There is a certain irony in the fact that in the very week that Margaret Thatcher died, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland announced it is to ask the Government to legislate to make a register of financial interests for radio or television presenters mandatory so any conflict of interest might be avoided.

That killer Rose Lynch shouted “tiocfaidh ár lá” as she was led away to serve a life sentence for murdering David Darcy must concern anyone who cares for this democracy.

Unfortunately, the recession has made it difficult to keep animals, especially horses or dogs, as pets.

Ireland’s reputation as a green and pleasant land will take another unwelcome but sadly justified blow with the publication of An Taisce’s shocking report that persistent exposure to severe air pollution is indirectly killing one person more or less every three hours — around eight people a day, 56 a week, 224 a month and nearly 3,000 a year.

Every fishing community is far more familiar with tragedy at sea than it would wish to be.

Though it’s nearly a quarter of a century since Margaret Thatcher stood down as leader of Britain’s Conservative party in 1990, and more than half a century since she was first elected to the House of Commons in 1959, her death yesterday, at 87, showed she remains utterly divisive.

Leaving aside the inordinate pay, perks, pensions and long holidays of TDs and senators, the public are sick to the teeth of the kind of constitutional privilege which affords politicians protection from being arrested either when going to, or returning from, or being within, the precincts of either the Dáil or Seanad.

Every parent will welcome news that their powers and those of Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan will be greatly expanded from the end of this month, effectively opening the way for complaints against another 180 public bodies which provide services for children.

The resignation of Nessa Childers from the Parliamentary Labour Party is likely to fuel further uneasiness within that party.

The eyes of the nation will be focused on today’s Aintree Grand National.