THERE has always been a pathetic air of buffoonery about the Healy-Rae political dynasty. There is also the perception that it represents the very worst in parish pump politics.

The juxtaposition of many of the leading news stories of recent days should set alarm bells ringing in Dáil Éireann.

A REPORT by the European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, indicates that the average price of alcohol and tobacco in Ireland is 70% higher than average price in the EU.

THE GAA is beginning to earn an unenviable record because of attacks on its match officials.

BECOMING a parent is one of life’s great joys, but if that usually happy event is unplanned, or comes at a time of economic difficulty, then the experience can be very challenging.

COMMON SENSE has prevailed in the row over the controversial bonus for Dublin Airport Authority boss Declan Collier.

WITH early treatment vital for cancer patients, it is shocking that state-of-the-art equipment is lying idle because the HSE has not recruited specialist staff to operate it.

THERE are few points in human interaction where belief systems confront each other as regularly or as sharply as in the issues surrounding immigration or the granting of citizenship to foreign nationals.

WHEN is a pay cut not really a pay cut? When it is applied to senior civil servants it seems.

MANY of the core beliefs we once used as foundations of society have been shaken if not sundered.