The protection of sources is a fundamental aspect of press freedom, which is vital to a functioning democracy. The Irish Examiner, therefore, warmly welcomes the High Court ruling in Belfast that journalist Suzanne Breen does not have to give the PSNI her interview notes of discussions with a member of the Real IRA.

Attacks on Romanian families in Belfast are a haunting reminder of the 1960s when similar thugs engaged in attacks on Catholics, driving them from their homes. That mindless violence had repercussions for the whole island that were to last for decades.

The theft of laptop computers on June 5 from the offices of Bord Gáis raises serious issues. There was sensitive financial information on up to 75,000 customers on one of the computers and this information was not encrypted.

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) was established in 2002 with the aim of vetting those intending to work with children or other vulnerable people.

The Department of Education launched its programme Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools in 2005 to tackle disadvantage in education.

“Fairness must be the cornerstone of all our efforts to achieve economic renewal,” Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said on introducing the emergency budget in April.

The Irish Examiner has managed to get a copy of the guarantees that our European partners are considering for Ireland in relation to the Lisbon treaty.

THERE could hardly be more glaring or costly proof of the need for reform of the health service than today’s revealing report on the sheer scale of overtime payments to HSE staff.

WITH hundreds of people suffering from mental health difficulties languishing in institutions that are not fit for purpose, today’s campaign by Amnesty International Ireland to put such issues centre stage deserves society’s wholehearted support.

IN the aftermath of the humiliation inflicted on Fianna Fáil and their current but wavering partners the Greens in last week’s elections, emboldened opposition members enjoyed goading government figures, challenging them to immediately call a general election.