It is an affront to An Garda Síochána to suggest that the Seanad will have to convene after the summer break before an investigation can be held into allegations that Senator Ivor Callely submitted false expense claims.

The survey of the views of children and parents about bullying and other aspects of school life being conducted by the Department of Education next month should be warmly welcomed.

THERE can’t be a person in the country who does not recognise that we must dramatically improve our child protection services.

MANY parents have seen at firsthand music’s wondrous capacity to soothe a troubled child.

IN the normal course of events a languid political ceasefire is observed across the muggy days of August but, as in so many, many ways, the travails of Senator Ivor Callely are well outside of anything that might be considered normal.

IT is wonderful to have something to celebrate but it is even more wonderful to have something cheering to celebrate it with.

GOVERNMENT and private sector power-brokers who have recognised the challenge posed by organisations like WikiLeaks and Cryptome are probably appalled by the publication of classified documents on the Afghan war.

THERE have been suggestions that Ireland is deliberately slow in processing applications from those who seek refugee status.

AFTER a week in which the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) reminded us of how our political system so spectacularly failed us all, of how difficult it is to be optimistic about a political class that was so very easily and catastrophically diverted from its own policies, any sliver of news that is not altogether dismal is to be embraced with enthusiasm.

THE violence involved in Mexico’s drug war is chilling and the escalating death toll truly frightening.