He became chair of the Northern Ireland select committee, a subject in which he has long had a strong interest, favouring a united Ireland gained by consent.

BBC: Clive Soley

From Belfast by Laurence McKeown a former Republican prisoner and Maze hunger striker and here in the studio again by the Conservative MP Andrew Hunter who is a member of the Northern Ireland Select Committee.

BBC: Northern Ireland

"Senior Fifa sources have confirmed to us that the status quo remains and the FAI may continue to select players born in Northern Ireland, " said the FAI.

BBC: Fifa unable to clarify Irish row

Microsoft has also expanded retail availability of the original Surface RT to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and select other countries.

FORBES: Microsoft Surface Pro Release Date and Retail Availability Announced

"We were facing a very serious crisis in Ireland, " says Michael McGrath, vice chairman of the Irish parliament's Finance Select Committee.

NPR: Debate Over EU Cooperation As Credit Crisis Widens