FIFTEEN stops in seventeen minutes between Stephen’s Green and Dublin Airport?

IT defies credulity that only one in every 20 motorists caught driving without insurance received penalty points. But that’s the stark result of a loophole that allows most offenders to get away with it.

FAR-REACHING repercussions for people who make victim impact statements will follow a ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday, stemming from its refusal of an application against the leniency of the prison sentence given to Wayne O’Donoghue for the manslaughter of 11-year-old Robert Holohan.

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny has done the right thing by reading sections of the draft report on the Leas Cross nursing home scandal into the Dáil record.

Yesterday’s planned talks of party leaders in the Programme for Government Committee were called off because Ian Paisley was not prepared to attend, following a row over the interpretation of the St Andrews Agreement in regard to the ministerial oath of office.

There was a time when a health minister like Mary Harney would have provoked public outrage by suggesting that contraception is the key to minimising the number of crisis pregnancies.

Today’s notable meeting expected between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and DUP leader Ian Paisley is at least indicative that the formula worked out during last week’s talks in Scotland may in the longer term prove fruitful.

It should be safe to assume that in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there would be no need to appeal to the Government to take steps to address a food problem confronted by almost 20% of the population.

IF WE can be sure of anything in Irish politics, it is that low standards in high places appear to count for naught when it comes to the acid test of government performance in the eyes of voters.

IT IS incomprehensible that when gardaí are cracking down on drug barons, pills five times stronger than ecstasy can be bought over the counter in Ireland by anyone over the age of 18.