THE whole country will breathe a sigh of relief today when pickets are lifted by electricians from key construction sites. Though the weekend agreement may not bring final closure, it will at least mean a temporary end to a strike which has cost the economy an estimated €230 million.

Growing Up in Ireland is a national study of 8,500 nine-year-old children conducted over a seven-year period. The first results were published yesterday.

In times of recession, trouble and strife, people tend to turn to religion and spirituality. In the 1980s the Cork village of Ballinspittle was the focus of mass hysteria. Thousands visited the Marian shrine there in the belief the statue of the Virgin Mary was seen moving.

The current parliamentary term ends today with the usual rush of legislation. This is a deliberate ploy to ram through controversial legislation.

There has been a 60% drop in assaults in Drogheda since the June bank holiday weekend as a result of gardaí rigorously enforcing the closing times specified in the licensing laws. They have been going into bars within minutes of closing time and ensuring that all patrons leave the premises.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen informed the Dáil that the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty has been set for October 2. The Irish electorate rejected the treaty in June of last year by 53.4% to 46.6%.

Despite 19 fatalities on the roads of Kerry last year, Kerry County Council is terminating the services of its one and only road safety education officer as part of its budgetary cutbacks. The officer has been involved in promoting road safety among young people, especially through schools.

The electricians’ strike has such enormous ramifications that it is important that people should know exactly what is at issue. Most important of all, the two sides should know and should be clear on the issue, because of its implications for the whole country.

Dublin has plunged nine places to 25th place in the table of cities with the highest cost of living, according to a survey of 143 cities around the world. This news should be warmly welcomed.

The abolition of the Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) at the beginning of this month was clearly not because it had succeeded in eliminating poverty.