For some time now the authority of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been waning visibly.

The impending abolition of the Dickensian practice of slopping out in Irish prisons is long overdue.

Despite the largely ceremonial nature of his office, President Michael D Higgins — intellectual, academic, poet and former politician — is not one for sitting on the fence, especially if he believes the Irish people and the citizens of other small nations are being subjected to policies of economic domination by major powers.

Robust ministers capable of standing up to wily members of the civil service and of reforming outdated systems invariably gain public approval. But as witnessed in the TV series Yes, Minister, even the most adroit politician can be outmanoeuvred by a skilful opponent.

Every day every one of us uses something produced in a factory where the working conditions and pay would be unacceptable if not illegal in our own workplaces.

As Reform Minister Brendan Howlin discovered when he tried to tackle public sector allowances, many of them are regarded as part of basic pay because previous governments found it easiest to increase salaries in this way rather than add a percentage to existing rates.

This week as our Government, already mired in the intractable abortion civil war, realised that they will have to deal with another deeply divisive moral/social issue — right-to-die legislation — two other issues that will have a far, far greater impact on humanity’s future and wellbeing flitted across the news pages without provoking the kind of Pavlovian fury abortion or euthanasia routinely generate.

The decision by Bus Éireann to press ahead with cost saving measures, including reducing overtime bills, may provoke a strike but it is an indication of what we can expect when everyone involved in state and semi-state enterprises realises we can only borrow so much to pay housekeeping bills.

Ten days ago, Praveen Halappanavar, speaking after the inquest into his wife Savita’s unnecessary death, used the words “horrendous, barbaric, and inhumane”.

It must be assumed that anyone who still smokes has decided to ignore the evidence that confirms it is such an unhealthy habit.