As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar celebrates his 40th birthday, Political Correspondent John Manley assesses the Fine Gael leader's impact on Irish politics.

IAN Paisley billed a Belfast charity for almost £6,000 to fly first-class to a peace conference in New York. 

A NEW exhibition commemorating the centenary of the formation of the first Dáil has opened at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

THE British government has a "blatant disregard" for the upholding of the Good Friday Agreement and the interests of Ireland, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has said.

A NEW exhibition uncovering the stories behind buried treasure will open at the Ulster Museum in Belfast today.

THERE is a "significant" need for more help for families of children with acquired brain injuries in Northern Ireland, according to a new report.

A SERIES of events began in west Belfast yesterday aimed at helping communities tackle paramilitary control.

TEA for two may be a more usual auction prize but one Co Monaghan GAA club is seeking to clear its debts by starting a bidding war on "a graveyard plot for two".

A POLICE officer has been disciplined after he wrote statements on behalf of colleagues and submitted them to the Public Prosecution Service without their knowledge.

A man accused of breaking his girlfriend's nose and trying to choke her blamed his own mother for the assault, the High Court has heard.

THE family of a young Co Donegal teacher killed by a runaway 4x4 has condemned a fake funding page set up to raise money following the tragedy.

A WOMAN carrying a baby diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality is considering travelling to Britain for a termination after being turned down for an abortion by a Dublin hospital - two weeks after it became legal in the Republic.

POLICE have appealed for information after man in his thirties was assaulted in Belfast city centre.

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said that the Euro needs fundamental reform to be able to survive.

A FORMER GAA official has been accused of sexually abusing 12 victims over almost 30 years.

A right of way granted by a local council to hotel developers for £1 was inspected by valuers more than a year after the deal was done.

MPS' rejection of the proposed Brexit deal has heightened concern among northern nationalists that their rights will be jeopardised by the absence of a formal agreement, the organisers of a major new conference have said.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after two women were stabbed in Co Derry.

House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has set the date for MPs to debate the British government's Brexit plan B after Theresa May's deal suffered a historic defeat on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump's lawyer has said he has "never said there was no collusion" between Russia and members of Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.