REPUBLICAN ex-prisoners from Mid and West Tyrone will assemble next Saturday, 4 April to officially launch Abhaile Arís - a support organisation for people who have served time in jails as a result of the conflict. The launch will include the official opening of an arts and craft shop on James Street, Omagh at 3pm. Free article

SINN FÉIN President Gerry Adams is to visit the Middle East next week. Adams has on several occasions raised the necessity of a negotiated peace settlement in the region with US Presidents Clinton and Bush as well British Prime Minister Tony Blair. In September 2006 Adams visited Israel and the Palestinian territory on the west Bank. Free article

SINN FÉIN Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has been praised by the community sector after she confirmed that the school uniform grant in the North would be extended to include primary school children. Free article

A GOVERNMENT embargo in the 26 Counties has been placed on filling jobs in hospitals, schools and Garda stations and looks set to be in place until early next year. All Government departments have been issued with a letter from the Department of Finance following a Cabinet decision made over the weekend ordering a ban on promotions, awards of new allowances and performance-related bonuses for senior public sector workers. Free article

ONE of Sinn Féin's EU candidates for Ireland East, Tomás Sharkey, held a series of meetings with trade unionists in Laois and Offaly last week to launch the party's policy document on job retention and creation. He was accompanied by local Sinn Féin representatives Alan Hand and Cllr Brian Stanley. Free article

Dar le Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, bhí Féile Raifteirí speisialta i mbliana agus is cinnte go bhfuil neart daoine ar aon intinn léi. Rinneadh ceiliúradh is comóradh den scoth ar na tréithe éagsúla a bhí ag Raifteirí agus aird ar leith tugtha dá bhuanna ealaíonta; i. Bua na filíochta is na scribhneoireachta, bua na hamhránaíochta idir traidisiúnta is ar an sean-nós, bua na fidléireachta is an ceoil go ginearálta. Free article

ÓGRA Shinn Féin in Derry have called for equality for the Easter Lily at broadcast organisations UTV and the BBC in the city. Free article

DERRY Sinn Féin Cllr Kevin Campbell has moved to ease fears that republican graves may have been vandalised in the City Cemetery and explained that white solution poured over headstones in recent days was part of work undertaken by the Derry Republican Graves Association and Magee Sinn Féin Society to refurbish the letters and markings on the headstones. Free article

Dublin Sinn Féin held a protest outside Dublin Head Quarters in O'Connell Street on Saturday, 28 March. The National Bus & Railworkers' Union (NBRU) and SIPTU have voted to reject the proposals for cutbacks put forward by the Dublin Bus company. Members of SIPTU and the NBRU were said to be concerned about the implications of taking 120 buses out of the fleet, changes to work practices and job security. Free article

Ulster Bank dispute moves to Labour Court and Education Department accuses teachers Free article