The debate on rural Ireland on RTÉ earlier this week was nothing more than an exercise. If RTÉ were so concerned, it would integrate rural areas into their Six One News, with each province given an equal slot.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s sabre rattling over Iran was well-received by the war-mongering US Republican party. After all, they need the threat of a new war to swing the gullible electorate in their favour.

Some of the arguments put in your editorial (March 9) advocating an EU army echo those of the era of European colonizations of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The pension pots of our Ministers and TDs are too much, comparable to other countries, for what they achieve.

Once again, a manufacturing company is being kicked to touch.

Animals have lost a stalwart ally with the passing of PETA Honorary Director and entertainment giant Sam Simon.

With EU Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, calling for a “common European army” as a “deterrent against further Russian aggression on the continent”, the Lisbon Treaty hawks are coming home to roost. 

Recent replies from Messrs Kevin McCarthy, Noru Tsalic and Ciarán O’ Raghallaigh, (Letters, Irish Examiner), to my humble letter on the recently perceived increase in the incidents of anti-Semitism, appear to play the man rather than address what I merely reported as the views of prominent Israelis confirming a link between the behaviour of the the state of Israel, and especially its military, and an increase in anti-Jewish incidents.

It is not reassuring that Finance Minister Michael Noonan has acknowledged that enacted insolvency legislation may have to be “tweaked”.

Following the last general election, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission obtained independent research into public awareness and knowledge of the Oireachtas.