I have been a public servant for 20 years and am saddened by the demonisation of my sector.

Taoiseach Kenny, thank you for your apology on behalf of us all.

What an amazing week last week was for Irish neutrality.

There are no specific canon law requirements as to qualifications such as age, ordination, seniority or status needed to be elected pope.

Unlike many other countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, Portugal, etc., who insist the bulk of their overseas aid to needy countries must be used to purchase goods from manufacturing agents in donors country.

The promissory note deal, which was a wonderful coup for the Government, is also a blueprint for getting rid of most of the impossible debt that hamstrings economies and individuals. It is as near “default” or “debt forgiveness” as it is possible to get without using either of the dreaded expressions.

Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has been re-elected by a landslide.

The property tax may be unconstitutional. Legislation giving it power could be struck down by the courts, if an action was taken.

If the purpose of the talks on the Croke Park Agreement is to ease the taxpayer of the public sector bill, then the state should declare that Oireachtas pensions will only become payable when the claimant has reached the same age as applies to those claiming State pensions on the basis of PRSI contributions.

As director of a popular cold turkey quit smoking site, I shook my head after reading “Nicotine patches cost too much, says lobby group” (News, Feb 13).