THE National Youth Council of Ireland yesterday launched a report on the attitudes of people in the 18 to 25 age group and concluded that the most pressing issues revolve around education and health.

FIFTY years ago yesterday, Seán Lemass stepped out of the shadow of Eamon de Valera to succeed him as taoiseach. He inspired renewed hope in the republican ideal that we could, as a people, provide for ourselves.

The inefficiencies and incompetence of the HSE seem to know no bounds. Despite a promise of 16 fully functioning child and adolescent community mental health teams for 2007 and 2008, only three have been provided.

THERE is something quaintly charming, something from the times of duelling pistols and public hangings, child chimney sweeps and deportation to Van Diemen’s Land for snaring a rabbit, about the notion that members of the judiciary might make “voluntary contributions” in lieu of the public service pension levy.

ALREADY, in its relatively sort life, the new Thomond Park has hosted some wonderful occasions.

History books will undoubtedly cite the Ryan Report as evidence of a reign of terror inflicted on vulnerable children in this country during the last century.

A new independent organisation, Ireland for Europe, has been launched by the former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, calling on people to vote “Yes” in the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen returns from Brussels able to breathe a sigh of relief that guarantees about the Lisbon treaty’s impact on Ireland have been secured.

IT is almost 10 years since Shell revealed plans to pipe unrefined gas ashore in Mayo. Since then, the area has become synonymous with bitter dispute and gardaí in riot gear.

Controversy continues to rage over the Government’s budgetary cuts. “Fairness must be the cornerstone of all our efforts to achieve economic renewal,” Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan declared on introducing the emergency budget in April. “Those who have most must give most.”