FROM festivals of opera, jazz, dixie and blues, to laughing cats, harbour racing, hill-walking, bull and marathon running, this Bank Holiday weekend offers more events than ever, so go out and enjoy yourself.

THE announcement that gardaí will have to disclose information under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI), once major reforms of the force are bedded down, represents a feather in the cap of Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly.

WITH the deaths of millions of people on its conscience, the tobacco industry stands accused of using cigarette advertising in shops and family-rated Hollywood films to target children.

IF anything has become clear in the controversy surrounding the Taoiseach’s murky financial dealings in the mid-1990s, it is that Mr Ahern is getting precisely the same treatment as any other person appearing before the Mahon Tribunal.

IRELAND’S failure to provide adequate treatment for MS sufferers is absolutely scandalous.

REGARDLESS of what version is true, the conflict of evidence between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s version and the Mahon Tribunal’s account of aspects of his financial affairs in the 1990s, is unlikely to have a strong bearing on the outcome of moves to form the next government.

OUTPLAYING Sydney is no mean boast when it comes to hosting gay events.

FIANNA FÁIL won more seats than any other party in the General Election, and in that sense the party clearly did best, but the result was not an unqualified endorsement.

FOOD for thought for the next health minister is contained in a sexual health study among teenagers in Waterford.

THE extraordinary resurgence of Fianna Fáil means the country’s most successful political party will form a record third government in a row.