With our political parties on an election footing, it may be prudent to examine what Sinn Fein in power might mean for our traumatised citizenry.

That the coalition is in disarray and heading for meltdown is no longer in dispute.

I understand that a family wedding has prompted Ulster senior club football champions, Slaughtneil of Derry to request a change of date for their All Ireland semi-final fixture with Austin Stack’s, The Rock, Tralee from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday February 15.

Most people were horrified and upset by the abuse of intellectually disabled people that was uncovered at the care home in County Mayo, and by the torrent of similar abuse that has since emerged. The HSE has an awful lot to answer for.

The homeless crisis is truly an outrage

In his letter to this paper, John Mallon, of the tobacco-funded lobby group, Forest Éireann, has demonstrated one of the key tactics used by ‘big tobacco’ in fighting plain-packaging legislation.

I’m thinking about parties, but not Christmas parties. Our thoughts now are about family and the new year, but, more than ever, there is something lurking in the background. It’s to do with stabilitiy and fairness.

I, and the Student Council of St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, are supporting the continued industrial action taken by our teachers in our school and around the country who oppose the implacement of the current reforms of the Junior Certificate, which are being implemented by the current Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan.

A homeless man dies on a morgue-cold Dublin street; residents of a residential care home are manhandled by dullards and Christmas was celebrated in a fug of alcohol while people remain emotionally clamped to consumerism.

Realisation has dawned. That it took the red herring of water charges, which are already paid for under various guises, is surprising.