IRELAND is in danger of losing the propaganda war when it comes to the bailout loan and the conditions surrounding it. Just ask the taxi drivers in Berlin.

There is one thing that Ireland and the EU have in common — a lack of innovative thinking.

IRELAND is considering taking a handful of Libyan political refugees following a request from Malta for help with looking after about 2,000 who landed on the island following the uprising against the country’s leader Muammar Gaddafi.

THERE was a lot of commotion on a flight from Brussels to Budapest on Thursday when a 26-year-old Afghan refugee was being taken by Belgian police to Hungary.

IT’S sad the way politicians can get the public all worked up over side issues, meaning they do not see the bigger picture, or even focus on the real issue.

ENDA KENNY could have a unique problem when he attends his second EU summit on Thursday and Friday — that of getting and keeping the attention of his fellow leaders sufficiently long to get his interestrate reduction.

THE rate at which Ireland is falling out of love with Europe and vice versa is startling, and gathering pace by the day.

EVERYBODY will welcome as sensible that the incoming coalition government will have a minister responsible for heading up reform of how they do business.

THE EU was split over its response to the violence in Libya, with several countries warning against taking sides while others demanded stronger measures, including sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi.

THERE is a sense of the EU holding its breath until the Irish elections are over.