The Green Party touted the establishing of a cabinet committee on climate change as a great victory for itself and an indication of its ability to influence our climate change policy.

USING animals for medical experiments is one of those volatile, touchstone issues where the debate is informed by a lot of emotion and more often than not, little enough reason or compassion.

IT IS encouraging to see the Teachers’ Union of Ireland take up the cudgel on behalf of those it says are at an educational disadvantage.

THOUGH Europeans are lucky enough to be able to take democracy and all the great benefits that process confers almost for granted, every now and then some terrible event reminds us that it is a privilege to live in a society that regularly and peacefully elects and dismisses its leaders and, by and large, controls its affairs without resorting to violence.

IRREPRESSIBLE, charismatic, almost frighteningly energetic, hugely committed, genuinely modest, a tremendously emotional performer and a great entertainer — Joe Dolan was one of the very best showmen this country has ever produced.

THE disquieting news that nearly 1,000 children felt so lonely on Christmas Day that they felt moved enough to contact support services offered by Childline puts our celebrations and tinsel in a context we might never have imagined or wished.

WE ARE at the time of the year when very many people try to take some of the health advice so freely given today and improve their lifestyles.

Unfortunately, some people have to be protected from themselves in order to protect society from their stupidity. The whole area of drugs has been the downside of our current affluence.

The review of the year reminds people that there were many positive events throughout 2007.

DURING the election campaign any questions regarding the Taoiseach’s evidence to the Mahon Tribunal were shrugged off with what seemed an entirely reasonable “let events take their course, the tribunal is the place to discuss these matters, we’ll give the appropriate answers at the appropriate time ...”