Once a member of Fianna Fáil and now ready to stand in Dublin Central, Mary Lou McDonald is the vanguard of domestication of Sinn Féin in the South. Profile by Colin Murphy

The indemnity deal agreed with the religious congregations fell far short of the Government's minimum and was dressed up by the inclusion of properties previously given to the State, against Departmental advice, documents reveal. Colin Murphy reports

Pen pictures of Ireland's 26 bishops, who still wield very considerable power in Ireland. By Colin Murphy

In the 1970s, the portrayal and participation of women in Irish television was so appalling that Gemma Hussey got together a group to lobby RTÉ about it. Terry Prone put together a video for them, demonstrating "the gross devaluation of women in television", she recalls. Shortly after, Deirdre Purcell – who had been an actor, and has gone on to greater success as a novelist – became the first female staff newsreader. Prone remembers her as "one of the best ever".

The Sunday Independent and the Irish Independent suggested that a Muslim school in Dublin was spending too much teaching time on the Koran, but they are within guidelines set by the Department of Education

Liffey Meats in Cavan has been paying migrant workers lower rates than normal in the industry even though they have just signed a five million euro deal with a French supermarket chain. By Colin Murphy

An Angolan family living in Waterford for four years, with two children in primary school, are facing deportation in the coming weeks. They spoke to Colin Murphy

In a sudden swoop on foreigners who had been refused asylum, young people about to sit their Leaving Certificate were deported, along with families who had integrated here. Some have no one to go back to in Nigeria. Colin Murphy reports