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.

IRISH politicians are looking into their souls and beating their breasts as they face a cathartic election.

THE fighting continues on the streets of Egypt’s cities and nobody is sure yet what the outcome will be of the Tunisian revolution that threw out its dictator of 30 years.

THE depths to which politicians can sink are on view at the heart of Europe — in Belgium.

SO is the EU to be led by an old-style dictator for the next six months?