Sinn Féin TD and Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin this week put Fianna Fáil TD Margaret Conlon through her paces at a National Forum on Europe debate on the Lisbon Treaty at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan. Former senator and current chairperson of the Forum, Maurice Hayes, facilitated the discussion. The event was a lively dry-run for this week's Dáil debate on the referendum bill. Free article

SINN FÉIN'S 'No to the Lisbon Treaty' campaign was launched in the south-east on Wednesday, 26 March. In a day-long series of engagements, Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald travelled across the region, meeting with party activists and conducting media briefings on the central issues involved. The whistle-stop tour started in County Wicklow before moving on to Kilkenny and finishing in Wexford for the official public launch of the campaign. Free article

MINISTERS in the North's Executive have been urged by Sinn Féin West Tyrone Assembly member Claire McGill to see which of their departments' services can be delivered locally through post offices to help them survive as 'one-stop shops'. Free article

The SDLP leadership has been slammed this week by Sinn Féin's leader in the North's Assembly John O'Dowd over its voting position on issues such as the North's new Victims Commisioners. Free article

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has called on Commissioner designate for Public Health, Food Safety and Animal Health and Welfare, Androula VASSILIOU, to propose that Ireland be recognised as one unit in terms of animal disease. Free article

Níl cur amach agam ar theanga ar bith eile a bhfuil idir bhás is bheatha fógartha di an méid céanna uaireanta leis an Ghaeilge. Gach re bliain bíonn fiosrúchán éigin ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge; conas mar atá ag éirí léi; an bhfuil sí i mbaol an bháis; nó an bhfuil sí ag dul ó neart go neart. In ainneoin a bhfoilsítear i ndiaidh na bhfiosrúchán seo bíonn an freagra ón rialtas mar an gcéanna i gcónaí - rud ar bith. Is cosúil, áfach, nach féidir le neamhaird an rialtais bac a cur le fás ár dteanga náisiúnta ar an ábhar go bhfuil na ráflaí arís ann go bhfuil an Ghaeilge 'sa bhfaisean', agus go bhfuil sí 'fionnuar' bheith á labhairt. An t-aiséirí úr é seo don Ghaeilge don míliú uair ina saol, nó díreach iarracht sceimhle beocht a thabhairt do theanga atá ag streachailt léi leanúint ar aghaidh? Free article

THE Edentubber Martyrs Monument on the Louth/Newry border was desecrated and badly damaged over the weekend in an attack by vandals. Free article

Aer Lingus staff reject changes in conditions, Port safety highlighted after death on Irish vessel, Construction firm told to pay pension entitlements and Women's Council to sue state over workers' rights Free article

Ellie Lyden Free article

Seamus Trainor Free article