Following months of behind the scenes contacts between the Spanish government and Basque nationalists, ETA this week called a permanent ceasefire. The statement, delivered to Basque media outlets on Wednesday, 22 March, outlined the armed group's intention to call a ceasefire, taking effect from Friday of this week. Free article

The scourge of political policing in the Six Counties was confronted by Sinn Féin activists and supporters right across the North last week as the party launched a new, continuous campaign to end political policing. Free article

Sinn Féin has once again raised the issue of comments by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) regarding a Dáil all-party motion calling for an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Free article

The problem began with the four S's printed twice on the plane ticket. Well, that's not strictly accurate. The problem begins each time we present ourselves at a ticket desk for a flight to or from the USA, or within that country. The United States administration and its Transport Security Agency have Shinners on a list. And it's been like that for years. And for years we have raised this unfair and unacceptable designation with senior US officials and each time the buck gets passed. Last year Gerry and I missed a flight home out of Newark because of it and ended up having to return via Manchester. Free article

Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Public Administration, Alex Maskey has welcomed the reduction of the number of quangos currently operating in the North as a requirement to bring about a democratic society. Free article

Sinn Féin leader in the Dáil, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, challenged the Taoiseach to spell out precisely what steps the Irish and British governments intended to take to re-establish the Six County Assembly and Executive and to have all outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement implemented. Free article

As An Phoblacht goes to print Cyril Ferez, a 39 year old technician for the Orange telephone company and a member of the SUD-PTT trade union lies in a coma in a French hospital, victim of a beating at the hands of French riot police. It is an indicator of just how serious the confrontation taking place on the streets of the country's main cities has become. Free article

Lisburn Sinn Féin councillor, Paul Butler, has expressed concern that the Equality Commission has not carried out any investigations into local district councils since the body was set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Free article

Le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge a bheith ar siúl an tseachtain seo caite, ba léir go raibh níos mó rath ag baint leis i mbliana. Mar shampla bhí níos mó Gaeilge le cloisteáil sna meáin i gcoitinne, go háirithe ón teilifís agus ón raidió. Bhí níos mó fógraíochta ann sna nuachtáin agus in ábhair phriontáilte eile faoi imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Free article

Author David Miller will launch: Origins & Oganisation of British Progpaganda in Ireland in 1920. By Brian Murphy. Friday 24 March at 7.30 pm, Teacher's Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 1 Free article