IT'S A TRUTH, yet to be universally acknowledged, that sectarian violence is often underpinned by sectarian exclusion. Since partition, the maintenance of the Six-County state has relied on the duel mechanisms of political exclusion and intimidation. Free article

HISTORY was created at the Cavan County Council AGM on Monday week last when one of Sinn Féin's longest-serving and respected councillors, Charlie Boylan, was elected chair, becoming the first member of the party to hold the position. Free article

A NORTH BELFAST Catholic had a lucky escape after he was confronted by a loyalist gunman as he reported for work on Sunday afternoon. Free article

SINN FÉIN Environment spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has called on Environment Minister John Gormley to intervene in a dispute between residents in county Wicklow and South Dublin County Council over a plan by the council to transport a hugely toxic and explosive chemical in to the Army Range in Shankill, Manor Kilbride and then to try to dispose of it in the open air. Free article

THE Sinn Féin MLA for South Down, Willie Clarke, addressed a public hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels this week on CAP Health Check legislative proposals and the future of agriculture under CAP. The hearing was organised by the Confederation of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left at a time when food prices are spiralling. Free article

RESPONDING to a report from the British NI Affairs Committee on the cost of holding investigations into killings during the recent armed conflict in Ireland, Sinn Féin Policing Board member Martina Anderson said that the monetary cost did not come directly from the inquiries themselves but from the British State policy of concealment, cover-up and suppression of the truth. Free article

DONEGAL Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has called on the 26 County Minister of State at the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources Seán Power TD to suspend his plan to open up 117,100 square kilometres of the Rockall Basin for licensing. Senator Doherty said in light of the recent hike in oil prices the generous licensing conditions being offered need to be reviewed. Free article

SINN FÉIN's East Belfast Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has expressed disgust and offence at the selling of what are being referred to as 'Fenian Flags', which are in actual fact the Irish National Flag, in the Union Jack Shop in East Belfast. Free article

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has called for action in support of Palestinian political prisoners being held by Israel. Free article

Unions reject calls for hotel pay freeze, Inflation and job losses rise as talks continue and Hospitals suffer from staffing levels Free article