THE leadership election in the Labour Party could well have a fundamental bearing on the future shape of our democracy. It is that important.

DOES RTÉ need a licence fee increase? Yes, it does. Can we afford to pay one? We can’t afford not to. Should we see an increase as another one of the “stealth taxes” that seem to be a feature of our lives these days? No.

McCreevy is hyping non-existent fiscal crisis so he can cut services.

IT has been impossible, these last few days, to watch the images broadcast from Soham without sharing the sense of desolation felt by the families involved.

IN the history of the world, no democratic country has ever deliberately initiated a full-scale war with another country.

SO now we know. The Public Expenditure Division (PED) makes the decisions and the Government implements them in stealth.

THE story of Frank Shortt and his family represents more than a miscarriage of justice.

THEY'VE just passed a new law in the United States. It's been through Congress and the Senate with little fuss or publicity and was signed into law by President Bush a couple of weeks ago.

A LOT done more to do. Do you remember that slogan?

The nature of the apology, argues Fergus Finlay, signals that the IRA is preparing to take the next step.