2014 has been a remarkable year for Irish writing by any standards.

I refer to your editorial (December 2) containing the suggestion that the Central Bank’s new headquarters building could cost twice as much as a new build. 

Gerard Howlin’s contribution to the debate on racism (We Irish are not whiter than white. We have a long history of racism, Opinion, December 3) may have been uncomfortable reading, but it reflected a reality.

Sinn Féin find themselves on the horns of a dilemma. 

The Government is still drowning in the water charge controversy. 

“But now that he had died, any threat that he might have posed as an unkempt figure in a doorway was gone. He could no longer extend a cup with the threat of imposing on your conscience.”

The news that Ireland rugby players — Felix Jones, Dave Foley, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne — have committed their futures to Irish clubs by signing contract extensions six months ahead of schedule (Irish Examiner, December 3) is a credit to the new contractual renegotiations implemented by the Irish Rugby Football Union (who are the central contracting body).

In a recent High Court decision by Justice Birmingham, it was held that mussel seed in Irish waters is not an Irish natural resource. This judgement has far-reaching consequences for the mussel fishermen in Ireland.

A recent report shows the 19 UK water firms made profits of more than £2.05 billion in 2013, handed out £1.86 bn to shareholders but paid just £74 million in tax. Seven of them paid no corporation tax at all.

Michael Clifford is correct regarding home births in Ireland (Irish Examiner, December 6).