This country’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. We are supposed to be cutting emissions, but the figures for 2005 indicate that our emissions rose by 1.9%.

There is widespread concern over the legal fees at tribunals, which are a scandal in their own right.

Despite the phenomenal growth in the number of houses in recent years, Environment Minister Dick Roche predicts that 600,000 new homes will be needed in the next nine years.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern used the power of the Government to block Dáil questions yesterday in relation to the recent report of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Proposed reforms to deal with the growth of organised crime could amount to a fundamental change in our whole system of justice, but the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell insists that his proposals are not impulsive.

BATTERED by price hikes, consumers in rip-off Ireland can be forgiven for viewing warnings from the food and drink industry of further increases on the way as a cynical softening-up process.

TOUGH new measures to combat crime, unveiled yesterday by Justice Minister Michael McDowell, will be welcomed up and down the country, especially in communities troubled by the upsurge in violence.

MENTAL health sufferers are among the most vulnerable people in Irish society and thus it is worrying to note the level of dissatisfaction with recently introduced tribunals, set up specifically to protect the interests of those incarcerated to institutions against their will.

THE late John B Keane, who so graphically illuminated the world of matchmaking in Sive, would be glad to know the age-old profession still thrives in Ireland.

WHAT a game! Even though Ireland lost to France at the death in the first game of rugby ever played at Croke Park, it was the most historic day ever in our sporting and social life.