MARY LOU McDONALD has taken on the three male MEPs in Dublin - Fianna Fáil's Eoin Ryan, Labour's Proinsias de Rossa and Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell - all of whom sniped at her attendance record in Europe. Apart from the time she spent in Dublin in her leading role in securing the Irish public's support in rejecting the flawed Lisbon Treaty, Mary Lou pointed out that she was on maternity leave. Free article

An Phoblacht's ROBBIE SMYTH continues to profile the key contests for Sinn Féin local candidates in the 2009 poll. We also look at the key council contests in Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Wicklow and also take in Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo. On Friday 5 June vote for a party with the perfect mix of youth and experience - a party dedicated to building an Ireland of equals with strong community and social values. Don't just get angry. Do something about it. Vote for your local Sinn Féin candidate and also vótáil Sinn Féin for Europe Free article

AFTER many months of development, Sinn Féin unveiled its new party website, www.sinnfein.ie, on Wednesday. The site has been completely redesigned with a simple, modern and stylish look. The site focuses on interacting with people through the use of blogs, videos, social networks and an email list where people will get regular updates from the party. Free article

SPEAKING in the Seanad this week Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty called for the immediate nationalisation of banks in need of Government aid as part of a short to medium term response to the banking crisis and said government proposals for a National AssetsManagement Agency (NAMA) is unworkable. Doherty called for immediate nationalisation "of any banks needing government aid - without government or public liability falling on the tax payer for the imprudent lending and corporate failures of the management of these enterprises". Free article

AN ATTEMPT by a major employer in Dublin Port to force through the collective dismissal of its dockers has been referred by SIPTU to the Government under the Protection of Employment Act, 2007. The company, Marine Terminals, accounts for at least 25% of port traffic. Free article

Care workers want action on Ryan Report,Ferry workers to strike, Belfast traffic wardens continue protest, Nurses strike postponed and EU adopts 'Blue Card' system Free article

MARTIN 'DOCO' DOHERTY, the popular young Dublin IRA Volunteer shot dead as he foiled a UVF bomb attack on a function for republican prisoners at the Widow Scallan's pub in Dublin's Pearse Street on 21 May 1994, has been honoured by republicans at a number of events organised by Doco's family and Sinn Féin. On the actual anniversary of Doco's death (Thursday 21 May), a plaque was unveiled by his family at the apartments block that now stands on the site of the since-demolished Widow Scallan's pub. Local Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan unveiled the plaque, recalling the selfless heroism of the young republican who saved the lives of 300 people in the pub that night. Free article

Deirdre Kackle (Upper Springfield Development Trust) and Raymond Watson (sculptor) with Sinn Féin's Janice Austin, Marie Cush and Bairbre de Brún at the unveiling of a memorial to suicide victims in the Upper Springfield area