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.

TODAY, the Disability Bill will be published. And with it, a lot of questions will be answered.

DID you ever feel you were being softened up? Politicians are great at it — preparing the ground so you won’t be disappointed, or so that you’ll know who to give the credit to when something happens.

I WANT to draw your attention to a new bit of law that is coming soon, and I want to try to urge all of you to shout stop.

I WAS at a family wedding in France last week. On the way back to Paris we stayed overnight in Versailles, and spent our last day exploring its magnificent palace, built by Louis XIV.

DEAR Taoiseach, I know, I know, the last person you’d want advice from is me.