Fianna Fail accepted as NI party

Mr Ahern said his party's NI registration was confirmed

Fianna Fail has registered as a political party in Northern Ireland, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has revealed.

Mr Ahern said NI's Electoral Commission had confirmed that the party was now officially registered there.

Speaking at a party dinner in Dublin, he said his party was consulting its grassroots on the possibility of organising in Northern Ireland.

He said it was a historic step in the development of the party on an all-Ireland basis.

Two newly-formed Northern Ireland branches of Fianna Fail, at Queen's University, Belfast and the University of Ulster, were also welcomed into the the party by Mr Ahern.