Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett (‘McDonald suspended from Dáil for two days,’ November 14) in adjourning Dáil Éireann after a suspension lasting four and a half hours due to a sit-in by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, said he regretted very much having to take this action but it was necessary to avoid “further reputational damage to the institution”.

As tempting as it is to belittle the water balloon incident (and credit to Minister Burton for her dignified response in such circumstances), it would be very wrong for the Government or political class — which includes the journalists — to sneer at those who throw water balloons and to deliberately misunderstand what such incidents mean.

The usual Irish political hypocrisy on housing is returning to historic levels.

Gerry Adams got himself in hot water with journalists in the past week. 

Did I imagine the item on RTÉ 6.1 News when Enda Kenny stated: “Ireland is the best country in the world to raise a family” and “Ireland is the best country in the world to grow old”.

The Government is drowning in the water charge controversy.

The Committee on Procedures and Privileges rejected attempts to call Frank Flannery, the former CEO of the Rehab Group, and his successor, Angela Kearns, in for questioning over its spending. 

Days after its launch and the 1916 centenary website Ireland.ie has already been taken down for maintenance. 

Is there anybody in Irish Water with a sense of reality?

Dr Geraldine Mooney-Simmie is not right when she says the bankrupting of this country was of ‘Europe’s making’ and that Trichet’s letter is ‘an issue of human and moral rights’ (Letters, November 14).