To paraphrase Franklin D Roosevelt, September 29, 2008 is a night “which will live in infamy” yet, unlike the bombing of Pearl Harbor to which he referred, we are no wiser after the event.

The teenage girl who was found in a distressed state in Dublin more than two weeks ago has had to remain in hospital under armed guard because the HSE does not have secure accommodation for her.

The Government has been bragging about being on track to exit the bailout on Sunday, Dec 15.

France and Germany have demanded an agreement with the US by the end of the year to try to resolve a dispute over spying.

Yesterday was designated National Slow Down Day, a joint operation by the gardaí and Road Safety Authority, as Friday is one of the worst days for accidents on our roads.

There have been widespread calls for an inquiry into the manner in which the two Roma children were taken by gardaí from their parents in Dublin and Athlone while their parentage was being checked out.

Last night’s testimonial dinner in honour of Ronan O’Gara was an acknowledgment by all present of his magnificent contribution to Munster and Irish rugby over his 17 years as a thorough professional.

With Ireland experiencing a frightening increase in the amount of drugs recovered by the gardaí, the warning that children face a bleak future if the Government fails to take on vested interests in the alcohol and sports industries could not be more timely.

In politics, perception is everything. To illustrate this point, imagine what thousands of “grey voters” from all parts of the State, who protested over budget cuts in the teeming rain outside Dáil Éireann, would say if they were asked whether Government policy on medical cards underwent a sea-change months ago.

It is perhaps inevitable that the Roma community — already considered by some to be social outcasts, thieves, and beggars — should now be worried they will be stigmatised as kidnappers and child traffickers.