IT would be wonderful if we could legislate a perfect world into existence but, as one failed effort after effort shows, that nirvana has yet to be realised.

NOT even the most one-eyed Up-The-Rebels citizen of Cork would suggest that the city deserves a place on the itinerary of an architecture student travelling through Europe in search of inspiring contemporary cityscapes.

ANY objective assessment of two stories of recent days would, unfortunately, conclude that two members of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s cabinet may have abused their position in revealing ways.

LAST week’s tax returns, which were below the overall target for the year so far, will inform next week’s summer economic statement, but any restraining influence the figures might have will be outweighed by the political need for yet another something-for-everyone budget at the end of the year.

AT a moment when there are far too many reasons to feel that we have moved from being a post-war world to being a pre-war world Wednesday’s taunting of America by North Korea over their new nuclear capabilities did little to lift a darkening mood. 

ONE of the unfortunate side effects of the housing crisis is that single people find it especially difficult to get a home, especially from a local authority.

CAPTAIN Boyle, Sean O’Casey’s character in his play Juno and the Paycock, was fond of proclaiming: “The whole worl’s in a terrible state o’ chassis.”

REFUSE charges. Refuse charges. It depends on how you pronounce it.

THERE are two ways that children can be taught science, technology, engineering, and maths: They can be pointed to text books and bored senseless or they can engage with the co-called Stem technologies in an exciting, hands-on manner.

As if the looming knock-and-drag over refuse charges was not more than enough for Minister for Communications and the Environment Denis Naughten to deal with, he must now brace himself for an inevitable barrage of criticism over the latest delay in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which he announced yesterday.