Since the foundation of the State, this country has been in the relatively stable position of having little or no racial problems, as there was no real immigration.

The Financial Regulator’s annual report has called for new powers to oversee the worrying increase in mortgages being provided to sub prime borrowers who have defaulted on loans in the past.

IF any sector of Irish life is in need of a public watchdog, it is the country’s much criticised health service. The spate of scandals and controversies that dogged the service in recent times underlines the need for such a body.

OF the many unsightly blots on Ireland’s streetscape, discarded chewing gum is among the worst. Stroll down any busy street and one sees pavements pock-marked with blobs of dirty grey gunge.

Counting the votes for the Seanad elections begins today, and we should know the outcome by the end of the week.

Yesterday was certainly a great day for the Irish and the most memorable of days for Irish golf.

The number of rape prosecutions in Irish courts halved in the past six years, despite evidence that rape is on the increase. We are clearly losing that battle.

The VHI’s request for an 8.5% increase in the average cost of its insurance is a challenge to the Government’s stated intention of minimising the rate of inflation, which is running at around 5%.

WHILE the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of childcare expert Dr Niall McElwee at Athlone Institute of Technology is to be welcomed, the probe is too narrowly focused, prompting fears that serious questions will go unanswered.

ANY decline in the fatality rate of young drivers deserves to be warmly applauded. But the fall evidenced by Garda figures is so dramatic that a pro-rata drop in insurance premiums could now be on the cards.