Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has called on the British government to honor its commitments and for the Irish government to urgently re-engage in the peace process following a succession of decisions by the British government which are seriously undermining the Good Friday Agreement and political institutions.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny has responded to threats from the Catholic Church over the abortion debate – and reminded Cardinal Sean Brady that he has a duty to legislate for limited abortion.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has come to an agreement with US businessman Gregg Bemis to allow an investigation at the site of the RMS Lusitania wreckage 13 miles off the coast of Cork.

The Irish Times reports that Minister Deenihan has endorsed plans to begin a broad set of exploration objectives with US businessman Gregg Bemis, who owns the rights to the wreck.

While the PSNI has begun making plans to subpoena the Boston College ‘Belfast Project’ interview tapes, some are fearful that the exposure of the tapes could bring down Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and, in turn, the peace process in Northern Ireland.

The Irish government will seek to allow abortion in limited circumstances in Ireland when the life of the mother is in danger or when she is suicidal. However, the bill does not include rape or incest among the reasons for allowing an abortion.

Almost $362,000 will be spent on renovating Enniskillen. Co. Fermanagh. The money will be spent on making the town “brighter and more vibrant” through a painting and signage scheme and to give marketing training to store owners.

British state papers just released claim that Margaret Thatcher’s government offered to end the hunger strikes in return for an IRA ceasefire in 1981 – and the IRA was close to agreement.

New legislation would grant amnesty to former Irish troops who deserted and fought with the Allies during World War II. Upon their return home, these troops were called deserters and blacklisted.

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny said on Tuesday that, although he couldn’t be definite, he was confident the government would have abortion legislation enacted before the summer recess.

The Council of Europe has warned that Ireland needs to take action on discrimination against the Travelling community in the workplace – and wants Travellers recognized as an ethnic minority.

The Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad (VICA), founded by a group of Irish in London, is campaigning to give Irish citizens abroad the right to vote for the Dáil (Irish government). This week the campaigning group has submitted two papers to the Constitutional Convention.

Seventy five survivors of the notorious Magdalene Laundries are due to meet with Judge John Quirke, the man responsible for advising the Irish government about the level of compensation due to them. Quirke will then reportedly make recommendations concerning their compensation packages.

On the International Day for Monuments and Sites, the Heritage Council has called out the Irish Government for an unfair division of the declining funds to protect tangible history in Ireland.  In 2008, there were 20 million euros for the protection and repairs of historic sites and monuments in Ireland compared to 5.7 million euros today. 

The bipartisan Senate panel on immigration reform, nicknamed the ‘Gang of Eight,’ has put forth their proposals for immigration reform. The Irish government, who will see many of its citizens affected by the potential reforms, praised the panel’s proposals.

Eve after her death Margaret Thatcher figured at the Sinn Fein annual conference last weekend when a new addition to merchandise on sale were green-colored Thatcher t-shirts.  Daubed across them were the words, in Irish: “I still hate Margaret Thatcher.”

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney has revealed that his boss Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sometimes clashed with the Irish government on issues she wanted them to agree with her on but they did not.

The Department of Homeland Security expect that applications for high-skilled immigration visas, H-1B visas will be far greater than the numbers they will supply.

The government is preparing measures, including setting minimum pricing, to tackle alcohol abuse.  A major study of how much alcohol Irish people consume is already underway. The report will determine how often they go to the pub and with whom they drink.