NOT for the first time has Justice Minister Michael McDowell inexplicably turned a deaf ear to the scandalous conditions that prevail in Mountjoy Prison, the country’s largest jail.

IT would appear that Minister of State Noel Ahern, who has responsibility for drugs strategy and community affairs, is quite right in stating that the war on drugs is not being won.

ON the face of it, the comprehensive reform of consumer legislation announced by Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin yesterday certainly is impressive.

IN what only can be seen as an important initiative in the area of juvenile justice, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan will on Monday commit the Government to major funding for a programme on prevention and early intervention for children in areas of severe disadvantage.

ONE-SIXTH of all drivers on the road are driving on provisional driving licences.

EVEN though the completion of new houses and apartments are up 24% on the same period of last year, the Government has not been meeting its promise to make more affordable housing available to young Irish couples.

TAXPAYERS’ money is helping to fund a potential danger to public health on a wide scale, simply because the Government is indifferent to the possibly lethal bacteria in hundreds of swimming and spa pools around the country.

UNUSUALLY for the representative of another country here, US Ambassador James Kenny has warned against an outbreak of what, realistically, would be the ‘rip-off Ireland’ syndrome during the Ryder Cup golf event next month.

IT might appear to be stating the obvious to say that the prevention of juvenile delinquency is an essential part of tackling crime in society.

IN the past decade, more than one-third of people over 60 years have acted as guarantor or helped with a house deposit for their children.