THE United Nations-backed ceasefire which began in Lebanon yesterday represents just a faltering step towards trying to eventually end this conflict, which has already lasted a month and claimed the lives of 1,100 Lebanese and 156 Israelis.

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Noel Dempsey may have been almost gushing yesterday about the proposed new nationwide postcode plan, but there was very little said about An Post’s new chief executive.

The removal of the Groceries Order — which kept prices artificially high by preventing supermarkets passing on discounts offered by suppliers — was introduced with much expectation in March.

Sinn Féin defied the wishes of the GAA’s Central Council by holding what was clearly a party political commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike yesterday in Casement Park, Belfast.

As Irish airports and airlines virtually resumed normal operations yesterday after the chaos caused by the suspected terrorist attack on several passenger planes, it has to be borne in mind that the spectre of a threat still exists.

The proposed new national agreement, Towards 2016, overwhelmingly received the endorsement of the biggest public service union in the country with the announcement yesterday that Impact had voted for it.

THE world got a grim reminder yesterday of how terrorism can turn life upside down as Britain and America went on the highest possible security alert over a reported terrorist plot.

WITH inflation rising much faster here than predicted, people on social welfare, as well those on poor pensions, the elderly, and first-time home buyers on crippling mortgages, are facing a hair-shirt winter.

THE deep-seated inequities of Celtic Tiger Ireland are once again evident as the soaring cost of school uniforms, books and other essentials is in danger of putting so called “free education” out of the reach of thousands of needy families.

IN yet another glaring example of the rip-off mentality pervasive in Irish society, it has emerged that a local authority is charging a whopping €175 fee for a hard copy of its new draft development plan.