The Irish League of Credit Unions today published its survey into the cost of third-level education in Ireland. This is on top of an earlier survey in 2011.

The decision by Dr Michael Smith, the Bishop of Meath, to ban appreciations or eulogies by family members or friends of the deceased in church raises a number of questions.

It is hard to argue with Minister for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes’ assertion that state employees should get “reward” pay for exceptional performance.

It is tragic that so many people in the North, from both communities, seem so ready, so determined to mark events or celebrate loyalties in ways that almost inevitably provoke another round of the danse macabre that ensures that age-old divisions — if not hatreds — are perpetuated.

In these dire times, though chauffeur-driven ministerial Mercs may have gone, a political career is still characterised by juicy perks and fat pensions, a scenario which sharply underscores the glaring inequalities of life in Ireland today.

For every child — even the very old ones — a visit to the zoo is something to be cherished. Be it Dublin Zoo or Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, the sound of a growling lion or the sight of a restlessly prowling cheetah is a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

As nearly any self-help book worth 10 minutes on prime time radio will assert, changing yourself is the greatest challenge of all.

The role played by cyberbullying in myriad suicides is well established.

Members of the Garda Síochána are seldom accused of stealing — but the young garda who joined in the rocking session at Mitchelstown’s Indiependence festival can certainly be accused of stealing the show.

Despite the Government’s recent overwhelming majority on legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances in this country, a potential obstacle remains in its path and threatens a looming clash with one voluntary hospital out of the seven selected among 25 hospitals nationwide as appropriate to perform abortions.