THIS has been a challenging week for Ireland, especially for those whose incomes were cut and for those trying to recover from floods.

ALREADY this year – twice – we have had to confront our appalling record on child protection.

IT IS far too early to say whether Barack Obama’s election was a victory for promise over substance. He freely acknowledged as much yesterday when he accepted the Noble Peace Prize in Oslo.

TODAY we report on a sunshine holiday postcard that took 17 years to reach its destination. Imagine the joy and surprise of the recipient – Dinny O’Regan – when the card his then teenage daughters, Val and Helaine, sent to him while on holiday in Corfu, in 1992, arrived at his home in Cork city in recent days.

WE have known for some time that yesterday’s budget would be brutal and that it would do more to reduce the living standards of Irish families and workers than any budget in living memory.

AS many people struggle to rebuild homes or businesses after the floods, their emotions may be a combination of anger, despair and the unspoken trepidation that it is only a matter of time before the floods return.

GAS users are to benefit from another fall in prices.

THOUGH murder is a terrible, savage act at least the victim does not have to endure the terrible memories of the crime.

Last week the Irish Examiner called for Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick to resign without delay. His prevarication is effectively undermining the positions of other prominent Church figures.

THE discourse surrounding climate change is as polarised as that on any important issue today. This division is unlikely to be reflected next week in Copenhagen when the UN COP15 climate conference opens on Monday.