Cabinet reshuffles are often compared to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and the big question is whether the promotion of five new ministers, and the historic inclusion of four women in its A-team will be enough to get the country back on track before the next general election in 2016 — if the Coalition lasts that long.

Four hundred thousand fans will be absolutely delighted this morning that the Garth Brooks concerts at Croke Park are on the cards again. While the number of gigs has yet to be decided, the critical development came when residents most opposed to staging the concerts agreed to some going ahead.

In the wake of recent signs that the economy is improving, the news from Enterprise Ireland that client companies saw the best export growth and net job creation last year in over a decade is most encouraging.

Urban dwellers may not be aware of the importance of the EU’s Leader programme to our economy.

There’s a joke doing the rounds: "What’s the definition of a loser?" Answer: "A Brazil fan with Garth Brooks tickets."

Health cover penalty plan a non-runner

The biggest political topic of this week is inevitably going to be the Cabinet reshuffle.

The Taoiseach was talking over the weekend about the Government keeping its "compass point fixed on 2016", and then letting the people give their verdict at the polls.

Survivors of symphysiotomy yesterday roundly rejected the Government’s offer of a €34m redress scheme as a blatant attempt to whitewash the wrongs done to them. They feel that the scheme does not amount to a proper apology.

THE overwhelming victory of Joan Burton as the first woman to lead the Labour Party has cleared the decks for the new tánaiste to take on the daunting task of resuscitating Labour’s flagging political fortunes.