MANY trade union leaders across Europe are reconsidering their support for the European Union because it favours business interests at the expense of workers, Unite - the Union Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly told delegates. Free article

THIS year's International Affairs section was dominated by the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. While the party's opposition to the treaty is already well-established, delegates debated an Ard Chomhairle motion setting out the key lines of argumentation. Free article

HEALTH MINISTER Mary Harney is "the wrecking ball" of the health service, according to Sinn Féin Health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD but he added that Bertie Ahern is the person who ultimately holds the controls. Free article

SINN FÉIN Dáil leader and Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin gave the opening address at the party's 2008 Ard Fheis in Dublin's RDS. Free article

THE Education debate was made up of 11 motions, all of which were passed. Among these were an end to segregated education, quick access of all students to educational psychologists, the introduction of an all-Ireland school leaving exam to replace A-Levels and Leaving Certificates, an all-Ireland university entrance system, the removal of top-up fees in the Six Counties, every new Gaelscoileanna be built on independent sites, life skills and life choices to be taught in schools, and the introduction of drug awareness classes to all schools. Free article

ISSUES discussed in the Rural Regeneration and Regional Development section included protection for family farms, a ban on GM crops, an increase in grant aid for energy crops, more flexibility in the Single Farm Payment (SFP), a lowering of the upper limit for SFP, and the renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy. Free article

Ag an Ard Fheis, an dheireadh seachtaine seo caite, bhí díospóireacht láidir maidir leis an Gaeilge. Labhair Eoghan Mac Cormac, Barry Mc Elduff, Gráinne Mhic Geidigh, Niall Ó Donnghaile, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Johnny Mc Gibbon agus Séanna Breathnach agus roinnt eile. Free article

In his introduction to Gerry Adams' Presidential address to the 2008 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, the party's newly elected Senator Pearse Doherty made an impassioned plea for the future of the west of Ireland. Free article

SINN FÉIN'S Dáil spokesperson on Economic Affairs, Arthur Morgan TD, opened the section on Building a Prosperous and Equal Economy. Free article

DELEGATES made their cases for and against motions on climate change, incineration, planning laws, voting, national parks and the Shell pipeline in Rossport in a vibrant debate on Environment and Climate Change that kicked off the first session of the weekend's Ard Fheis. Free article