is grateful to his party members and those who campaigned for a 'Yes' vote in the Nice Treaty referendum.

The Taoiseach has said he believes the decision by the Alliance Party to redesignate as unionist in order to re-elect David Trimble, will safeguard the peace process.