The left wing independent TD has a 19 percentage point lead over Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, according to the Business Post/Red C poll.

Mr Benn unveiled a legacy framework for dealing with Northern Ireland’s troubled past with Tánaiste Simon Harris last month.

The people of Ireland will go to the polls on Friday to elect a successor to Michael D Higgins as president of the country.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said there was a ‘huge gap’ in that she could be a presidential candidate but cannot vote in the same election.

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly voiced opposition to the move.

The Tanaiste’s comments came after Fine Gael candidate for the Irish presidency suggested a Stormont parliament could be retained in a united Ireland.

The UK Government has put forward new legislation aimed at dealing with the legacy of the Northern Ireland conflict.

Ministers from both sides of the border will discuss co-operation on emergency planning on Friday.

The Alliance Party leader described the incident as ‘bullying and intimidation’.

The First Minister faced questions over why she did not attend a state banquet with the US president.

The republican party has so far refused to clarify whether it will run a candidate.

Northern Ireland political parties have given a mixed response to a new legacy framework published by the UK and Irish governments.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O’Neill has insisted she is comfortable with her decision not to attend the event at Windsor Castle.

Claire Sugden said she is concerned about relations between ministers in the powersharing Executive.

The First Minister made the comment when she appeared before her scrutiny committee

Northern Ireland's First Minister and deputy First Minister appeared before their Stormont scrutiny committee on Wednesday.

Mr Robinson called on the Sinn Fein vice president to ‘show leadership’ after a row over a jobs fair in Londonderry.

McDonald said she had to “lead from the front” in holding the current Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition to account

The Sinn Féin vice president refused to be drawn on whether her own party would be running a candidate in next month’s presidential election.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said an agreement on legacy issues relating to the Troubles was close to being agreed.

Over the past year, the UK and Irish Governments have engaged in a process for ‘root and branch’ reform of the Legacy Act and the ICRIR.

Police figures show that racist hate crimes in Northern Ireland have reached record levels.

A small number of youngsters are expected to receive healthcare in the region.

Bertie Ahern is the preferred Fianna Fáil candidate in the upcoming presidential election, according to the latest opinion poll

DUP and TUV representatives have taken issue with a recent interview Michelle O’Neill gave.

Michelle O’Neill said she also hoped young people were getting the support they needed in the aftermath of the ‘harrowing’ incident.

Cricket Ireland has stepped in to reschedule the event which was cancelled after local residents expressed concern at the inclusion of a GAA club.

Cricket Ireland has stepped in and indicated a similar event will now take place at Stormont.

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Former minister Mary Hanafin is to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the presidential election

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O’Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate.

The summit will be held in Armagh.

Concern has been expressed that a ‘huge swathe’ of applicants have been excluded from the redress scheme.

The Communities Minister has been accused of ‘poor judgment’ over a social media post hours before Larne Leisure Centre was attacked.

Northern Ireland’s police chief said ‘bigots and racists’ behind earlier nights of unrest in the region would be arrested.

Forty-one officers have been injured in the unrest, which had resulted in 15 arrests by Thursday evening.

The three, aged 15, 17 and 18, are set to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court later.

Elsewhere, a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.

A fire broke out at Larne Leisure Centre following vandalism at the facility, amid several nights of disorder in Northern Ireland.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would be bringing extra officers, vehicles and equipment to areas where unrest has flared.

Seventeen police officers were injured following a second night of sustained violence in Ballymena on Tuesday

The Northern Ireland Assembly backed a motion in May calling for all Irish citizens on the island to have the vote.