ULTIMATELY, public concern prevailed, but whether it was satisfied remains to be seen.

WHILE there are certain reservations about Bulgaria and Romania in relation to their accession to the EU, not least of which in both their cases are the matters of the fight against corruption and judicial reform, the entry date of the beginning of January 2007 looks to be on target.

BY his continued silence on the issue, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is exacerbating the situation whereby rumour and innuendo surround the question of money he received privately more than a decade ago when he was Minister for Finance.

AS a start, belated though it is, increased support for victims of child abuse and their families is obviously an urgent and crucial necessity as evidenced by the annual report of One in Four.

WHEN the Dáil resumes on Wednesday, the House will be dominated by one issue alone: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s receipt of money from businessmen back in 1993.

THE joys of victory echoed across the Liffey as Europe’s Ryder Cup players demolished a star-studded American team yesterday to retain golf’s most prestigious prize.

NOT quite all of his Cabinet colleagues might agree with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern when yesterday he described a “calculated leak” as “sinister”.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney’s statement that she wanted to see the Leas Cross nursing home report published “as soon as possible,” unfortunately would appear to lack the sense of urgency it implies.

IT is a frightening scenario that key groups like the gardaí, primary school teachers, nurses, and firefighters cannot afford to buy an average house in most Irish cities.

THERE is an inescapable perception that Ireland is still inclined to drag its feet on the vexed issue of children’s rights.