Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter

A Labour-Sinn Féin economic showdown is looming after Tánaiste Joan Burton claimed average families face a 7% income tax hike if they vote for the opposition party.

Sinn Féin have pledged to introduce a third higher rate of tax as well as a wealth tax if put in power, as the party defended the millions of dollars in funding it has received from US business leaders.

Pro-life Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín has refused to say if he will vote in favour of abortion legislation should the issue come before the Dáil again, despite his party’s ard fheis backing calls for fatal foetal abnormality terminations and the repeal of the eight amendment.

On Saturday, just as Sinn Féin’s long-standing president Gerry Adams was preparing his keynote ard fheis speech, senator Kathryn Reilly rushed to the stage to make two key announcements.

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.

Sinn Féin has said it is committed to introducing a third tax rate for those on high incomes, as well as a wealth tax, if it gets into Government.

Sinn Féin has said it does not accept that an Irish Government must be led by either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

Deputy Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has claimed that RTE and TV3 both offered her and Tánaiste Joan Burton a live head-to-head debate - but that the Labour leader later changed her mind.

The tragic death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie just yards from the Dáil last December "did not happen by accident", the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis has heard.

Sinn Féin will adopt a stance on abortion at its Ard Fheis today.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has described the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis as being like a comedy show.

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has revealed he has held talks with dissidents to urge them to end terrorism.