NOT a day passes without headline news of the worst kind concerning the plight of the weakest and most vulnerable people in our benighted society, brought to its knees by the excesses of greedy developers, the reckless lending of irresponsible bankers and the wrong-headed policies of this Government.

HOPEFULLY, the battle to save Aer Lingus will in future be fought on less difficult ground now that Ryanair’s takeover bid has been blocked by the European Court of Justice.

THE bankers, auditors and credit committee members Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan has in his crosshairs would be very foolish to imagine that his clear-your-desk ultimatum would not have the whole-hearted support of virtually everyone in this bruised and beggared country.

JUNIOR doctors are a vital part of our hospital-based health system, so much so that a shortage may be putting patients’ wellbeing in jeopardy and could force some hospitals to close wards.

IT is unfortunate that the Health Service Executive is the focus of a damning report again this morning but the failures uncovered are so great that it cannot be ignored.

IT must be very tempting for Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to look to our more desirable semi-state companies and wonder what they might fetch if they were flogged off.

EVEN though the Civil Partnership Bill has disappointed extremist opponents and advocates equally it is a wonderful recognition of the rights and dignity of all Irish people irrespective of their sexual orientation or domestic arrangements.

WHEN women’s rights are being discussed some of us are not slow to criticise other cultures and traditions.

IT is unlikely that the thousands of people who enjoyed positive experiences when, in their moment of difficulty, they turned to our health service, wrote to ombudsman Emily O’Reilly to put their gratitude on record.

WHEN Sweden announced that it hoped to become an oil-free society by 2015, the ambitious declaration was greeted with considerable scepticism yet the project is progressing well.