Top stories of the week

The most senior Sinn Féin adviser to Martin McGuinness has admitted that he was given whistleblower allegations that RHI claimants were heating empty sheds – just days before Sinn Féin agreed to keep RHI open for another fortnight.

A former DUP special adviser has said that a significant email which was only handed to the RHI Inquiry more than a year after it was requested was under the control of the party.

Leaving the EU is an enormous challenge for the UK and will affect generations to come. MPs have the weight of that responsibility on their shoulders, and no MP takes that responsibility lightly.

The Irish border backstop can only be temporary, a senior government minister said yesterday on a visit to Northern Ireland.

By this time next week the future of the United Kingdom over the coming decades might finally begin to look clear.

The future of our country is in the hands of the House of Commons.

The government’s confidence and supply agreement with the DUP continues, Theresa May’s effective deputy has said.

Okay, let’s take stock. We’ve made it through a year of Trump, no activity - and no sign 0f activity - up on the hill, RHI and endless, endless debate and rancour over Brexit and we’re still here.