The crisis politics in the North have become particularly tiresome, as they reflect a kind of politics of paralysis. The two sides seem more intent on ensuring that the other side does not make any gains, with the result that their approach has become distinctly negative.

The World Health Organisation has lashed out at the irresponsibility of those who have been trying to depict the warnings of a swine flu pandemic as a false alarm designed to help the pharmaceutical industry. There is little doubt that industry did benefit financially from the sale of vaccines and anti-viral drugs, but ultimately society has been the main beneficiary.

THE floods and the coldest winter in decades conspired to give us a reality check that could well turn out to be a blessing.

THERE are few enough constants in our ever evolving world but the courage and dedication of the lifeboat crews all around our coast is one.

TWO decades ago billionaire New York hotel operator Leona Helmsley coined a phrase that has outlived her.

Annual figures published by banking giants Goldman Sachs have set alarm bells ringing around the world. The company returned an annual profit of $13.4bn after paying out $16.2bn in compensation and benefits, which was a whopping 48% increase on 2008.

Flooding in the weeks before Christmas was so extensive that many people throughout the country can empathise with those who were inundated. In Cork city the flooding was the worst in living memory.

IRRESPECTIVE of whether or not you support the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) suspension of 14 air traffic controllers or IMPACT’s reaction, which disrupted 20,000 travellers on Wednesday, you will not be surprised that the protagonists will attend the Labour Court this morning.

NO matter how miserable the weather, no matter how challenging our circumstances, there is always something to celebrate.

THOUGH the latest Lonely Planet Ireland guide for travellers doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know time given to considering how others see us is rarely wasted.