This year, parents are under huge financial pressure as their children return to school. Picking up the tab for books, uniforms, and other costs is such a challenge that there is little to spend on extra-curricular activities.

Maurice O’Connell (Letters, Sept 7) justifies the elitist Senate by saying we elected the councillors who elect the senators, and we elected the Taoiseach who appoints them.

Obituaries and eulogies in tribute to the life of the Nobel laureate, the poet Seamus Heaney, were as generous as they were deserving.

The failures of our political system were a major contributor to the Irish banking crisis, necessitating the €64bn bailout. That is €13,457 for every man, woman and child.

Six EU member states have abolished the television licence. Six other member states never had a television licence, as many other countries outside the EU don’t.

It is highly regrettable that in advance of a crucial budget, the Government is cynically trying to persuade people that Seanad abolition will somehow cure all our economic ills.

IT seems the FAI picked the wrong Italian for Irish football.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn repeats his mantra about the 50/50 redress process asked of religious orders after the Ryan Report was published.

I do not agree with Tom Cooper (Letters, Sep 2) in that he immediately describes the proposed church service organised by former Garda Gerry Lovett for those RIC members killed during the War of Independence – as an attempt to legitimise the actions of the Auxiliaries and Black and Tans.

I read that Eamon Gilmore will invite members of the British royal family to remember the Easter Rising at the centenary celebrations in three years time.