When I’m obliged to have an NCT on the family car I would never expect to be forced to fill in a form showing my nationality, my maiden name my PPSN, my religion and my ethnic background.

Health Minister Leo Varadker has ‘come out’ as gay. As a gay man, I think this is brilliant. However, a part of me feels sad that his ‘coming out’ (it’s a peculiar expression) has made such headline news. Do heterosexual people ‘come out’?

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Mary Shields, stated recently “there are no green field sites left in the city.” Juxtapose Cork with London which is the most verdant city of its size in the world.

The citizens of this country are quite within their rights to assemble peacefully in public and to advertise such public meetings without risk of prosecution. Or do we?

The global condemnation in response to the recent terrorist killings in Paris is commendable.

I have rarely, if ever, found myself disagreeing with Minister Leo Varadkar.

Like many of the more reasoned broadsheets, the Irish Examiner has struggled to come to terms with the horrific attacks in Paris. 

Many people commenting on Minister for Health, Leo Varadker’s coming out as gay have said that it shouldn’t have been necessary for him to have done so. I don’t agree.

While we are all delighted the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has lifted a burden off himself by disclosing his sexuality, I am more concerned with the policies of this minister and the party he belongs to.

There is always a balance to be struck for a gay person in the public eye.