TWENTY-ONE MEPs – including Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún – have backed this week’s legal bid by new Basque pro-independence party Sortu to contest local elections in May.

Sortu says it rejects political violence by all organisations, including the separatist group ETA.

Spain's Supreme Court started hearings on Monday and is expected to announce its ruling this week or early... Free article

SINN FÉÍN President Gerry Adams TD has today announced at Leinster House in Dublin the portfolios assigned to Sinn Féin's 14 newly-elected TDs.

They are:-

Department of An Taoiseach – Gerry Adams (Party Leader)

Public Expenditure & Reform – Mary Lou McDonald (Deputy Leader)

Finance – Pearse Doherty

Health & Children – Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Foreign Affairs & Trade – Pádraig Mac... Free article

THE Free Gaza Movement in Ireland has described Monday evening’s bombing raids on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Air Force as:

An outrage and an unacceptable act of violence against a civilian population.

At least 19 people, including children, have been wounded, Palestinian emergency workers told the Al Jazeera news network..

Fintan Lane of the Free Gaza Movement in Ireland... Free article

A LEAK from the McCarthy Group on State Assets adds to fears over the future of Coillte and Bord na Móna and their possible privatisation, Sinn Féin Natural Resources spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has said.

According to a piece by Brendan Keenan in Monday’s Irish Independent, the report will recommend a sale of forestry and peat and the establishment of a new company to... Free article

The 1981 Hunger Strike and how events 30 years ago have shaped modern Ireland

TWO of Sinn Féin's youngest stars, Pearse Doherty TD for Donegal South-West, and Seanad candidate Kathryn Reilly, will be the main speakers at a Sinn Féin Youth Engagement in Donagh Hall on Saturday 2^nd April at 2pm.

The public talk will focus on the 1981 Hunger Strike and how events 30 years ago have... Free article

EOIN Ó BROIN has launched his campaign for the NUI Seanad election campaign with an appeal to NUI graduates to support him as a progressive voice committed to political reform and continuing the campaign against the Consensus for Cuts.

Announcing his bid and a new campaign website, Eoin says:

If elected I will use the Seanad as a platform for real social, economic and political... Free article

THE Strule Arts Centre in Omagh was packed to capacity on Monday evening for the Tyrone launch of the National Hunger Strike Exhibition.

The launch was chaired by the vice-chair of Omagh District Council, Ann Marie Fitzgerald, and addressed by former Assembly member for the constituency, Danny Morrison.

During her opening remarks, Councillor Fitzgerald said:

This year marks the... Free article

By Ian McBride, Cathaoirleach, DSC '81 Commemoration Committee

ON March 1st, the launch of Dublin’s 30th anniversary Hunger Strikes commemorative events took place in the Ballyfermot Civic Centre and was attended by a large crowd.

It was a night of speeches, song and exhibition in memory of 10 brave men. The re-elected TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus Ó Snodaigh chaired... Free article

ÓGRA SHINN FÉIN activists attended the 7th Scontri internaziunali in Corsica last week. The week-long event comprised of discussions on the role of music and liberation struggles and tourism as well as cultural events and tours.

Ógra Shinn Féin has a record of participating in this annual event organised by the youth movement Ghjuventú Indipendentista.

This year, ÓSF was... Free article

THE European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Spain violated jailed pro-Basque independence leader Arnaldo Otegi's freedom of expression by convicting him of slandering King Juan Carlos by calling him the chief of torturers.

The court also ordered Spain to pay Arnaldo Otegi €20,000 in compensation.

Otegi was sentenced to a year in jail by Spain's Supreme Court in the case... Free article