The future of regional airports is being put in doubt as a result of the Government’s decision to consider cutting subsidies as part of the €3 billion savings required in the December Budget.

Most Irish people would probably be surprised to learn that this country earned as much as €3bn from the arms trade last year.

JENNIFER SLEEMAN is that most dangerous kind of revolutionary – one with a very good argument.

EAMON GILMORE’S Labour party can feel a sense of achievement about this week’s opinion polls that, at 35%, puts them five points ahead of their probable coalition partners Fine Gael.

EARLIER this week the Financial Regulator’s consumer panel reported that consumers are being “mercilessly fleeced” by banks trying to rebuild balance sheets crippled by mismanagement and greed.

WHAT has become one of the great events on the Irish calendar ended last evening and it was again the great success we all have come to expect it to be.

PENSION planning may have been the root-canal work of managing your affairs – you do it when you have to but not a moment before. It combines cost, confusion and long-term speculation in the most opaque and unattractive way, yet deferring your involvement creates even more problems.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has endured an uncomfortable week. His discomfort may be exacerbated by wondering if different standards are applied to different politicians in the light of the PJ Sheehan affair.

IN times of crisis — political, economic, religious or simply hunger — the Irish have always emigrated. No matter how grim things got flight was always an option, albeit one of last resort.

HARDLY a day passes now without images from the latest crime scene appearing in our papers or television. The regularity of violent deaths makes it hard not to believe that our society has become more violent.