SELDOM was a general election in another European state watched more closely by the Irish people than Angela Merkel’s performance yesterday, which put her in an unassailable position to become Chancellor of Germany for a historic third term in succession.

AS the toll of fatalities on Ireland’s roads continues, it is disturbing to note that relations have deteriorated badly between Justice Minister Alan Shatter and chairman of the Road Safety Authority, veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne.

It isn’t often you hear the head of the Catholic Church put dialogue before dogma but, then Pope Francis is no ordinary pontiff.

A report has found that by the age of three, children from poorer families are less likely to be rated as “very healthy” when compared to those whose parents are better off.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny refused to debate Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on the issue of abolishing the Seanad because, he said, he did not wish to “embarrass” him. Maybe this flippant comment was meant as a joke, but, if it was, it was a very ill-judged joke.

The gathering in Warrington on Wednesday night was another step in cementing the Northern peace process. It was a magnificent tribute to the tenacity and foresight of Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was murdered in the Provisional IRA’s bombing 20 years ago. Another victim was Jonathan Ball, 3.

Claire Loftus, Director of Public Prosecutions, is right when she says the media should not interfere with an accused person’s right to a fair trial. As she points out, there is a growing risk of trials being postponed for long periods or even indefinitely when prejudicial material is published.

After a long balmy summer on the beach, TDs finally got back to the business of running the country yesterday and in case they had forgotten what it’s all about they were greeted by the familiar voices of protest against austerity on the streets outside Dáil Éireann. Nothing had changed.

A European Commission proposal to allow the EU withdraw dangerous designer drugs from the consumer market at short notice is to be welcomed.

It is all very well for the Taoiseach to declare — as he did on RTÉ radio yesterday — that next month’s budget will be the last of the “really tough ones”.