THE timing of the European Parliament decision to pass a non-binding resolution calling for visa requirements for US citizens visiting Europe in a row over America’s refusal to lift travel restrictions for citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, or Romania will not smooth Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s path to next week’s White House shamrock visit.

THIS society is again transfixed by scandal. Last week’s confirmation of a mass grave at the Bon Secours home in Tuam, that closed nearly 60 years ago and the belated acknowledgement that “Grace” had suffered decades of abuse reopened wounds that were no more than partially healed.

WHEN, after a decade or so of risky, tortuous negotiations, the Good Friday Peace Agreement was signed in April 1998, Bill Clinton had been president of America for five years, Tony Blair had been in Downing Street for just over a year and Bertie Ahern was approaching the first anniversary of his election as taoiseach. 

NO issue has done more to undermine the credibility of our political system than the never-ending farce around water charges. No issue has done more to dissuade, competent, energetic and patriotic people from becoming involved in politics. 

FOR generations we have known the Great Famine as the Irish Holocaust. 

THE industrialisation of farming, especially since we joined the European Economic Community, has had a greater impact on our countryside than all previous human activity. 

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House next week will go ahead because pragmatism has trumped principle.

It may be tempting, as they slip from memory, to forget recommendations the troika made.

Even in a country that can’t agree on how water services might be funded, even in a country where a modest redrawing of county boundaries looks as if it might send black-and-amber refuseniks to the thatch to root out what must now be a very rusty pike, it should be possible to agree on one of today’s constant, undeniable forces.

The Victims of Crime Bill, which is going through the Dáil this week, is not before time but the section on restorative justice needs to be strengthened to ensure that victims of traumatic violence like sex crimes are not forced to meet with their attacker.