HERE’S a sort of plain man’s guide to the politics of the Budget.

SO, what happened to all the hype? The kinder, gentler government? The touchy-feely, Fr Sean Healy approach?

THE mood in the Sycamore Room was tense. All the handlers had gathered, and both the ad agency and the market research companies had delivered their verdict.

I SOMETIMES wonder is it just me that’s going mad, or is the whole country at it.

I LIVED about a year of my life in America. About half of that time was spent on the east coast, and half on the west, mainly in Seattle.

DO you ever wonder who really governs Ireland? Or in whose interest the country is governed? I know we all go to sleep at night thanking God that Bertie and the lads are in charge.

I HAVE received a number of letters recently, asking why I hadn’t written in detail about the Disability Bill published a few weeks ago.

FIVE hundred and fifty million euro. It’s a fierce amount of money. I think of it as Charlie McCreevy’s legacy, God bless him. It’s around €140 for every man, woman and child in the country.

I WORKED for a couple of years with Frank Dunlop. Not a lot of people are prepared to admit that.

Dear Taoiseach, it’s me again. Despite all my helpful suggestions a week or two ago about the reshuffle, I’m reading in the media that your plans are very minimalist.