AS the nation mourns the tragic deaths of six young Irish students who died when a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party in Berkeley, California, the burning question that has to be answered is why such a terrible calamity happened in a city built on a known geological faultline where earthquakes occur frequently.

THE first guilty drugs verdict against a member of the GAA in its long history underlines the kind of pressure players are coming under to rid sport of illegal drugs.

A GREAT many people will share the disappointment of Arts Minister Heather Humpheys at failing to persuade the Beit Art Foundation to cancel its planned sale of valuable Russborough House paintings at Christie’s in London.

“THAT human beings destroy the biological diversity in God’s creation; that human beings compromise the integrity of the earth and contribute to climate change, stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; that human beings pollute the water, soil, air; all these are sins.”

A TRAGEDY during the brightest days of the year, one involving young people at one of the brightest moments in their too-short lives can seem to cut more deeply than others.

IRELAND’S member of the European Court of Auditors Kevin Cardiff was in charge of the Department of Finance unit that had oversight of banks on that fateful, generation-defining and expensive night — September 29th/30th 2008, “guarantee night” as it has become known.

YESTERDAY’S CSO figures showing that the value of Ireland’s export trade climbed an all-time high in April will add considerable momentum to the idea that we are economically, finally, out of the woods.

THE discussion around how Travellers are viewed by society, how the group is treated by society and how Travellers treat society is fraught with danger.

THE protections offered to workers, especially those in low-paid, vulnerable sectors, is one of the ways a society can be judged.

THE president of the ICMSA, John Comer, argues today that “the Basic Payment is “less of a farmer subsidy than it is consumer subsidy”.