Bicycle tax break abused

Ireland’s longest-serving political leader may have reached his Monica Lewinsky moment.

Irrespective of crime figures it is hard not to believe that today’s criminals have become more violent than their predecessors and that they disregard life — anyone’s— in a way that earlier generations did not.

There are few phrase as laden with threat in modern Ireland than Gerry Adams’ infamous and revealing “they haven’t gone away you know.” 

It’s barely more than 40 years since a woman had to surrender her job in the public service or a bank when she got married. 

It is entirely understandable that any minister would want to keep clear water between themselves and the deepening mess at Irish Water.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar was stating the obvious yesterday when he said that we need to do more to prepare for an outbreak of ebola in Ireland, unlikely as that terrible eventuality may seem right now.

The revelation that only one-in-three children under seven know what chips are made of is almost a perfect opportunity for a certain kind of Col. Blimp rant but in reality it must be a cause for a kind of almost hopeless sadness and resignation.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has pressed the play button in the debate on reversing pay cuts imposed on public sector workers over the last few years. 

Whether you regard Fianna Fáil as the Soldiers of Destiny or as the sleazy political wing of auctioneers’ and developers’ confederations it might be wise to consider issues raised at the party’s parliamentary party meeting this week when the party’s very poor performances in the recent bye-elections were analysed.