SINN FÉIN deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has announced that senior party colleagues Conor Murphy and Pearse Doherty will jointly head a Sinn Féin Task Force on Irish Unity. At a press conference in Dublin last Friday, 12 June, McDonald outlined ambitious plans for the task force, including events throughout Ireland and with the Irish Diaspora in the USA, Australia, England and Scotland. Free article

SINN FÉIN'S final victory in the local elections had to wait six days after polling before a winner was declared of the last council seat in Cavan's Belturbet ward. Damien Brady's victory, by just one vote, was hotly disputed by Fianna Fáil, who held up the electoral count, drafting in legal representatives from Dublin but all in vain. Free article

THE Fianna Fáil/Green Government's failure to protect workers and public services in the text containing 'guarantees' due to be signed off on by the European Council of Ministers this week have been described by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald as "deeply disappointing". She said: "It is deeply disappointing that the Government does not intend to provide legally-binding guarantees in the areas of workers' rights and public services. Free article

GOVERNMENT Minister, Fianna Fáil' s Éamon Ó Cuív, has joined the growing calls for a full investigation into the sinking off the Mayo coast last week of a boat owned by Pat O'Donnell a member of the Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association (EIFA). Shell Ireland (SEPIL) has denied accusations that its employees were involved in the sinking of the Iona Isle. The EIFA has signed up to an agreement with Shell EP Ireland to facilitate the laying of the controversial Corrib gas offshore pipeline. The agreement includes a clause that Shell will ensure that no produced water should be discharged from the outfall pipe at Glengad. But Pat O'Donnell, skipper of the Iona Isle and a Shell to Sea campaigner, still has concerns about the impact of the refinery discharge pipe on the marine environment and is not a party to the deal. Free article

Although the situation remains remarkably fluid it seems unlikely that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will, in the weeks and months ahead, retain the same authority and power he has gained in Iran over the years. He may well retain his office - although even that is uncertain - but his authority has been both undermined and diminished by events since the June 12 election. Free article

Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Conor Murphy met with Uachtarán of the GAA, Christy Cooney along with party colleagues Michelle Gildernew and Martin McGuinness on Monday in Stormont. Free article

SINN FÉIN Assembly member for North Belfast Gerry Kelly led a party delegation to meet with the North's Parades Commission at their Belfast Office on Wednesday. The meeting was held to deal with the determination of the Commission to allow loyalist supporters to parade past Ardoyne shops as part of the Tour of the North this Friday night. Free article

Queen's cuts questioned, Top civil servants' bonuses need rigorous review, Builder swaps workers with sub-contractors, Kilkenny contractor says Portuguese speakers only and Eurozone has jobless rate of over 9% Free article

Sinn Féin General Secretary Dawn Doyle has described the decision of John Dwyer to resign from the party, only days after the people of New Ross elected him as a Sinn Féin representative, "as disappointing". Free article

Sinn Féin President and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams with the family of murdered west Belfast man Harry Holland at a new bench that is dedicated to his memory him in the Falls Park. Free article