An announcement is expected today to declare that the new National Children’s Hospital will be situated near the Mater Hospital in Dublin. But it will not be operational until 2015.

The religious orders responsible for abusing children in residential homes made €667 million on property deals between 1999 and 2009.

The closing of the Special Olympics in Athens yesterday was another welcome occasion in which people with special needs were celebrated rather than hidden.

The stories told at last week’s gathering in Dublin of former gang members from around the world at the Summit Against Violent Extremism (SAVE) should be a salutary reminder of the dangers of ignoring underlying social and ethnic problems.

Last week was a bad week for Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, affectionately known in his home constituency as ‘Dolly’ because he is seen as the clone of his father.

THERE were indications this week that we are moving towards a more sustainable society where the old, comfortable nudge-nudge corruption or the abuse of position will not be tolerated.

ONCE it was the Valley of Elah, where David, to use that wonderful Old Testament verb, smote Goliath but for the last six weeks the battle between a giant and a minnow has played out in a New York courtroom.

EVEN though the census, taken on April 10, shows that the population of the Republic has grown to 4,581,269 — up 341,421 on the last count — Ireland still has the highest birthrate amongst the 27 European Union countries.

THE internet is the great empowering tool of the age but there are many aspects of it that can give pause for justifiable concern.

THE Greek parliament voted for the first bill to impose terrible austerity measures demanded by the EU/IMF yesterday. Voting on a second bill, to complete the process, is scheduled for today.