PUBLIC ridicule, controversy and acute embarrassment surround the costly affair of the multimillion-euro Sky Garden that won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in June but which, fully six months later, lies mouldering in Cork awaiting its long overdue relocation at the city’s quiet riverside park.

THE lack of sensitivity in how people suffering from mental health problems are sometimes treated by the Irish health system is a matter of the utmost concern.

THE Dáil’s Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett spoke yesterday about how Oireachtas proceedings, like life in general, depend on a good level of civilised behaviour and respectful personal interaction to be effective.

THERE must be many thousands of people who might wish they could avoid repaying debts by pleading that they were unduly influenced by their spouse to sign the bank documentation needed to get the cash in the first place.

NEARLY a decade after the US war on Iraq began with “shock and awe” and spectacular, televised missile attacks on Baghdad, US defence secretary and former CIA chief Leon Panetta yesterday presided at a ceremony marking the official end of America’s direct involvement in the hostilities.

NO ONE, as this week’s tax defaulters’ list shows, enjoys paying tax, especially a new one but that is how we try to pay for the services this State provides.

It MIGHT be flippant to suggest that conditions at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) are ‘crazy’, but before long we could be wondering if some of those responsible for those conditions are not in need of treatment themselves.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for the publication of a report on how Irish Nationwide Building Society ended up needing nearly €5.5bn in recapitalisation.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny’s meeting with opposition leaders yesterday, to brief them on agreements reached at last week’s EU summit, was entirely appropriate.

THOUGH delegates at last week’s climate conference in Durban needed little convincing that we must change our ways if we are not to jeopardise humanity’s future, very many people remain unconvinced of the urgent need to change our unsustainable habits.