HONEST, decent citizens can be forgiven for being perplexed by the State’s puzzling approach to corporate corruption.

THE spectacular success of the on-going garda blitz against organised crime marks a welcome breakthrough in the fight against criminality but, ominously, it is offset by Ireland’s low record in solving gun murders.

WITH one person a day now being infected by HIV, Ireland cannot afford to be complacent about the spread of AIDS.

A LONG, hot summer of discontent is looming on the industrial relations front as 40,000 militant nurses crank up their campaign for more pay and shorter working hours and as Aer Lingus passengers brace themselves for flights to be disrupted from tomorrow at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports despite the 11th hour intervention of the Labour Court, which hopefully resolve the row.

POLITICAL somersaults are in vogue judging by the acrobatic policy leap performed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell on the thorny question of the right to silence of suspects.

PEOPLE are now being warned by doctors that they should try to stay out of hospital if possible, because whatever they go in with, they could contract worse in inside.

WHEN the joint Garda and Army No 1 Bands played God Save the Queen on Saturday, several thousand supporters joined in, without a boo, a catcall, or a derisory whistle from a crowd of more than 80,000 people.

THERE could hardly be a more eloquent intervention than Michael Hogan’s hand of friendship gesture in the simmering controversy over the singing of God Save the Queen at today’s historic Six Nation’s rugby match between Ireland and England at Croke Park, the symbolic heartland of Gaelic sport.

WITH strikes looming in two essential services, the beleaguered public is once again being held to ransom because management and unions have failed to sort out their differences around the table.

THE uncertainty pervading Ireland’s health-insurance market has given way to a profound sense of relief for tens of thousands of former BUPA customers and its 300 workers.