DESPITE a welcome shift in attitude on the refugee crisis at political level across Europe and in this country, it is demonstrably clear that Ireland is ill-prepared to cope with an influx of refugees from Middle East war zones and Africa seeking asylum here. Were it not for the compassion shown by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who has convinced Germany to take in as many as 800,000 Syrian refugees this year, it is doubtful other EU leaders would have budged.

THE ongoing tragedy of a shocking refugee exodus of biblical proportions from war-torn countries, graphically illustrated by the heartrending front page picture of a drowned three-year-old boy on a Turkish beach, finally appears to be pricking Europe’s sleeping conscience.

INVARIABLY, those unlucky enough to become ill while holidaying in sunnier climes testify that the cost of medicine is far lower elsewhere than in Ireland. There can be no doubt, for instance, that large savings are to be made by buying remedies in Lanzarote or simply by crossing the border and buying them in Northern Ireland.

IF the various strands of the new CAO points system unveiled yesterday are brought together successfully, there should be less focus on the dreaded points race for future generations of students.

FOR sheer brass neck, it is hard to match the haughty insouciance of the former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton.

THE row over the Taoiseach’s handling of the premature retirement of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan is, in many ways, a diversion from the urgent need for major root and branch reform of the Garda Siochána and our criminal justice system in general.

CHILDREN in Dublin are to receive training against animal cruelty by a leading animal welfare group.

IRELAND’S economy grew by more than 6% in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2014 and the likelihood is that the growth for the year as a whole will be close to that figure.

IT seems extraordinary that in the US, an apparently civilised, modern society, a totally innocent person can be imprisoned for almost three years, have her reputation ruined, her life put in tatters, and her mental and physical and mental wellbeing compromised.

AT first glance, the Fennelly Commission report appears to vindicate the position of the Taoiseach with regard to the premature retirement in March of last year of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan.