Motion for government to apologise over former IRA links

A motion is to be put forward in the Northern Assembly today asking for an apology from the Republic for the role the Irish government of the day played in the emergence of the IRA.

The motion says it "believes that relations would improve further" with an apology from the current Irish government.

Last week, the North's First Minister Peter Robinson called on the Taoiseach to apologise for any involvement previous governments had in arming and encouraging the IRA.

On Thursday, the Enda Kenny met the relatives of 10 Protestant textile workers who were killed in 1976 in Kingsmills, County Armagh.

He told them the IRA were the common enemy of all of the people of Ireland.