It can hardly be a mark of a civilised society, no matter how difficult our circumstances, that more than 800 children, some barely more than toddlers, are forced to act as unpaid family carers due to the State’s inability to support an alternative arrangement.

As the celebrations to mark the election of Francis as pope continue, the millions upon millions of Catholics who hope his pontificate might lead to a renewal of their Church must despair at the remarks of the Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Wilfrid Fox Napier, who said on BBC radio last week that paedophilia is a psychological illness and not “a criminal condition”.

This week’s election of a pope fell between two momentous events, each showing how the world has tilted ever so slightly on its axis.

Every time a government figure is challenged about generous pensions and golden handshakes given to former cabinet members, retired civil service leaders, the response is a resigned shrug.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney yesterday blamed “sloppy management and fraudulent behaviour” for the horse meat scandal that has done so much harm to the reputation of Irish food producers.

When the white smoke appeared from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel at shortly after 6pm yesterday, the conventional wisdom suggested that one of the cardinals seen as a front-runner had been elected as the 266th pope.

Deputy Luke “Ming” Flanagan has become hopelessly ensnared in his own hypocritical web of deception.

The Irish language has played a central role in shaping our culture.

The decision by Noel Malone, head of Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, Co Limerick, to suspend 28 pupils over cyberbullying should resonate with every parent.

The best and worst of Irish life were seen in the Central Criminal Court yesterday in a case involving a 31-year-old woman found guilty of the manslaughter of her former partner.