ANYONE who saw the RTÉ programme on Monday night that revealed how our overstretched childcare services can’t protect vulnerable children must be concerned that we learnt nothing from the appalling tragedies lurking in our past.

OUR courts are dealing with a huge increase — between 30% and 40% in a year — in the number of cases involving people who have been, for whatever reason, unable to repay loans.

THERE is an impression that our prisons are full of drug dealers lounging on bunk beds as they flick through the channels on their huge plasma screen TVs, all the while coo-cooing their budgies.

ANYONE who thinks that rural post offices are just about stamps, pensions and dog licences probably lives in a house with a regular bus service, say every 15minutes, passing outside the door. Maybe a wine, sushi or tapas bar around the corner too.

IF TAOISEACH Brian Cowen enjoyed the warm and boisterous welcome he was given in Offaly on Saturday — and why wouldn’t he — then that enjoyment will have been enhanced by yesterday’s opinion poll that showed a small but significant increase in the number of people who intended to vote for the Lisbon treaty.

TODAY’S opportunity to be outraged by the Health Service Executive is provided by the redirection of money allocated under the Government’s mental health programme.

ANY innovation that reduces the risk posed by cancer is welcome, most especially if it is long overdue.

WHAT a wonderful declaration of intent, what wonderful vision and what fine leadership.

THIS week’s ruling from the European Commission that religious bodies can dismiss or refuse to employ people in their schools or hospitals who, they believe, do not share their ethos has provoked a strong reaction.

THE ruling at Tuam District Court that overturns a Garda decision not to grant licences to two young men who wished to buy semiautomatic handguns underlines the urgent need to reform gun ownership legislation.