The fate of abandoned horses is not attractive and last year Cork County Council destroyed 158 animals left to fend for themselves, a more than 10% increase from the 136 unwanted wretches destroyed in 2013.

How wonderful it would be to record that the year just past will be remembered as the one when our Government finally recognised that accountability, openness, political leadership, imagination and courage, a rejection of croneyism and the ending of the small-minded divisions that so limit our political system’s capacity — or genuine, unstoppable ambition — to deliver real, uplifting renewal are the hallmarks of a successful society and a functioning democracy.

The truism that the rich get richer — well most of the time anyway — was not confounded in 2014.

Government Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to be congratulated for his criticism of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) over their diktat on how proposals on extending marriage rights to same-sex couples might be discussed on radio.

As the season of goodwill lingers, it might be unsporting to ask those Irish politicians who advocate burning the bondholders what they might do if they were in the position now faced by their Greek counterparts.

The plan by Jan O’Sullivan, the education minister, to teach philosophy to junior cycle students and offer courses on politics and society for senior cycle students is very welcome.

For the first time in history, more people live in cities than in the countryside. Ironically, this has threatened the survival of some rural habitats, especially those frequently visited for recreational activities. 

With Irish dairy farmers set to reap a bonanza as the fastest growing milk producers in the world over the next five years, according to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, the big challenge foreseen by Teagasc, the science engine room at the heart of Ireland’s multibillion-euro agri-food industry, is that milk prices could fall by a whopping 50% next year.

Following the globally acknowledged success of Ireland’s ground-breaking ban on smoking in the workplace, a revamped model of the highly effective Quit campaign to help smokers kick their habit has been designed by the HSE.

An appalling tragedy has decimated yet another family, leaving the people of Cobh in a state of shock and underlining how important it is for society to confront the reality of mental health illness in a sympathetic and realistic manner.