FOR a nation that claims to cherish all its children equally, Ireland’s failure to tackle the persistent problem of child poverty is absolutely shameful.

WHILE the slight fall in the annual rate of inflation, down to 4.9% in June from 5% in May, is a welcome development, Ireland is still out of kilter with other EU states.

WHAT’S the difference between a person who fails to pay a fine for not having a TV licence and someone who falls more than €1.5 million short of a legally binding payment to a State-owned corporation?

THE fields and construction sites of Ireland continue to claim a heavy toll, with 30 people killed in workplace accidents last year, while so far this year, 16 people have died.

WHAT little remains of the dwindling Progressive Democrats has been dealt a huge body blow with the surprise decision of former junior minister and party president Tom Parlon to quit politics.

REFORM of Ireland’s outdated laws on bio-ethics and other scientific advances is long overdue.

The annual report of the Equality Authority indicated that 57% of all inquiries to the Public Information Centre in 2006 related to issues surrounding maternity leave and adoptive leave legislation.

Finding the dead 15-foot basking shark washed up in a monofilament drift net on Fermoyle beach, near Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, on Sunday, is disturbing because it gives rise to suspicion that some fishermen may still be drift-netting for salmon, even though the practice was outlawed in November 2006.

FARMS are places of business, and no matter what subsidies apply, no matter how enviable the single farm payments might seem to those not entitled to them, they are first and foremost places where people make their living.

TODAY’S Live Earth concerts aim to focus further attention to the fight against global warming.